Job Development: Job Search Strategies for Homeless Veterans with Disabilities

Free HVRP Webcast from VCU, June 4 at 2:00 p.m. ET

Organizations that help individuals locate work increase their effectiveness by becoming more knowledgeable about and being better connected to the business community. Additionally, a large part of locating a job relates to being in lots of different places at lots of different "fortuitous" times. This allows tapping into the hidden job market. This one-hour introductory session will take a look at some job development strategies including warm calls, cold calls, and networking. Content for an initial employer contact will also be reviewed, including how to project a job seeker's assets.

To register for the webcast, click here.

Over 25,000 Post-9/11 GI Bill Applications Received in First Two Weeks

Veterans and Service Members Encouraged to Apply Early

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that VA has received more than 25,000 claims for education benefits during the first two weeks that veterans and service members could apply online for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill.

"We are very pleased with the tremendous interest in the Post-9/11 GI Bill," Patrick W. Dunne, VA's under secretary for benefits, said. "The number of applications submitted in the first two weeks clearly shows the value and importance of this new benefit for veterans."

The Post-9/11 GI Bill, passed by Congress last year, is the most extensive educational assistance program authorized since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944. It provides eligible individuals with tuition payments to assist them in getting a college education.

Many participants will also receive a housing allowance while they're studying and a stipend for books and supplies. Under the new GI Bill, certain members of the armed forces may transfer benefits to a spouse or dependent children.

With the large number of veterans and service members expected to apply for the new program, VA projects a 20 percent to 25 percent increase in the total number of participants in VA's education programs.

Qualified people will receive a "Certificate of Eligibility" and information about their benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Applicants may expect to receive their certificate within 24 days of submission. Under federal law VA cannot pay benefits until Aug. 1, 2009. The new education benefit is for Veterans, service members, reservists, and National Guard members who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001.

Veterans can also apply online through the GI Bill Web site at www.GIBILL.VA.gov.  Additionally, paper applications are accepted at VA regional processing offices located in Muskogee, OK; Atlanta; St. Louis; and Buffalo, NY. Veterans who apply online and provide a specific e-mail address will receive an e-mail acknowledging receipt of their claims.

The number of education benefits applications submitted in the first two weeks is more than three times the rate of benefit applications usually received through the Veterans Online Application system (VONAPP). VONAPP is used for all education benefit programs, as well as for submission of applications for VA disability compensation and pension benefits.

As a result of this unprecedented volume, some applicants experienced slow response times or error messages on Friday, May 1. VA immediately increased system capacity, and by Saturday morning, May 2, system performance was fully restored.

"Because of the large number of applications expected to be received, we encourage veterans interested in attending school this fall to apply early online," Dunne added. Additional information about the new program and VA's other educational benefit programs can be obtained by visiting VA's Web site or by calling 1-888-GIBILL-1 (or 1-888-442-4551).

Program Featured in SAMHSA Video Series Yields $4 Million in Housing First-Cost Savings

A study on Housing First found a $4 million decrease in the use of crisis intervention services over the course of 12 months. The study, "Health Care and Public Service Use and Costs Before and After Provision of Housing for Chronically Homeless Persons With Severe Alcohol Problems," was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association earlier this month (JAMA, 301(13):1349 – 1357). The research took place at 1811 Eastlake, a Housing First program within Seattle's Downtown Emergency Services Center (DESC).

DESC was also a featured program in SAMHSA's recent DVD series, Transformation Through Partnerships: Systems Change To End Chronic Homelessness. The series presents the real-world stories of two cities as they implement strategic planning to coordinate services and collaborate with other organizations. One of the three videos in the series chronicles DESC's efforts to end chronic homelessness. Included in the DVD package are guides for using the videos as planning tools in communities.

To order the Transformation Through Partnerships DVD series, click here. To download the JAMA article, click here.

Training on the Federal Grant Process Offered by NCHV

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans is offering two-day training sessions for organizations currently serving or looking to serve veterans. The first day of the training will go over the basics of federal grant applications with particular attention paid to the Grant and Per Diem funding offered from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program funds given by the Department of Labor. Participants will also learn about the necessary OMB regulatory circulars and how to make sure that they maintain compliance with their funders. Information will be given on how to create and meet measurable objectives when writing a project plan.

The second day of training will focus on employment and permanent supportive housing. Information will be given on where veterans can go for employment assistance and programs offered to veterans looking for work. The Corporation for Supportive Housing will provide an overview of the basics of permanent supportive housing as well as give examples of programs that have worked in the past.

These training sessions are aimed at those groups who are just starting out or looking to expand their work with veterans.

Scheduled trainings:

• Houston, TX (Location To Be Announced) – June 8-9, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.   
• Dallas, TX (Dallas VA Community Center, 4500 S. Lancaster Rd., Building 75) – June 11-12, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To register for the Houston training, send an e-mail with your name, organization and contact information to houstontraining@nchv.org. To register for the Dallas training, send an e-mail with your name, organization and contact information to dallastraining@nchv.org. This training is offered in partnership with the VA North Texas Health Care System's Comprehensive Homeless Center.

For more information and to view other scheduled trainings, click here.

Funding Opportunities

The Hershey Company is committed to supporting the communities in which it operates and to society in general. Cash and product contributions are made to support a variety of worthy causes and non-profit organizations which support education, health and human services, civic and community initiatives, arts and culture, and the environment. Emphasis is placed on the needs of communities in which the Company employs a substantial number of people and on programs and institutions reasonably related to its business purposes and needs, while continuing to consider the broader needs of society. Hershey has U.S. plants in Hilo, HI; Robinson, IL; Hazleton, PA; Hershey, PA; Lancaster, PA; Memphis, TN; and Stuarts Draft, VA. There are no deadlines for applications. For more information, click here.

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is the major philanthropic organization for The Washington Companies and the Washington family. The Foundation strives to better the human condition by supporting programs and services that give people the tools to enhance the quality of their lives and to benefit society as a whole. Organizations applying for support for programs that can be categorized in one of the following four areas of giving: education, health and human services, arts and culture, and community service. The Foundation offers grants to organizations in Montana and throughout the country in communities where The Washington Companies are located. Applications are accepted on a continuing basis. For more information, click here.

The Bemis Company Foundation (BCF), founded in 1959, is funded entirely by the Bemis Company. It is the general philosophy of the Bemis Company to be involved in the communities in which it operates and to financially support organizations that meet ever-changing community needs and enhance the quality of life in those communities. Funding is concentrated on those institutions, programs and organizations that encourage the development of social welfare and health, educational, cultural and civic institutions, reflecting employee's volunteerism wherever possible. The Bemis Company has 32 facilities in 13 states. There are no application deadlines. For more information, click here.