DHS Secretary Napolitano Unveils New Veterans Website

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano unveiled a new website designed to provide a one-stop location for veterans and veteran organizations to learn about DHS’ many veteran outreach initiatives and hiring and contracting opportunities.

“This new website reflects the shared commitment across the Department to hiring American veterans,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Veterans play a vital role in the Department of Homeland Security’s mission to protect the nation, and this website will help us build our veteran workforce to more than 50,000 Department-wide by 2012.”

The announcement came one day after Secretary Napolitano joined President Barack Obama as he signed an Executive Order on the Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, which emphasizes recruiting and training veterans for employment at federal agencies, increasing the veteran workforce within the executive branch and assisting recently hired veterans in making the adjustment to service in a civilian capacity.

The new website – www.dhs.gov/veterans – features information for veterans about how to find employment opportunities at DHS, ways to get involved in community-based efforts like Citizen Corps, and special veteran programs such as Operation Warfighter and Wounded Warrior, which provide employment opportunities for severely wounded or recovering servicemembers to assist their transition back to the military or civilian workforce.

The website also features DHS procurement opportunities for veteran and service-disabled veteran business owners and information about DHS policies and news impacting the veteran community.

The new website is the latest step in DHS’ active engagement and recruitment of veterans and veteran-owned businesses. DHS’ civilian workforce includes approximately 47,000 veterans, comprising 25 percent of all employees – including Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute – in addition to the 42,000 active duty members of the U.S. Coast Guard.

On Oct. 29, Secretary Napolitano met with leaders of several veterans service organizations to discuss DHS’ ongoing collaborations with veterans on recruitment and other key DHS initiatives, such as the Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business contract program, which promotes contracting opportunities for veteran-owned businesses.

Secretary Napolitano also recently announced the DHS Veterans Outreach Steering Committee – a group of representatives from across the Department who will meet regularly and advise the Secretary on efforts to improve and integrate veteran outreach. At the Committee’s first meeting, held in October, she discussed plans to expand existing veterans programs and streamline the Department’s veterans outreach efforts to enhance openness and transparency – including the website overhaul announced on Tuesday.

For more information, click here.

Site Helps Veterans with Possible Asbestos-related Diseases

The Mesothelioma Center (Asbestos.com) is an organization devoted to assisting veterans through their application processes for VA benefits, and helping them obtain the maximum benefits for which they are entitled.

Countless veterans are currently suffering from life-threatening illnesses that are a result of exposure to asbestos, a material that was commonly used in hundreds of military applications, products and ships primarily because of its resistance to fire.

The Mesothelioma Center provides a complete list of occupations, ships and shipyards that could have put veterans at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases. In addition, the Center has thousands of articles regarding asbestos and mesothelioma, and has even created a veterans-specific section on its website in order to help inform veterans about the dangers of asbestos exposure.

To access the veterans section of the Mesothelioma Center, click here.

Become a Fan of NCHV on Facebook

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) is now on Facebook! The NCHV Facebook page, located at www.facebook.com/nchv.org, provides a basic overview of homelessness among veterans along with ways the public can get involved. It also provides a forum for fans to share ideas, experiences and other information. News, pictures and videos will be posted on a regular basis. Be sure to visit the page, become a fan and share the link with friends who would like to help end homelessness among veterans.

To view the NCHV Facebook page, click here.

Mark Your Calendar: 2010 NCHV Annual Conference and Membership Meeting

The 2010 NCHV Annual Conference and Membership Meeting will be held June 21-23, 2010, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C. The conference is an opportunity for service providers to access knowledge, training and experience to increase the effectiveness of their organizations in assisting homeless veterans.

In addition to learning opportunities at this year’s conference, attendees will be able to participate in the NCHV Membership Meeting and partake in the Annual NCHV Awards Banquet where peers in the homeless veterans assistance movement receive recognition for their accomplishments.

This year, NCHV is inviting interested parties to submit proposals to present at the Annual Conference. Two- to three-page proposals for workshops on service delivery and program enhancements to better serve homeless veterans should be sent to Melanie Lilliston at mlilliston@nchv.org.

A block of rooms has been reserved for conference attendees at the discounted government rate. Check the 2010 NCHV Annual Conference page regularly for more details as they become available.

For a recap of what was offered at this past year’s conference, view the 2009 NCHV Annual Conference Program and Photo Album.

Funding Opportunities

The J. Jill Compassion Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Boston Foundation, makes grants to community-based organizations supporting poor and homeless women. The Fund supports job training, education, and transitional and affordable housing for women in need. Grantmaking priority is given to programs and organizations that have established a relationship or connection with one or more of the J. Jill stores and are located near one as well. Applicants must be community-based organizations or national organizations with local affiliates serving women in need, and must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Applications are due Nov. 30. For more information, click here.

Textron is committed to responsible corporate citizenship and helping improve the quality of life in its communities. The multi-industry company focuses its philanthropic giving in the following areas: arts and culture; community revitalization, such as affordable housing and economic development in low-income areas; and health and human service organizations, such as food pantries, homeless shelters, health education and services for low-income residents. Textron’s geographic focus is Rhode Island, where it is headquartered, as well as dozens of other areas across the United States – a map of company locations can be viewed here.

Textron reviews funding requests during two cycles; requests must be submitted by March 1 or Sept. 1 for consideration. For more information, click here.

Please do not respond directly to this e-newsletter. Instead, direct your responses to
rbrown@nchv.org.