Homeless Veteran Service Providers > Central City Concern
Central City Concern
A Leader in Service Experience and Coalition Building
Central City Concern of Portland, OR, was created as the Burnside Consortium in the 1970s – a coalition to address the problem of alcoholism and substance abuse under a National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) Public Inebriate grant. Under that funding program, the consortium organized the Homeless Alcohol and Drug Intervention Network (HADIN), through which publicly funded agencies could coordinate services, improve the region's service delivery system, and track clients' progress. The network has been meeting every week since 1980.
Central City Concern (CCC) is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to provide solutions to homelessness in the Portland and Vancouver, WA, metropolitan areas. With a mission "to provide pathways to self-sufficiency through active intervention in poverty and homelessness," CCC's housing, employment services, health care, mental health and substance abuse treatment programs serve more than 12,000 clients each year.
CCC has almost 500 employees and an annual operating budget of more than $25 million. Its innovative continuum of services is administered by a central office that provides financial and contract services, and is supported by more than 100 funding sources. Actually, more than 3,500 individuals, businesses, corporations, civic groups, churches and private foundations make regular financial contributions to Central City Concern each year.
The organization also has several contracts with federal, state, county and city governments, and has managed many federal grant programs. For the last six years, CCC has received funds under the Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS) Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP).
The total budget for all of CCC's veteran assistance programs is $840,000; and in FY 2003, $210,351 of that came from an HVRP grant. CCC has received funding under the DOL-VETS program continuously since April 1998. It is estimated there are about 5,270 homeless veterans in the service area, and CCC's HVRP program has been able to provide services for only about 8% of them in the last six years. The organization is therefore dedicated to expanding its services for the homeless veteran subpopulation.
Central City Concern's HVRP builds on the strength of the agency's One Stop employment center, its continuum of services and housing, and its collaborations with federal and state agencies, and community-based service providers. Homeless veterans who participate in the HVRP program receive the following services:
- Skills and interest assessment.
- Individualized employment planning
- Case management
- Training and workshops on methods of seeking work, resume creation, interview skills, and other pre-employment training support
- Tutorials and classes
- Computer skills training
- Vocational training
- Access to a resource center, including personal voice mail, telephones, computer, printer, Internet, fax and copy machines
- Transportation assistance
- An employment service program developed for ex-offenders
- Employment-related housing programs
- Job development
- Follow-up and retention services that include employer support services
During the last quarter century, Central City Concern has developed a powerful, effective coalition of employment service providers by establishing and strengthening collaborative agreements with:
- Oregon Employment Department – A representative of the OED is out-stationed in CCC offices for 8 hours per day.
- Department of Social and Health Services – Administration of the food stamp program and Oregon Health Plan. DHS provides two full-time employment case workers.
- Department of Vocational Rehabilitation – Provides services to persons with disabilities. Representatives are on-site 4 hours each week and available to see veteran clients.
- Multnomah County Aging and Disabilities – Focuses on needs of aging and disabled persons. A representative is on-site for 3 ½ hours each week.
- Dislocated Worker Program – Provides services to workers who have lost jobs through no fault of their own. A representative is on-site for 3 ½ hours per week.
- AARP – Helps provide employment opportunities for persons 55 years and older. Two AARP work-experience assistants are available in the CCC resource room each day to provide full-time resource assistance.
- Multnomah County Department of Adult Community Justice – Provides assistance to clients who are just returning to the community from incarceration, many of whom are veterans. In addition, HVRP staff visit Multnomah County Jails, the federal prison at Sheridan and other correctional facilities to provide pre-release inmates with information about the services provided by HVRP and the West Portland One Stop.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – CCC is an active participant in the VA's Community Reintegration Services. HVRP also participates in the CHALENG program.
- Faith-Based Organizations – Coordination of efforts to serve the veteran population. Organizations include the Salvation Army, Union Gospel Mission, Teen Challenge, Portland Rescue Mission and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
- Mercy Enterprises Inc., a division of Mercy Corps – Provides assistance through Individual Development Accounts and Loan programs to assist veterans interested in starting their own enterprise. Guidance is offered in the preparation of sound business plans to enhance project success.
In addition, CCC maintains close contact with the Mayor's Office and the City Commissioners of Portland, as well as the office of the Multnomah County Chair, the Mayor's Office of Vancouver, and the County Administrator in Clark County.
HVRP Program Outcomes – 2003:
Goal Actual % of Goal
Total Agency Enrollments 335 301 90%
Pre-employment services 310 301 97%
Employment Placement 155 144 93%
Housing Placement 260 244 94%
Average wage at job placement $8.00 $9.16 114%
Retained Employment 90 days 60 65 117%
Classroom Training 550 1398 254%
On the Job Training 25 24 96%
Remedial Education 25 27 108%
Occupational Skills Training 35 32 91%
Alcohol and Drug Treatment 70 75 107%
Offender Services 75 71 95%
Central City Concern is also the largest employer of formerly homeless individuals in Portland. Of its 400 staff members who work with homeless clients, roughly 75% are in recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol, and many have experienced homelessness firsthand. This makes case managers more effective in their interaction with clients, and stronger advocates for CCC programs during discussions with area employers, government agencies and service providers.
Collaboration to develop effective, comprehensive employment services for homeless veterans is the prime objective of the HVRP program, and that has long been CCC's strong suit in its campaign to help the homeless of coastal northern Oregon and southern Washington. Program successes in housing and employment placements – across two state and several county jurisdictional boundaries – attest to the value of the Central City Concern HVRP program as a replicable "Best Practice."
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