Volunteers of America of Central Ohio

HVRP Program Fueled by Service Delivery Network

Volunteers of America of Central Ohio (VOA) has been helping families and individuals since 1904. A well established, faith-based community organization, VOA has a successful homeless services program that assists clients in finding and securing housing, employment, connections with health and human service agencies, educational opportunities and access to vocational training programs. When the opportunity arose to expand services to focus on homeless veterans, VOA was up to the task.

In 2003, VOA applied for and received a grant from the Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS) through its Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). HVRP is dedicated to helping homeless veterans access vital employment assistance in order to re-enter the workforce. These individuals frequently face special challenges including legal issues, mental and physical disabilities and substance abuse problems. HVRP, authorized in 1987 under Section 738 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, and administered by the DOL Veterans Employment and Training Service, is the only national program that specifically targets homeless veterans.

Each organization or agency receiving HVRP grant funding is required to administer a program that includes collaboration with other local mainstream service providers to enhance the services available to its participants. It must also demonstrate that its program is unique, successful and replicable. On those counts, VOA of Central Ohio stands among the national leaders.

No fewer than 14 local emergency and transitional housing organizations and agencies work with VOA staff and their clients, including several faith-based charitable organizations, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Ohio Coalition for the Homeless and the Columbus Compact. Some facilities provide therapeutic recovery programs, some focus on women and single-parent families. Some programs offer permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities.

Recognizing that many homeless people – regardless of veteran status – are impacted by mental illness, disabilities and substance abuse problems, nearly a dozen partners provide drug and alcohol treatment programs, mental health services, general health care and rehabilitative programs, either in concert with local VA facilities or independently.

Employment and educational services are provided by a strong coalition of government agencies and community-based service providers. The HVRP grant and focus on veteran-specific challenges actually strengthened an already enviable regional network. VOA of Central Ohio has forged a commendable alliance that includes:

• Columbus VA Medical Center Health Care for the Homeless Program
• VA Veterans Business Administration
• Ohio Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Franklinton Job Shop
• Gladden Community House (program referrals and job fairs)
• Central Ohio Vocational Rehabilitation
• The Literacy Council
• First Source (Franklin County, employment by companies receiving tax credits for employing veterans)
• Central Ohio Transit Authority (discounted bus passes)
• Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services
• Communities in Schools (literacy, GED, other educational programs)
• Department of Labor Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) and Local Veteran Employment Representative (LVER) specialists.

HVRP Program Outcomes – FY 2003:

                                                        Goal    Actual    % of Goal
  Total Program Enrollments                  204       262        128%
  Total Assessments                            252        287        114%
  Vocational Assessments                    188       282         150%
  Employment Placement                      122       124        102%
  Permanent housing placement             186        72          39%*
  Average wage at job placement         $8.00    $8.61        108%

* There are a significant number of HVRP participants who are currently involved in either alcohol and drug treatment programs that require residency in their facilities. These HVRP participants will not transition into permanent housing until they complete those programs.

Through its Career Academy, VOA of Central Ohio offers homeless veterans an interactive adult learning model that centers on job readiness training and requires client participation in career planning and identifying personal employment goals. The employment preparation process begins with the development of an Individual Employment Plan (IEP) that takes into consideration special needs – such as life skills training, cultural diversity and conflict resolution, behavioral modification that includes professional and business etiquette, and learning job retention skills.

Classroom sessions include resume preparation, job search techniques and resources, computer training, developing interview skills, introduction to the Internet, filing online job applications, and business writing. Program managers help veterans throughout the process, from enrollment to follow-up meetings. Clients will spend an average of six weeks in the academy, although the length of time and courses the veteran needs will depend on his or her IEP.

The program further empowers the homeless veteran job seeker by providing free email service; access to computers, fax machines and telephones; transportation to job fairs and interviews in the greater Columbus community; discount public transportation passes; assistance with child care issues; referrals to select clothing retailers that honor vouchers or offer discounts to program participants; food coupons; and an alumni club that provides peer support and fellowship. 

According to program director Kimberly Ensign, the addition of two HVRP Outreach Specialists to the VOA of Central Ohio staff allowed the program to exceed program goals for FY 2003 in total number of assessments, enrollments and employment placements. These specialists travel throughout the central Ohio region to locate homeless veterans, establish a rapport with them, and welcome them into the program. Staff also visit area homeless service providers and employers to teach them about the HVRP program and the benefits of collaboration with the program. Developing and maintaining open, honest communication with the region's employers is a critical part of the employment program, both for assessment of participating veterans and for cultivating job placement opportunities.

The HVRP program is an integral part of a homeless services network that utilizes several of the operating divisions of VOA of Central Ohio. Veterans receive assistance through Family Services, Men's Services, and the Educational and Vocational Services divisions, and may participate in social activities and supportive programs at the Logan and Dayton community centers. The organization reaches out to serve the homeless in both urban and rural areas, and depends heavily on the commitment of staff to overcome the logistical difficulties such a wide sphere of influence presents.

• For more information about the Volunteers of America of Central Ohio HVRP Program, contact Kimberly Ensign at kensign@voacentralohio.org, or call 614-351-1881.
  
• For information about the Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Service programs, go to: www.dol.gov/vets/.

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