HVRP Background

This feature was produced by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS). It contains profiles of some of the nation's most effective homeless veteran employment assistance programs, and is designed to inform community-based organizations and government agencies about the essential components of a comprehensive program that can be replicated and can successfully compete for federal grants. All of the organizations highlighted in this work receive grants under the DOL-VETS Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, and most have served as guideposts for other community-based homeless service providers that have developed employment assistance programs.

The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) is the only federal program wholly dedicated to providing employment assistance to homeless veterans. HVRP is funded by DOL-VETS in compliance with the requirements of 38 United States Code, Section 2021, as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001. Section 2021 requires the Secretary of Labor to conduct, directly or through grant or contract, such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.

HVRP programs fill a special need because they serve veterans who may be shunned by other programs and services because of problems such as severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), long histories of substance abuse, serious psychosocial problems, legal issues, and those who are HIV-positive. These veterans require more time-consuming, specialized, intensive assessment, referrals and counseling than is possible in other programs that work with veterans seeking employment.

Historical Funding of HVRP Program
Fiscal Year	Amount In millions
1998-1999	$3.0
2000	$9.5
2001	$16.9
2002	$17.9
2003	$18.1
2004	$18.8
2005	$20.8
2006	$21.7
2007	$21.8

The employment focus of HVRP distinguishes it from most other programs for the homeless, which concentrate on more immediate needs such as emergency shelter, food and substance abuse treatment. While these are critical components of any homeless program, and grantees are required to demonstrate that their clients' needs in those areas are met, the objective of HVRP programs is to enable homeless veterans to secure and keep jobs that will allow them to re-enter mainstream society as productive citizens.

In FY 1996 and 1997, HVRP received no funding from Congress. In FY 1998, Congress authorized $3 million for the program. In FY 2000, through a competitive application process, DOL-VETS awarded 43 urban HVRP grants and 11 non-urban grants to community-based organizations and government agencies to provide employment and other supportive services to more than 7,800 homeless veterans at a cost of more than $9.5 million. 

The following year, more than $16.9 million was allocated to fund 42 urban and 11 non-urban second-year grants, while an additional 27 urban grants were added to the list. That year, more than 14,150 homeless veterans received employment assistance and supportive services through the program. In Program Year (PY) 2004, funding was added for the pilot Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program, which prepares veterans for release from correctional facilities and provides employment and housing services to facilitate their successful reintegration into society as productive, self-reliant citizens.

For Program Year 2007, approximately $21.8 million has been awarded to 82 urban and non-urban HVRP programs, offering employment and supportive services to more than 12,600 homeless veterans. Combined with the $7.5 million in funding for the Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program, a total of 16,000 homeless and at-risk veterans will receive employment preparation and job placement assistance through DOL-VETS grants. The average cost per job placement goal by grantees in FY 2006 was $2,160, well below the $2,308 reported in FY 2000; and the FY 2006 successful job placement rate of 72.8% was substantially higher than the 53% reported in FY 2000, a testament to the commendable improvement of grantee performance during the last six years. 

Methodology
NCHV announced the HVRP Best Practices Project after it secured a technical assistance grant through the Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service in August 2003. Questionnaires were then mailed to community-based organizations and government agencies that expressed an interest in being considered for participation in the project.

Because of the objectives of the project - to inform service providers about HVRP, the essential components of an employment assistance program, and the competitive grant process - we sought to include representative programs from both urban and rural areas, faith-based and community-based organizations, large and small operations, and government agencies that serve as community service network centers.

Once the participants were selected, information from the questionnaires, follow-up interviews and reports to the Department of Labor was used to compile the program profiles. Organizations and agencies that were selected for inclusion in the project received a $500 stipend to offset the administrative cost of their participation.