Our program will help homeless veterans develop and complete a plan for self-sufficiency, using training and employment as strategies

IT is a client-centered, self-driven program that promotes, prepares, and improves homeless veterans employment skills and opportunities, culminating in employment. A client-centered case management approach guarantees that our veterans actively determine goals and needs while providing shared accountability. Over the past 13 years of working with homeless veterans, many have become homeowners.two veterans who came through our grant last year plan to purchase homes this year. Some have returned as volunteers or mentors, and some have become donors to help other clients. South carolina veterans are suffering, again. Outreach and recruitment of veterans where they are through a diverse program that reaches veterans in nontraditional settings and traditional programs. The program assesses the interest in and commitment to the program and culminates enrollment. Veterans are also CO-enrolled with the AJC. Transportation assistance is provided to veterans to come to the office and attend other program related events. After enrollment veterans are assisted with basic skills, life skills, and soft skills as needed. Individual employment plan. The plan can be modified and amended as needed. Job training. Veterans are enrolled in training that is appropriate based on their IEP. They may also be referred to other training providers, on-the-job training, and or apprenticeships. Training fees are paid for by the program. Individualized employment assistance. This includes job searches, applications, resumes, interview skills, and any other needs they have to help them find employment. Employment and follow up. Veterans are provided with the items theyneed for work, bus passes, or gas cards (SOP) for hire. Follow up. Maintaining close contact with veterans as they settle into their new employment is imperative to their success. First weekly calls, then BI-weekly, and then monthly for their first year of employment. Homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness in richland, lexington, and fairfield counties in south carolina (category 1). The service population includes men, women, veterans with families, veterans with disabilities, and veterans recently leaving incarceration. There are veterans in their 70S looking for work. From 2020-2023, 47 of veterans we saw were over 55. We are seeing anincrease in chronically homeless veterans, mirroring the state PIT count. Fast forward will assess 170 potential participants, and 105 veterans will be enrolled in the program the cost per participant is 5,405.00. Among those enrolled, chronically homeless will account for 31 female veterans 8 homeless veterans with families 5 and ivtp eligible 10 . Eighty percent will participate in training. The placement rate is 70.4 , 44 willretain employment after the second quarter, and 35 will maintain jobs in the fourth quarter after exit. This matches the national average. The average wage will be 15.93. Healthcare for homeless veterans, dorn VA hospital, alston wilkes society (GPD ssvf), christ central (GPD), ONE80PLACE (ssvf), HUD vash, non-veteran specific shelters: rapid shelter columbia, transitions, homeless no more, and oliver gospel. South carolina department of veterans affairs (scdva) and the VET center. Department of social services, catholic charities, the cooperative ministry, the salvation army, and local churches. EAU clair cooperative health and dental centers, richland community health care, the free medical clinic, good samaritan center, and well partners provide medical services. Columbia area mental health, lexington county mental health, mirci, and EAU claire cooperative health have mental health programs. Other grants aarp, cdbg funds through the city of columbia, the city of columbia, ST. Martins in the fields foundation, and DSS snap e t.