Able-disabled advocacy, INC. (a-DA) a 501(c)(3), is requesting funding from DOL vets in the amount of 476,000 a year to operate a category 1 homeless veterans reintegration program named vetworks,…

Able-disabled advocacy, INC. (a-DA) a 501(c)(3), is requesting funding from DOL vets in the amount of 476,000 a year to operate a category 1 homeless veterans reintegration program named vetworks, which will provide employment services to homeless veterans residing in SAN diego county, california. A-DAS hvrp services will be housed at an american job center (AJC). Our hvrp will serve 150 veterans a year who reside in urban areas in SAN diegos south, east county and southeast metro regions, which include 26 of SAN diegos 35 opportunity zone census tracts. A-DA has operated hvrps since 2005 including a 2017 hvrp (grant HV-30871-17-60-5-6). To overcome future homelessness, the primary goals of vetworks include: 1) developing quality jobs that pay family-supporting wages, offer benefits and opportunities for career advancement 2) promoting income equity for veterans, especially for women and those with disabilities 3) addressing inequality in earnings for women and 4) tapping into existing programs and developing new and innovative approaches to address the workforce needs of both veterans and employers. The program activities offered through our vetworks program will include: ongoing vocational assessments and career counseling a variety of occupational skills training options leading to industry credentials on-the-job training work readiness soft skills training financial management training basic skills upgrading career advancement services and extensive follow-up retention services. We will also provide mental health and substance abuse counseling, housing and childcare assistance, women veterans support groups, along with a wide range of other personal, professional and financial support services. Training will result in the following credentials AFL-CIO multi-craft core curriculum (MC3), microsoft office specialist, salesforce, data analytics, comptia a , network and security . Advanced training will include server , cloud , linux and project management professional. Best practices include: (1) CO-location of services at the metro AJC (2) employer mentoring (3) academic advising (4) cohort training courses conducted open exit based on proficiency achievement, with many activities running concurrently (5) assistive technology and (6) the distribution of customer satisfaction surveys to measure program impact on veterans and employers. A-DA will serve all hvrp-eligible veteran populations while focusing special attention on those with service-connected disabilities. Of the 150 enrolled each year, 135 (90 ) will participate in training 108 (72 ) will enter employment 102 (68 ) will be employed 2ND quarter after exit and 90 (60 ) will be employed 4TH quarter after exit. Median earnings will be 10,400. The cost per veteran placed is 4,407. A-DAS outreach and support partners include the sdwp (AJC), regional continuum of care council (CA-601), rtfhs network of 50 service providers, the state employment development departments wagner-peyser and jobs for veterans state grant (jvsg) and disabled veterans outreach program (dvop), SAN diegos community corrections partnership (CCP), united veterans council of SAN diego (130 organizations), veterans affairs regional office (varo), county veterans services office (VSO), county of SAN diego probation department (probation), SAN diego county district attorneys office that operates the veterans court, SAN diego VET centers, SAN diego housing commission (sdhc), health and human services agency (hhsa), public consulting group (PCG) and rescare that operate four calworks programs, department of rehabilitation (DOR), the VA hospital and wave clinic. Employer partners include: university of california SAN diego extension skillsoft a-DAS 19-member business advisory council east and south county econonic development councils sentek global odme apex systems syned intuit SAN diego cyber center of excellence and the association of IT professionals.