Project Grant 24560HV000092

THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO HELP VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT-RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA OBTAIN THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO ATTAIN AND RETAIN MEANINGFUL, LIFE-SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT. THE PROJECT AIMS TO CONNECT PARTICIPANTS TO SUPPORT SERVICES AND BENEFITS THAT WILL ASSIST IN STABILIZATION OF EACH INDIVIDUALS IN ORDER TO BE READY TO FOCUS ON AND FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM INTENDS TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC TRAINING FOR RELEVANT, IN-DEMAND JOBS IN THE AREA AND CONNECT VETERAN PARTICIPANTS WITH EMPLOYERS THAT PROVIDE FAIR PAY, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND FOLLOW THE GOOD JOBS PRINCIPLES. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO 100 VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ANNUALLY. SERVICES WILL INCLUDE: OUTREACH TO VETERANS LIVING ON THE STREETS AND IN EMERGENCY SHELTERS LINKAGE TO SUPPORT SERVICES TO ASSIST IN STABILIZATION AND ENHANCING JOB READINESS PRE-EMPLOYMENT ASSESSMENTS TO DETERMINE IF VETERANS ARE READY FOR EMPLOYMENT SOFT SKILLS JOB READINESS TRAINING HARD SKILLS TRAINING TO IMPART RELEVANT SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES FOR IN-DEMAND JOBS LINKAGE TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND INCOME SUPPORT PROVIDERS EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE AND POST-PLACEMENT FOLLOW-UP SERVICES TO PROMOTE RETENTION AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO LINK VETERANS WITH MENTAL AND OR PHYSICAL DISORDERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LABOR FORCE TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES FOR THE PROGRAM ARE MALE AND FEMALE VETERANS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT 89% OF PARTICIPANTS WILL IDENTIFY AS MALE, 10% WILL IDENTIFY AS FEMALE, AND 1% WILL IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER OR NONCONFORMING. THE PROGRAM EXPECTS 62% OF PARTICIPANTS WILL BE BLACK, 35% WILL BE WHITE, AND 4% WILL BE MULTI-RACIAL OR OTHER. THE PROGRAM WILL ENROLL 100 VETERANS ANNUALLY WITH 65% OF ENROLLMENTS TRAINED AND A PLACEMENT RATE OF AT LEAST 61%. THE PROGRAM EXPECTS THE AVERAGE HOURLY WAGE AT PLACEMENT TO BE AT LEAST $14.90. THE AVERAGE COST PER ENROLLMENT WILL BE $9836. THE EMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE SECOND QUARTER AFTER EXIT FROM THE PROGRAM WILL BE 40.2% AND THE EMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AFTER EXIT WILL BE AT LEAST 28%. THE MEDIAN EARNINGS FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER AFTER EXIT WILL BE AT LEAST $5,811.