Purpose of the project - abilities of florida S hvrp program will provide employment, training, and supportive services to reintegrate pinellas county homeless veterans and those at risk of…

Abilities of Florida received a $300,000 Project Grant from the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) under the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (CFDA 17.805), effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. The grant supports comprehensive supported employment services designed to help homeless and at-risk veterans in Pinellas County achieve sustainable self-sufficiency. Core services include intake and assessment, employment readiness training, career exploration, job development, job coaching, and follow-along career development support. The program also provides wraparound services such as training and barrier removal funding to address holistic participant needs and facilitate successful employment outcomes.

Over the three-year performance period, Abilities of Florida will serve an estimated 225 veterans with disabilities, targeting a 60% job placement rate. Performance metrics include 55% completion of employment training, 65% of program exiters earning wages in the second quarter following exit, and 40% earning wages in the fourth quarter post-exit. The program anticipates an average hourly wage rate of $20.83 and a median second-quarter earnings of $8,327 per placed participant. Services will be delivered in partnership with CareerSource Pinellas American Job Center and coordinated through case management to support employment placement aligned with local labor market demand.

Purpose of the project - abilities of florida S hvrp program will provide employment, training, and supportive services to reintegrate pinellas county homeless veterans and those at risk of homelessness into employment that leads to sustained self-sufficiency. Activities to be funded by the grant- abilities will provide comprehensive supported employment services: intake, assessment, employment readiness training, career exploration, job development, job coaching, follow along support, and career development. In addition, wraparound services, including training and barrier removal funding, will be provided to veterans to ensure person-centered and holistic needs are met. Intended beneficiaries of the project - abilities of florida will serve veterans with disabilities across pinellas county who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. Expected outcomes of the project - abilities of florida will serve 225 veterans over three (3) years with a 60% placement rate. Additional outcomes include:percentage of enrollments completing training: 55%, percentage of exiters earning wages in the 2ND QTR after exit: 65%, percentage of exiters earning wages in the 4TH QTR after exit: 40%, average hourly rates over three years: $20.83, median earnings 2ND quarter after exit: $8,327, average cost of placement over three years: $6,716.42. Name(S) of the american job center(S) (AJCS) in your SDA- careersource pinellas. Justification for more than one application serving the exact same SDA, if applicable - the HUD point in time count for FL-502 is 231, and abilities is proposing to serve 75 veterans in the first hvrp grant year, comprising approximately 32.5% of homeless veterans, based on HUD estimates. Additional local data from BAY pines VA and from our experience shows that the number of veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness is closer to 1,000 veterans in pinellas county. Additionally, abilities has specialized expertise and experience to effectively serve veterans with disabilities, who comprise more than 50% of the veteran population. Key partnerships - abilities of florida partners with the supportive service for veteran families (SSVF) program, grants and per diem (GPD), HUD-vash, veterans affairs community employment coordinator (CEC), careersource pinellas, ST. Vincent DE paul, BAY pines veterans affairs, and united way. Recipient of other funding, if applicable - abilities has received funding from the following organizations and government agencies to support veteran and other services over the past three years: pinellas county human services duval park servicesource foundation barrett foundation kamminga and roodvoets and finance of america.