Archive for July, 2012

Soldier On, which serves homeless and at-risk veterans with facilities in Leeds and Pittsfield, Mass., today was awarded three grants totaling $2,976,402 by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to continue the fight against veteran homelessness in New York and New Jersey.

Soldier On was awarded two separate grants of $1 million each to serve veterans in four Central New Jersey counties and 18 counties in upstate Central New York. In addition, Soldier On received a $976,402 renewal grant to continue to provide housing services to veterans in 18 counties in upstate Eastern New York.

These awards are among nearly $100 million in Supportive Services for Veteran Family (SSVF) grants targeted to provide housing stability for approximately 42,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families nationally. The grants, going to 151 community agencies in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, were announced today by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

“We are committed to ending veteran homelessness in America,” Secretary Shinseki said. “These grants will help VA and community organizations reach out and prevent at-risk veterans from losing their homes.”

Soldier On, which serves homeless veterans through its programs in Western Massachusetts and Eastern New York, has already served nearly 500 at-risk veterans, spouses and children through a $1 million SSVF grant awarded in 2011 for 18 counties in Eastern New York. Soldier On also received a $300,000 grant June 19 through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program to conduct employment training for veterans in Eastern New York.

The New Jersey grant will serve approximately 400 participant households in the Central New Jersey counties of Burlington, Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean. Principal cities served in the new Central New York grant include Binghamton, Syracuse, Rochester and Utica, where approximately 400 more households will be served.

“Soldier On’s development and growth in Western Massachusetts has developed a model of outreach and services for underserved veterans that is now being recognized as a model for other states,” Soldier On President and CEO John F. Downing said. “We look forward to continue the growth and development of this model.”

The SSVF funds enable the grantees to provide supportive services for veterans including outreach in the community and with their local V.A., case management services, assistance with obtaining V.A. benefits and other services. This includes help in obtaining health care services, financial planning services, transportation, fiduciary and payee services, legal services and housing counseling. The grant may also provide temporary financial assistance for rent, security and utility deposits, utility fees, moving costs, child care, emergency supplies and transportation.

All SSVF grants go into effect October 1, 2012. After that date, veterans seeking to enroll in the program, or service providers wishing to refer veterans, should call Soldier On at 1-866-406-8449.

For further information regarding the SSVF program, go to www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp.

Soldier On provides safe affordable housing to homeless veterans, including permanent limited-equity ownership units at the Gordon Mansfield Veterans Community in Pittsfield, Mass. The Mansfield Community serves as a national model as Soldier On actively seeks to extend its successful veterans programs to communities throughout the United States.

Three Soldier On kitchen staff members recently completed the ServSafe Food Safety Certification program. Arthur Pritchett, John Shinners and Executive Chef Jason Stump join the rest of our kitchen staff members in Pittsfield in being certified in proper sanitation and food serving practices.

Participants in the ServSafe program are taught food sanitation, safety practices for preparing and serving food and the causes and the prevention of foodborne illnesses.

The Soldier On kitchen serves about 70 formerly homeless veterans three meals a day, seven days a week. The knowledge obtained from the ServSafe training and certification will be used by the kitchen staff daily, as they do all of the food ordering, preparation and serving at Soldier On.

“We implement our knowledge to ensure safe, properly cooked food,” said Executive Chef Stump.  “We are also able to identify potential problems, provide corrective action for these potential problems, and prevent problems before they become an issue. We monitor ourselves daily.”

Not only is the certificate useful while working in the Soldier On kitchen, but if staff members ever decide to leave and seek another job in the food service industry, the certification gives them a “leg up” on the competition as food service employers favor candidates with this certification when hiring.

LEEDS, Mass. (WWLP) – There’s some much needed relief for homeless veterans in Western Massachusetts trying to make their way back into the workforce. One non-profit organization in Leeds is helping our heroes get hired. 

Soldier On’s president John Downing says the homeless veteran population is at risk of being permanently unemployed. Downing told 22News close to 60% of homeless veterans are unemployed and more than a quarter of returning vets have no job.

Soldier On helps homeless veterans in western Massachusetts with housing, health care, and employment. On Monday the Department of Labor awarded a $400,000 grant to Soldier On. Downing says the money comes at a critical time.

Click here to read the rest of this story at WWLP.com.

LEEDS, Mass. (WWLP) – There’s some much needed relief for homeless veterans in Western Massachusetts trying to make their way back into the workforce. One non-profit organization in Leeds is helping our heroes get hired. 

Soldier On’s president John Downing says the homeless veteran population is at risk of being permanently unemployed. Downing told 22News close to 60% of homeless veterans are unemployed and more than a quarter of returning vets have no job.

Soldier On helps homeless veterans in western Massachusetts with housing, health care, and employment. On Monday the Department of Labor awarded a $400,000 grant to Soldier On. Downing says the money comes at a critical time.

Click here to read the rest of this story at WWLP.com.

PITTSFIELD — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority has received $2 million in federal funding to invest in an existing transportation system and set up a call center to help military veterans and their families take advantage of transportation opportunities.

BRTA Administrator Gary Shepard said the funds will allow the organization to complete its rural Intelligent Transportation System, which helps schedule and dispatch motor vehicles for veterans’ needs.

The funds also will be used to establish a “One Call/One Click Trans portation Center” that will be located on the first floor of the Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center on Columbus Avenue. An art gallery connected to Berkshire Community Col lege currently is located in that space.

Click here to read the rest of this story at BerkshireEagle.com.

Both U.S. Senators and three U.S. Representatives from Massachusetts announced this week that the Bay State will receive $1,113,840 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to help homeless veterans get job training and an overall hand up.

The money comes from a combination of grants and will be split among three organizations that work to assist military veterans in need in Western Massachusetts, the central part of the state and in Boston.

According to the office of U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, the grant money will help homeless veterans receive occupational training, job search assistance, placement services and follow-up services aimed at helping them reintegrate into society.

Click here to read the rest of this story at MassLive.com.

LEEDS: Soldier On, an organization committed to ending veteran homelessness with programs in Pittsfield and Leeds, has been awarded two third-year grant renewals by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The organization was granted $200,000 for third-year funding of their Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) and $200,000 for third-year funding of their Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP), totaling $400,000. These grants, awarded originally in July of 2010, provide funding for job training for homeless veterans or veterans at risk of becoming homeless throughout Hampshire and Berkshire Counties.

The Department of Labor has awarded 90 grants, totaling $20 million, to provide 11,000 veterans with job training. Grantees will provide the veterans with case management, occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance, including follow-up services while coordinating their efforts with various local, state and federal social service providers.

“Americans who have served their country should not find themselves without a home,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “The grants announced today will help these heroes find good jobs and take us one step closer to the goal of ending veteran homelessness altogether.”

The main focus of the HVRP program is to enable homeless veterans to secure a job and re-enter society as productive citizens. Soldier On, since first receiving this grant, has proven that they can effectively assist veterans in the job search and placement process all while providing them with a continuum of care where they live.

“Solider On has a proven track record of success working with community partners to effectively assist homeless veterans,” said Representative John Olver.  “This funding allows Soldier On to continue to provide veterans in Hampshire and Berkshire counties with quality job training and job-placement assistance that will help them succeed in civilian careers.”

“Education, skill development and job readiness skills are major impediments for homeless veterans to re-enter the employment market,” said Soldier On President /CEO Jack Downing. “These grants help us eliminate those barriers and prepare our veterans for long term employment that is productive and financially rewarding.”

Soldier On is an organization that is dedicated to providing formerly homeless veterans with safe, affordable housing with a continuum of care where they live, including treatment and recovery, food, clothing, case management, and job related services.