Money to National Veterans Outreach Program (NVOP)to fund jobs programs
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis visits American GI Forums National Veterans Outreach Program (NVOP) Headquarters; announces $600000 DOL grant to further NVOPs work with homeless and unemployed veterans
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis met with
NVOP CEO Carlos Martinez and NVOP Board Members
National Commander Antonio Gil Morales as well as leaders of other area veterans organizations Monday. Secretary Solis stated a two-fold purpose for her visit : first to announce the granting of a $600000 DOL grant to the NVOP to fund the NVOPs veterans job training and employment programs and secondly to meet with and receive feedback from area veterans regarding problems facing local veterans struggling with unemployment and other pertinent issues.
Secretary Solis asked American GI Forum leaders and those from the other Veterans Service organizations present to create a Task Force to focus on the unique problems facing Women Veterans such as sexual trauma homelessness and unemployment. She cited the need for more transitional housing for veterans and especially female veterans. Secretary Solis also reported that $255 million will be available in Fiscal Year 2010 to assist homeless veterans and their families.
She announced $250 million will be available to fund veterans programs employment incentives re-training the workforce and for summer employment for youth. Secretary Solis stated that 16 thousand jobs would be created by September.
Ms. Solis stated The number one concern is to put people back to work!" She challenged the veteran leaders present to get the word out about the DOL initiatives to assist veterans as well as the Community at large.
In keeping with her announced intention to receive feedback from area veterans Secretary Solis engaged in a dialogue with leaders of the VFW the DAV the Military Order of the Purple Heart as well as with GI Forum National Commander Antonio Gil Morales Ft. Worth Texas State Commander Paul C. Herrera Austin and Texas GI Forum State Exec Gil Rodriguez Austin.
Also present were Congressman Charles Gonzalez D-San Antonio and DOL State and Regional Administrators James Kinny and Lester Williams as well as representatives of San Antonios Hope 4 Haven Homeless Services Complex who shared information on programs currently underway and planned to provided assistance to San Antonios homeless community.
The American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program (NVOP) is headquartered in San Antonio and has been providing services to veterans and their families for the last 36 years. The NVOP has been recognized by the US Department of Labor as one of the premier veterans employment and training organizations in the Country.
Founded in 1972 by the American GI Forum to serve the needs of the returning veterans from the Vietnam War the NVOP has assisted over 450000 veterans from all the wars. It is a non-profit corporation duly charted in the State of Texas and sanctioned as a charitable organization under Section 501c3 of the IRS Code.
The NVOP is a diversified organization with six subsidiary corporations interlinked to provide a variety of service components including social service programs employment and training programs housing for the elderly services to the homeless as well as the ownership and operation of two operating enterprises which create jobs for homeless veterans.
The NVOP also owns and operates a Residential Center for Veterans that provides both transitional and permanent housing for homeless veterans working to re-enter the economic mainstream. The Residential Center also provides: job training and placement counseling referral services meal services social integration programs clothing and case management.
All of these services and facilities are in keeping with the Mission of the NVOP which is to establish and maintain a comprehensive community service agency with a diversified funding source that will serve the needs of the veterans their family and other needy individuals of the Community."
