Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) to the Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP)

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), announces the availability of approximately $1.5 million in grant funds authorized by Title 38 of United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 2023, which provides that the “Secretary of Labor . . . shall carry out a program of referral and counseling services to eligible veterans with respect to benefits and services available to such veterans under this title and under State law.” VETS expects to award approximately five (5) IVTP grants in Program Year 2015. IVTP grants are designed to assist currently incarcerated veterans and veterans recently released from incarceration in overcoming barriers to employment and gaining meaningful employment and avoiding homelessness. Grants awarded under this FOA will allow VETS to evaluate the benefits of linking the HVRP and IVTP programs as part of a demonstration (pilot) project. In the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, Congress granted VETS the additional authority to serve veterans who have recently been released from incarceration who are at risk of homelessness (Division G, Title 1, Public Law 113-235). HVRP grantees are already working with veterans who are homeless and were recently released from incarceration. Combining the unique experience of HVRP grantees with the targeted focus of IVTP could maximize the use of federal funds while meeting the needs of these uniquely disadvantaged veterans. This combination would help fill a service gap identified by our technical assistance grantees, the Bureau of Prisons, and the Department of Justice. VETS would like to test this theory with the intention, dependent on subsequent authorization and appropriations, that we provide a full and open competition once we have determined if this model works. IVTP will be evaluated using the most rigorous designs appropriate and will include formative designs, implementation studies and outcome analysis. Additionally, because we are requiring partnerships with penal institutions to ensure that transitioning veterans are effectively served, we are further limiting the applicants to current or recent HVRP grantees that were awarded an IVTP grant during 2010. This limitation is necessary because our experience with penal institutions and the research of our Technical Assistance grantees indicates that it is difficult to obtain the proper clearances to work in correctional institutions. This background experience is particularly necessary given that these grants will be awarded after the Program Year (PY) 2015 has begun, and applicants will have limited time to implement their proposed programs.