The WorkPlace Inc. has been chosen to continue administering the Social Services Veteran Families Program, the organization announced this week.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs made the selection, and the Bridgeport-based nonprofit said it has secured a $1.3 million annual federal grant for its efforts.
The program assists families of veterans who are facing possible homelessness by helping them maintain their current housing or quickly find new housing. The WorkPlace guides participants to aid them in securing benefits and other financial resources.
The WorkPlace program serves veterans and their families in New Haven, Fairfield and Litchfield counties.
Joseph Carbone, president & CEO of the WorkPlace, said the group has functioned as program administrator since 2012. The recent grant and selection process was “competitive,” with no guarantee it would be selected to continue administering the program, according to Carbone.
“Our competitive edge was two-fold — the wide net of partners we have assembled over the years and the quality of our staff, especially the veterans that work late hours, weekends and respond to crisis situations that frequently occur,” Carbone said in an announcement. “The veterans we serve are American heroes deserving of the best treatment and service.”
Meanwhile, there is an ongoing need for workers skilled in manufacturing, and the organization is managing an initiative aimed at helping veterans land manufacturing jobs.
Carbone said the WorkPlace’s Platform to Employment (P2E) program is expanding, with funding in Connecticut nearly doubling to $3.2 million. The P2E program helps the long-term unemployed find work. Participants go through a five-week program involving workshops on topics such as résumé writing. They then go to work for companies for an eight-week trial period, financed by P2E, with the goal of obtaining full-time work.
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com
