WASHINGTON –  More than $500,000 in grants have been awarded in Buffalo and Rochester to provide homeless veterans with vital job training giving them the skills they need to succeed in civilian jobs. 

Goodwill Industries of Western New York, Inc. in Buffalo was awarded $204,774 and the Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester will receive $300,000.

“The men and women that have served us in uniform deserve every opportunity to succeed here at home,” said Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-28). “Today I’m so proud to announce this funding to be directed to programs that have proven to help the homeless veterans of Western New York get back to work. They have earned our support and we are forever indebted to their bravery and service to our country.”

The funding comes as 87 grants totaling over $24 million were unveiled today as part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP).  It is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of homeless veterans. Grants are awarded to local non-profit and state agencies that have had a high success rate in the past.

The Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester has been participating in HVRP since April 2002 when they received $134,996 to further development its employment assistance program. The “On-the-Job Training project places veterans in two- to four- week training programs at local businesses helping them develop basic job skills and personal responsibility.

Goodwill Industries of Western New York, Inc. is receiving $204,774 for the second time in two years as part of HVRP.