Blumenthal, Murphy & Himes Announce Nearly $140 Thousand Grant to Provide Homeless & At-Risk Veterans With Employment Opportunities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-CT) announced that Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut will receive a $139,392 grant to provide occupational training, job search and placement assistance, and other employment-related services to veterans experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.

“This grant will change the lives of underserved veterans – providing them with essential services and employment resources to re-enter the workforce,” said Blumenthal. “Failing to support our nation’s heroes is unacceptable. With these federal funds, the Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut will put veterans on the path to their rightly-earned stable housing and employment.”   

“We have a responsibility to make sure the brave men and women who selflessly served our country get the support they need. This grant will help veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness get back on their feet with workforce training and job search assistance. I’ll always fight to make sure Connecticut’s veterans receive the benefits they earned,” said Murphy.

“Honoring the brave men and women who risked everything to protect our country means fulfilling our obligation to care for them upon their return home. These funds will be critical in ensuring our veterans have access to the training and support they need to gain meaningful employment and end the vicious cycle of homelessness,” said Himes.

"Supporting individuals who are unemployed or underemployed is the cornerstone of our mission, and we are honored to provide Connecticut veterans the training and support to get the jobs they're after," Rocco Tricarico, President & CEO, Goodwill of Western & Northern Connecticut, said. "This generous grant will allow us to help veterans improve their financial independence and quality of life, and we are thankful to Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy, Representative Himes, and the Department of Labor for giving us this opportunity."

By providing skills training, assisting veterans with attaining apprenticeships, and developing an Individual Employment Plan (IEP), Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut’s program will help veterans overcome barriers to reliable housing and employment. The program will focus on homeless female veterans and veterans with children, incarcerated veterans, and other veterans experiencing homelessness. 

The funding is part of more than $57 million awarded to organizations across the country by the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program. Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut is one of fifty-six non-profit organizations, state and local workforce investment boards, tribal governments, and faith-based and community organizations to receive the three-year grant. 

-30-