Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas receives $500K for Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program Grant
July 7, 2025 – Wichita KS
The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) announced the
award of more than $23 million in grants to organizations that help
veterans experiencing homelessness find meaningful employment, assisting them to
overcome barriers to transition successfully into the workforce.
Administered by the USDOL’s Veterans’ Employment and
Training Service (VETS), the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration
Program (HVRP) competitively awarded 63 grants for three years of
operations. The Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas (WA) received $500,000
for 2025, with an additional $1 million of funding available in 2026 and 2027. The
HVRP grant was established in 1987; this is the first time a HVRP grant has
been awarded in Kansas.
Through the HVRP grant services, veterans
experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Wichita can complete occupational
skills training, participate in apprenticeships or on-the-job training
opportunities, and receive job search and placement assistance through the WA,
in coordination with a strong referral system, connecting both the services of the WA and its partners. Partners in the grant include the Continuum of Care, Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County; Second
Light (formerly known as the Multi-Agency Center), and Goodwill Industries of
Kansas, and the WA’s large employer
network.
"The
Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas is pleased to be named a Homeless
Veterans’ Reintegration Program partner by the US Department of Labor,” said WA
President and CEO Keith Lawing. “This is exciting for Wichita during a pivotal
time as the community moves forward with a coordinated, multi-agency approach from
Second Light in partnership with the Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County.
The WA has experience in providing tools, resources, and partnerships that identify,
prepare, and support veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness to reach
their full employment potential.”
Information for individuals who would like to enroll
in the program will be available in late summer/fall of 2025. For more information on the VETS’ Homeless Veterans’
Reintegration Program, please visit Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program | U.S. Department of
Labor