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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