Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services
Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services
Permanent, stable housing is the benchmark of efforts to end homelessness among Veterans, but housing alone may not be enough. In these and other ways, employment can be a key element in helping Veterans climb out of homelessness or avoid it all together:
- Improve quality of life and community integration after homelessness
- Increase self-confidence and independence
- Decrease reliance on institutional care
VA created Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services (HVCES) to improve employment outcomes for Veterans who have experienced homelessness. HVCES has deployed more than 150 Vocational Development Specialists who serve as Community Employment Coordinators (CECs), at most VA Medical Centers across the country. CECs are part of the VHA homeless program teams and are a bridge to community employment resources and employers ready to hire Veterans exiting homelessness. CECs benefit employers in the following ways:
- Pre-screen Veterans with a variety of skill sets and from all educational levels
- Refer job-ready Veteran candidates who are ready to work from day one for open positions
- Help facilitate hiring and onboarding
- Assist Veterans in applying their military experiences to civilian employment
- Help in meeting diversity and inclusion goals
CECs increase Veterans’ likelihood of employment success by connecting them to job-related resources and career opportunities and a range of supports from VA and the community, including health care, housing and social services. They also collaborate with VA and non-VA partners—Compensated Work Therapy, VR&E, American Job Centers, Department of Labor homeless Veteran grantees, workforce agencies, and faith-based and community organizations—to identify gaps in competitive employment services for homeless Veterans.
CECs welcome opportunities to engage with community partners and local employers on efforts to end and prevent homelessness among Veterans.
More Information
- With general questions, contact HVCES Director Dr. Carma Heitzmann.
- Connect with nearest Community Employment Coordinator.
- Read Veteran employment success stories.
- Learn more at VA’s Programs for Homeless Veterans, For At-Risk Veterans and Employment Programs for Homeless Veterans pages.
Resources
Host a Veteran Employment Event Using VA’s Event-in-a-Box
Get just about everything you need to plan and host an event related to employing Veterans exiting homelessness, including event-planning ideas and checklists, fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations, social media copy and more.
Download the Event-in-a-Box.
Ending Veteran Homelessness Employment Toolkit
Tools are available to help you employ Veterans who are exiting homelessness. Get brochures, posters, wallet cards and more in the Ending Veteran Homelessness Employment Toolkit.
Download the Employment Toolkit.
HVCES Fact Sheet
Get the latest information about how HVCES is helping end and prevent homelessness among Veterans.
Download the fact sheet.
Make the Call
Dial 1-877-4AID-VET
(1-877-424-3838)
Access VA’s services for homeless and at-risk Veterans, available 24/7.
Chat Online
VA Medical Center
(VAMC) Locator
Locate Your Local
VA Medical Center Now
Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can call or visit their local VA Medical Center (VAMC) and ask for a Homeless Coordinator. Use the VA locator tool www.va.gov/directory to find your nearest VAMC and call or visit today.
