Noteboom The Law Firm

Veteran Integration Program Given Award For Excellence

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) awarded 6 projects Excellence Awards for Program Innovation: Resident and Client Services in 2010. Among those winners was the Housing Authority's Veteran Integration Program (VIP). This program is very helpful for those who have filed for but are not yet drawing veterans compensation.

The VIP puts veterans together with case managers in a one-on-one environment. As a team the two work together to help veterans establish and meet 3 main goals:

 

·      greater self-determination;

·      residential stability; and

·      increased skill levels along with increased income.

 

The project's funding comes from multiple sources, to include the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which supplies the VIP with daily grants of $34.21 for each of the 20 veterans in the program, who range in age from their 20s to their 60s. That money covers basic necessities while money taken from non-profits is used to pay for job training and Vet Works programs. The program also utilizes state funds to help veterans pay rent once they leave the program.

The case managers' first job is to find homes for the veterans, and then they move on to helping with employment. In order to find either job training opportunities or work, the case workers interact with the VA, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and multiple other agencies. When veterans are initially brought into the VIP, they live in one of several rented homes with other veterans and their case manager.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.