Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) will receive $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor to support its Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project (HVRP). CEO’s HVRP works in collaboration with PA CareerLink offices to serve veterans in Luzerne, Lackawanna and Monroe Counties.

“Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices for their country and saying ‘thank you for your service’ isn’t enough. They deserve support in the transition from military to civilian life so they can lead fulfilling lives and provide for themselves and their families. This is why I am proud to support CEO in their mission to assist veterans and help them reintegrate into the community after their military service,” said Rep. Cartwright. “I appreciate Gene Brady, Executive Director of CEO, and the work being done every day to help veterans reach their full potential.

“We greatly appreciate the assistance of Representative Cartwright, the Department of Labor team and others we work with daily in providing this important employment assistance resource,” said Gene Brady, Executive Director of the Commission on Economic Opportunity. “We will be able to aid over 100 homeless Veterans in our community. This will enable the CEO to continue to assist in locating quality, life sustaining employment for homeless veterans.”

The mission of CEO is to promote self-sufficiency among low-income and vulnerable populations by confronting the causes and reducing the effects of poverty. CEO’s HVRP program offers job counseling, skills assessments, job readiness, life skills and money management training, transportation incentives and more. To qualify for the program, applicants must have verifiable veteran status; have at least one day of active-duty service; have a discharge other than Dishonorable Discharge status; and experiencing homeless, living in transitional housing, facing eviction, recently housed (within the last 60 days) and/or actively enrolled with SSVF program. For additional information, contact CEO at 570-826-0510.

The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, administered by the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, provided $57 million dollars to help veterans nationwide overcome and avoid homelessness and re-enter the workforce.