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November 8, 2007
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Today, the
Homelessness Research Institute of the National Alliance to End
Homelessness is releasing new research on the number of homeless
veterans along with the causes of veteran homelessness. This report
contains a tremendous amount of data and information pertaining to
issues attributing to homelessness among veterans.
To download
or view a full copy of the report, visit their website at:
www.endhomelessness.org
Operation
Stand Down Nashville, Inc is proud to assist the National Alliance to
End Homelessness in making this information available to everyone.
Attached is
a Press Release announcing the report.
Thank You,
Bill
Burleigh
Executive
Director
Operation
Stand Down Nashville, Inc.
(615)
321-3919
www.osdnashville.org
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OPERATION STAND DOWN NASHVILLE, INC RECEIVES $300,000
GRANT TO HELP HOMELESS VETERANS REJOIN THE WORKFORCE
WASHINGTON – June 22, 2006 U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine
L. Chao today announced that Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc. (OSDN) has
been awarded a $300,000 grant under DOL’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration
Program (HVRP).
HVRP grants help homeless veterans, often with barriers to employment, to
reintegrate into America’s workforce. Homeless veterans may receive
occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search help
and job placement assistance, including follow-up services. HVRP is
recognized as an extraordinarily efficient and effective program and is the
only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans who
are homeless.
“America’s veterans put their lives on the line so that we may all live in
freedom,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “These grants are to help
veterans build careers and a bright future for themselves and their
families.” The grant to OSDN is part of nearly $26 million in Job Training
Grants awarded by DOL under the Department’s Veterans Workforce Investment
and the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs expected to benefit 17,000
veterans nationwide.
Funds are awarded on a competitive basis to organizations that have a
familiarity with the area and population to be served and have demonstrated
that they can administer an effective program. OSDN was recently honored
nationally by the US Department of Labor with the Exemplary Public Interest
Contribution Award (EPIC) recognizing their innovative workplace programs
and initiatives that increase equal employment opportunity for homeless
veterans. OSDN has a 87% of employment rate with an average starting salary
of more than $10 per hour.
Bill Burleigh, Executive Director of OSDN stated: We are extremely proud to
continue our partnership with the US Department of Labor helping veterans
find and maintain employment that will support them and their families. More
and more employers are discovering the additional benefits of hiring a
veteran. These benefits include traits such as dependability, loyalty,
trustworthiness and dedication – traits that are earned and not taught.
Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc. has been "helping the community
reestablish ties with its veterans" since 1993 when a coalition of service
organizations, Federal and State agencies and private companies held the
first Stand Down Nashville event for homeless veterans. Now a full time
non-profit agency, OSDN’s mission is to provide social services to honorably
discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces, including employment
services, transitional housing or referrals and coordination of the
activities of other agencies in the delivery of such services with emphasis
placed on those who are homeless.
More information on Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc. and its programs
can be found at www.osdnashville.org.
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The TN
Department of The Military Order of the Purple Heart awarded a grant to
Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc of $16,010.35 for upgrades and repairs
to four of our seven homes. This is the single largest grant/donation to
OSDN in the history of the organization, not counting government grants.
Items covered in this grant include replacing 24 hospital beds with
regular bedroom furniture beds, refinishing and restoring the grandeur of
wooden floors in two of our homes and providing storm windows and storm
doors in one of our homes. One of the goals of our Transitional Housing
Program is to provide a home where veterans can feel safe, secure and
enjoy living while they relearn how to live responsibly again. This grant
will help us improve the ‘home style’ feeling in these homes.
The TN Dept
of MOPH is one of the founding agencies of the annual Operation Stand Down
event and continues providing manpower and financial support to the annual
event. OSDN began as, and continues to be, a community-supported
organization providing services for veterans. When OSDN began providing
services to veterans as a full-time agency in 1999, the TN Dept of MOPH
was the first organization to step forward providing funds to sponsor a
home. They have been a solid supporter of Ashwood House ever since. The
MOPH is a testament to the strength and commitment of dedicated teamwork
supporting veterans.
We are very
proud of the continuing support of all veteran service organizations and
we are especially proud of the continuing support of The TN Department of
The Military Order of The Purple Heart.
Bill Burleigh
Executive
Director
Operation
Stand Down Nashville, Inc.
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U.S. Department
of Labor Honors Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc for Creating
Opportunities in the Workplace
WASHINGTON April 26, 2006—Operation Stand Down Nashville,
Inc. (OSDN) was among three companies and organizations honored by the US
Department of Labor with the Exemplary Public Interest Contribution Award
(EPIC). The EPIC, presented during an annual awards ceremony hosted by DOL’s
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in Washington DC,
recognizes innovative workplace programs and initiatives that increase equal
employment opportunity for the American workforce.
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao speaking of the awardees stated: "Their
commitment to ensure that people with disabilities, veterans, people of
color and women have access to gainful employment and the American dream is
laudatory."
Established in 1993, Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc. has been "helping
the community reestablish ties with its veterans" since 1993 when a
coalition of service organizations, Federal and State agencies and private
companies held the first Stand Down Nashville event for homeless veterans.
Now a full time non-profit agency, OSDN’s mission is to provide social
services to honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces,
including employment services, transitional housing or referrals and
coordination of the activities of other agencies in the delivery of such
services with emphasis placed on those who are homeless.
OSDN’s employment program is characterized by a holistic approach to helping
homeless veterans succeed in the workplace. To date, approximately eighty
per cent of all OSDN’s employment client veterans become gainfully employed
with an average starting salary of more than $10 per hour.
Secretary Chao presented the award to OSDN Executive Director, Mr. William
J. Burleigh, and Stan McClain, Employment Services Representative. Mr.
Burleigh thanked his dedicated staff for their efforts and, most
importantly, the courageous veterans who made the decision to leave the
streets and work their way back to becoming responsible members of their
communities.
Other EPIC awardees were: the Tommy Nobis Center, Marietta, Georgia and the
Cypress Mandela/ Women in Skilled Trades Training Center, Oakland,
California.
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March 2006
I am very proud to
announce that the Middle TN Workforce Investment Board honored Operation
Stand Down Nashville, Inc. today with its 2006 Workforce Innovation
Award. The award is sponsored by the Nashville Business Journal,
Nashville Public Television and the TN Dept of Labor and Workforce
Development. The award recognizes the success of OSDN for demonstrating
a unique collaboration in the workplace and developing creative
solutions to connect veterans with employment opportunities.
In honor of this
award, the US Department of Labor – Veterans’ Employment and Training
Service sent a Certificate of Appreciation to OSDN for the commitment of
this organization assisting homeless veterans.
We are very proud and
honored to receive the Workforce Innovation Award and the Certificate of
Appreciation. I believe it proves that veterans, when given the proper
assistance and support, are eager to work and become a responsible
citizen in our society. The success of this organization is directly
attributable to the tremendous community support we have and to the
great staff we have working here.
Thank You for your
continued support of those who have served our country,
Bill Burleigh
Executive Director
Operation Stand Down
Nashville, Inc.
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