With unemployment topping more than 10 percent in some Valley communities, joblessness is a reality many continue to struggle with daily.
But for military veterans, that struggle is often combined with other problems that can make life seem hopeless.
Armed with a half a million dollars in federal funds, a program called the Workplace is trying to train veterans for new careers, through its ​“Veterans Workforce Investment Program.”
On Tuesday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro stopped by to learn how the money – the second of a three-year, $1.5 million federal Department of Labor grant – is being used.
The money is funding programs to train vets for ​“green” jobs in areas such as weatherization, energy efficiency and renewable energy, Workplace president Joseph Carbone said.
The Workplace, which runs CTWorks on Elizabeth Street, provides services and training for anyone who is unemployed or underemployed, in addition to the veterans program.
The veterans program exists to address the special needs of those who have served in the military and often return with a number of issues that can affect their ability to find employment, Carbone said.
“In times like this of personal economic distress, having hope is very important,” he said, ​“and this is one group that can experience stress for a variety of reasons.”
The Workplace was one of only 22 organizations nationwide to receive the grant money, he said. This is the second year they have received the funds, he said, and are on track to receive another $500,000 in July 2011.
The program is successful because it has brought together a number of different groups, including the Veteran’s Hospital in West Haven, that are working in sync to provide veterans with training and other services, DeLauro said.
“The federal funds make a difference, but we need to have aggressive people like we have here,” she said. ​“I am very proud of your efforts.”
Those efforts have paid off for veteran Michael Frownfelter, who last week completed training in weatherization and is now eligible for jobs that work to make homes and businesses more energy-efficient.
“I’ve had a lot of training in my life, but this program was really superior,” said Frownfelter, a Stratford resident who served in the U.S. Marines from 1979 to 1983 and has been unemployed since March 2009. ​“Everyone was so concerned about energy efficiency and the environment, and in getting us jobs and I am so grateful that it was available to me.”
It’s especially tough for those now leaving the military, DeLauro said. More than 250,000 veterans are discharged every year, she said, ​“and they often find the transition very tough.”
The unemployment rate for veterans runs more than 12 percent, she said, and last year there was more than 100,000 veterans who were homeless.
“When you think about the contributions veterans make, that should not happen, so it is important programs like this exist,” she said. ​“This is about marrying up some very, very good ideas, and we want to say thank you [to the veterans] and that you deserve a good job because of the service you have provided to our country.”