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WIOA Adult program priority for people most in need
Summary ETA tells states and local workforce areas to strengthen policies for WIOA Adult services that prioritize public assistance recipients, low-income people, and people who lack basic skills. The priority applies to individualized career and training services regardless of the local funding level. The letter also addresses monitoring and the separate priority for veterans and eligible spouses.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Document number
TEGL No. 07-20
Date issued
November 24, 2020
Status
Active
ETA lists this advisory as active. It prints an expiration date of Continuing and no rescissions.
Status last verified October 24, 2026
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About this page: The full text below is the official document from U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.
CLASSIFICATION
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION WIOA
ADVISORY SYSTEM CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OWI
Washington, D.C. 20210 DATE
November 24, 2020
ADVISORY: TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE LETTER NO. 7-20
TO: STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES
STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS
STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS
STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD CHAIRS AND DIRECTORS
LABOR COMMISSIONERS
AMERICAN JOB CENTERS
FROM: JOHN PALLASCH
Assistant Secretary
SUBJECT: Effective Implementation of Priority of Service Provisions for Most in Need
Individuals in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult
Program
1. Purpose. To convey the Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA’s) vision of the
statutorily required priority of service provisions in the WIOA Adult program. ETA’s goal is
to work with states to strengthen state and local policies and procedures that enhance
workforce development services to recipients of public assistance, low-income individuals,
and individuals who are basic skills deficient.
2. Action Requested. States and local areas should share this information with relevant staff
for use in reviewing and updating current policies and implementation of these policies.
States should ensure that these updated policies are included in their next WIOA State Plan
modification.
3. Summary and Background.
a. Summary – This Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) provides
information on ETA’s vision for the Adult program priority of service provisions in
WIOA. This vision is designed to galvanize states to strengthen policies and procedures
to implement more effective and innovative strategies that work as one workforce system
to maximize use of these resources to serve adults most in need of assistance from the
public workforce system.
b. Background – WIOA establishes a priority requirement for the use of funds allocated to a
local area for certain adult employment and training activities. Under WIOA sec.
RESCISSIONS EXPIRATION DATE
None Continuing
134(c)(3)(E), American Job Center (AJC) staff, when using WIOA Adult program funds
to provide individualized career services and training services, must give priority of
service to recipients of public assistance, low-income individuals, and individuals who
are basic skills deficient (including English language learners).1 AJC staff must prioritize
services to these populations at all times, regardless of the amount of funds available to
provide services in the local area. WIOA requires states to develop criteria, policies, and
procedures for applying this priority, including monitoring local areas’ compliance with
this priority provision (see 20 CFR 680.600 and TEGL 19-16). These priorities are in
addition to the requirements in the WIOA regulations at 20 CFR 680.650 that veterans
and their eligible spouses receive priority of service for all Department of Labor (DOL)-
funded job training programs, including the WIOA Adult program.
The WIOA DOL-only final rule further describes these requirements at 20 CFR part 680,
including that states and local Workforce Development Boards (WDB) must establish
criteria to apply these priority provisions. Additionally, the Local WDBs and the
Governor may establish a process that also gives priority to other individuals eligible to
receive such services, provided that it does not impede the provision of priority of service
for veterans and the WIOA Adult priority groups, as further described in section 4a
below. ETA has provided guidance in TEGL 19-16
(https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851) on how veterans’ priority
of service must be provided. The State Plan Information Collection Request (ICR)
(OMB Control No. 1205-0522) requires states to describe how they will implement and
monitor priority of service in the Adult program.
In October 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training
Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration
for Children and Families (ACF), and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food
and Nutrition Service (FNS) launched a multi-agency partnership pilot intended to
increase the capacity of state and local governments to:
engage unemployed individuals to shorten durations of unemployment and to
reduce disconnections from the workforce that make it harder individuals to
return;
connect to the workforce those who were not participating in the labor force prior
to the pandemic, through a comprehensive and coordinated public and private
effort; and
maximize the effectiveness of these efforts in a post-COVID-19 economic
recovery initiative to help more families experience the benefits of work.
DOL, HHS, and USDA intend to partner with a small number of initial pilot states to
identify barriers to using programs/funding streams in a coordinated manner, and work as
a collaborative group to help states with solutions to these barriers.
1
As defined by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Common Performance Reporting - OMB
Control No. 1205-0526
Separately, the Council on Economic Mobility, established in 2019, is a larger federal
effort led by HHS to better serve these populations. The Council is composed of several
agencies within HHS, USDA, and the Departments of Labor, Education, Housing and
Urban Development (HUD), Treasury, and the Social Security Administration. A
Request for Information on how the Council can best serve state agencies and
stakeholders was published in the Federal Register on July 16, and is available at
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/16/2020-15319/request-for-
information-on-federal-coordination-to-promote-economic-mobility-for-all-americans.
4. State Compliance with Priority of Service in the WIOA Adult Program.
A major function of the public workforce system is to ensure that all Americans can
participate in the local economy through meaningful employment and a sustainable income.
In times of economic crisis or increased numbers of individuals seeking WIOA services
through AJCs, the workforce system has an essential role to play in providing services for
those individuals who most need the services of the public workforce system. Conversely,
when unemployment rates are low and the numbers of individuals seeking WIOA services
through AJCs are reduced, the workforce system has the opportunity to work proactively to
improve services for those individuals who can most benefit from the public workforce
system. While recognizing needs of all participants, the WIOA Adult program should be
especially sensitive to assisting those most in need, such as people receiving services from
public assistance programs, and help to place them on pathways to self-sufficiency.
WIOA emphasizes providing services to individuals with barriers to employment, as defined
in WIOA sec. 3(24), including some of the same populations that are to receive priority in the
WIOA Adult program. Recipients of public assistance, individuals who are basic skills
deficient, or those identified as being low-income represent some of the workforce system’s
most in need participants, and are the three priority groups that WIOA specifically mandates
are entitled to receive priority of service (in addition to veterans and eligible spouses) for
individualized career or training services under the WIOA Adult program.2
ETA envisions that giving priority of service to these individuals means ensuring that at least
75 percent of a state’s participants receiving individualized career and training services in
the Adult program are from at least one of the priority groups mentioned above, and expects
this rate will be no lower than 50.1 percent in any state. ETA expects states and local
boards to review and update their policies and procedures, including the monitoring of the
implementation of these policies and procedures in AJCs, as necessary. To this end, ETA
will provide technical assistance to states to ensure priority of service is being implemented,
including that at least 50.1 percent or more of the individuals receiving WIOA Adult-funded
individualized career or training services in a given state are from a priority population. If
any state does not meet the minimum 50.1 percent benchmark, ETA may initiate a review of
the state’s compliance with the statutory requirement to provide priority of services to the
2
See WIOA sec. 3(5) for the definition of “basic skills deficient” and WIOA sec. 3(36) for the definition of “low
income individual.”
priority populations. As a part of this review, ETA will carefully review these states’
policies and practices and provide technical assistance to ensure that at least 50.1 percent or
more of the individuals receiving individualized career or training services are from one or
more of the priority groups. ETA will implement and provide technical assistance based on
this benchmark and a review of state-reported data. ETA recognizes that this metric is a
guide that states and local areas can use to indicate priority of service is being provided and a
tool for targeting technical assistance. ETA also notes that states may use other analyses to
provide evidence of priority of service. ETA will phase in this benchmark during Program
Year (PY) 2020. Should states continuously fail to meet the requirement to provide priority
of services, ETA will use existing mechanisms for addressing compliance failures, which
could include issuing monitoring findings or corrective action plans, as appropriate.
ETA encourages states and local WDBs to take the following actions, as appropriate, to
improve efforts to serve individuals from these priority groups.
a. Establish Policies and Procedures for Provision of WIOA Adult Priority of Service
The WIOA statute and final rules require states and local areas to establish and
implement policies and procedures to ensure certain groups receive priority services
through the one-stop delivery system. These policies and procedures frequently establish
specific criteria to guide front-line staff in the application of these priority provisions.
ETA encourages states to review, and update as necessary, any service priority criteria to
ensure that they are meeting ETA’s vision for providing priority of service to recipients
of public assistance, low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills
deficient, in addition to veterans’ priority of service. Note that TEGL 19-16 describes
how the veterans’ priority requirement applies to the WIOA Adult program:
“Priority must be provided in the following order:
i. First, to veterans and eligible spouses who are included in the groups given
statutory priority for WIOA Adult formula funding. This means that veterans
and eligible spouses who are also recipients of public assistance, other low-
income individuals, or individuals who are basic skills deficient receive first
priority for services with WIOA Adult formula funds for individualized career
services and training services.
ii. Second, to non-covered persons (that is, individuals who are not veterans or
eligible spouses) who are included in the groups given priority for WIOA
adult formula funds.
iii. Third, to veterans and eligible spouses who are not included in WIOA’s priority
groups.
iv. Fourth, priority populations established by the Governor and/or Local WDB.
v. Last, to non-covered persons outside the groups given priority under WIOA.”
ETA encourages states and local areas to consider establishing benchmarks for local
areas, in addition to ETA’s benchmark and goal discussed above, as a way to recognize
whether priority is being provided to these populations. Benchmarks could include the
percentage of individuals in individualized career or training services from at least one
priority group (ETA encourages states to set a minimum of 75 percent), or the percentage
of individuals from at least one priority group receiving individualized career or training
services. Priority populations established by the Governor and/or Local WDB should
have a lower priority than the WIOA Adult or Veteran priority populations established in
statute. ETA expects that the provision of services to priority populations established by
the Governor and/or Local WDB will not impact the statutory priorities for the WIOA
Adult or Veteran priority populations. Though not relevant for the 50.1 percent
minimum which should be met by all states, when reviewing state progress against the 75
percent benchmark, ETA will consider state progress against additional priority
populations established by the Governor and/or Local WDB.
b. Integrate Service Delivery to Support Priority Populations
WIOA places a strong emphasis on planning across multiple partner programs to ensure
alignment in service delivery strategies. In coordination with the WIOA Adult program,
the full participation of partners as one workforce system in each AJC maximizes
resources and aligns services to support these priority populations in an integrated
manner.
AJC partners can work together in the following ways to ensure the workforce system is
prioritizing those most in need:
Cross-train staff from different programs to understand other partner programs and to
share their expertise about the needs of specific populations, including those most in
need, so that all staff can better serve all customers. Both the Wagner-Peyser Act
Staffing Flexibility Final Rule (effective on February 5, 2020) and the Trade
Adjustment Assistance for Workers Final Rule (effective on September 21, 2020)
provide additional staffing flexibility to states.3 The flexibility also brings the
programs into closer alignment and allows states the option to provide some services
funded under WIOA, Wagner-Peyser, and TAA through streamlined staffing
arrangements or to utilize cross-training for program staff so states and local areas
can quickly react to changing customer needs.
Staff the center with career counselors skilled in advising job seekers of their options,
who are knowledgeable about local labor market dynamics, aware of available
services inside and outside the AJC, and skilled in developing customers’ skills for
employment success.
Develop and implement operational policies that achieve an integrated system of
case management, using technology to achieve alignment in service delivery that
meets customers’ needs.
Partner across programs, including community-based and philanthropic
organizations, to effectively maximize necessary services, including supportive
3
The flexibility allows states to provide Wagner-Peyser Act-funded or Trade Act-funded services through state
merit staff, other state staff, subawards to local governments or private entities, a combination of these
arrangements, or other allowable staffing solutions under the Uniform Administrative Requirement, Cost Principles,
and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance).
services, to those most in need while minimizing duplicative processes and resource
use.
Develop outreach strategies with partner programs to ensure that those most in need
are identified and served. Outreach strategies should include referrals across federal,
state, local, community-based organizations, and philanthropic organizations,
including those that provide supportive services. By leveraging partners’ networks,
AJC networks can get leads and improve recruitment of priority populations that are
in need of assistance, some of which can represent large numbers of potential
participants. For example, in FY 2019 TANF served over 700,000 work eligible
adults in any given month, while the WIOA Adult program served 640,822
participants for the entire program year between 7/1/2018 and 6/30/2019.4 Similarly,
in FY 2019 SNAP served over 35 million individuals on average every month.5
o MOUs may outline referral processes and data sharing to capture and record
characteristics of individuals served.
Encourage, develop, and implement the use of career pathways for those most in
need. For more information and technical assistance on career pathways, please visit
the following resources:
o Career Pathways Community (WorkforceGPS) -
https://careerpathways.workforcegps.org/
o Career Pathways Toolkit -
https://careerpathways.workforcegps.org/resources/2016/10/20/10/11/Enhance
d_Career_Pathways_Toolkit
Below are some examples of how different partner programs can help ensure that WIOA
Adult program participants from the priority populations receive the services they need.
WIOA Youth (title I)
The WIOA Youth program serves both in-school youth (ISY) ages 14-21 and out-of-
school youth (OSY) ages 16-24 with barriers to employment. All ISY must be low-
income to be eligible for the program. Many OSY must be low-income to be eligible.
For example, OSY who are recipients of a secondary school diploma or its recognized
equivalent must be low-income and either basic skills deficient or English language
learners. Similarly, OSY who require additional assistance to enter or complete an
educational program or to secure or hold employment must be low-income to be
eligible to participate in the program. In addition, WIOA data show that many OSY
who are not required to be low income for eligibility purposes are indeed low-income.
Therefore, the WIOA Youth program can serve as a valuable partner for serving
WIOA Adult participants in the low income priority group that are between the ages
of 18 and 24. Thoughtfully designed coordination across these two programs can
4
TANF Work Eligible Individual counts can be found in the FY 2019 Work Participation Rates tables at:
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/resource/work-participation-rates-fiscal-year-2019 while WIOA Annual Results can be
found at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/performance/results/annual-results.
5
SNAP data from SNAP National Level Annual Summary can be found at:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
ensure that co-enrolled individuals are provided not only the comprehensive services
of the WIOA Youth program but also receive priority of service in the WIOA Adult
program as they progress on their career pathway.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
The TANF program is a required partner in AJCs, and in addition to cash assistance,
can provide multiple supports for the priority populations in the WIOA Adult
program.6 By closely partnering with the TANF program, the workforce system can
help TANF participants obtain the skills they need to achieve self-sufficiency. Many
local areas have had great success in partnering with the TANF program to ensure
participants are able to receive all the services they need.
Some helpful resources for partnering with the TANF program include:
o TANF’s Peer TA webpage - https://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/. The goal of TANF’s
Peer TA is to establish linkages among TANF agencies and their partners
serving TANF and low-income families at the state, county, local, and tribal
level.
o TANF Data Collaborative - https://www.tanfdata.org/. This collaborative
provides a variety of data-driven technical assistance to TANF agencies,
which can be leveraged to support and identify strategies and best practices
for serving priority populations.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and
families while providing economic benefits to communities, and also can provide
support to recipients to enter and stay in employment. Individuals (over the age of
18) in receipt of SNAP currently or in the previous six months are eligible for priority
in the WIOA Adult program (this includes individuals who are a member of a family
that is receiving or has received SNAP in the previous six months).
Within the SNAP program, the SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) program
assists SNAP participants in gaining skills, training, work, or experience that will
increase their ability to obtain regular employment. The SNAP E&T program
activities include basic skills services (including basic education and/or foundational
skills instruction or work-readiness training), occupational skills training, on–the–job
training, work experience, job search assistance/training. Under the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), state agencies that administer SNAP are
required to consult with state WDBs when designing their SNAP E&T programs in
order to meet state or local workforce needs. They are also required to provide all
SNAP E&T participants with case management services.
6
The Governor may elect to not require TANF to be a required partner, but in such circumstances local partnering is
still encouraged to the extent allowed by the governor. (20 CFR 678.405)
More information and technical assistance resources regarding SNAP E&T can be
found here:
o SNAP E & T Policy and Guidance Website -
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/et-policy-and-guidance
o SNAP to Skills Website - https://snaptoskills.fns.usda.gov/
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA)
AEFLA serves adults who are over 16 years of age and who are not enrolled or not
required to be enrolled in school under a state’s compulsory school laws. Participants
are basic skills-deficient, English language learners, or without a high school diploma
or its equivalent. A large percentage of participants are low-income. AEFLA
generally provides basic skills instruction below the post-secondary level and seeks to
assist individuals transition to postsecondary instruction, training, and employment.
One program service available under AEFLA is the integrated education and training
(IET) program. IET is an innovative service approach that enables low-skilled adults
to gain mastery in basic skills like reading, math and English language concurrently
with occupational training and employability skills to obtain industry-recognized
credentials. IET is an approach that can enable adults to acquire key basic skills
while simultaneously pursuing occupational or industry-specific training, helping
them to advance in employment and fill employer skill needs. Thoughtful integration
between WIOA Adult Programs funding training services and AEFLA programs
funding basic skill services can result in more IET programs that help participants to
gain employment and progress along a career pathway.
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
State VR agencies provide services with the goal of empowering eligible individuals
with disabilities to maximize their employment, economic self-sufficiency,
independence, and inclusion and integration into society. The WIOA Adult program
may partner with the VR program to serve individuals with disabilities who would
benefit from receiving services from both programs. Through this partnership, the
WIOA Adult program would have more opportunities to serve people from the three
priority populations. WIOA provides opportunities for coordination and referrals
between title I Adult programs and other partner programs across the system
(including VR) to enhance service delivery to individuals with disabilities regardless
of the program of initial contact. Individuals with disabilities are identified as
individuals with barriers to employment under WIOA, and may be eligible for
statutory priority in the Adult program if they are low income, basic skills-deficient,
or recipients of public assistance. By closely partnering with the VR program, the
workforce system can ensure VR participants and all individuals with disabilities
receive any and all AJC services that would normally be provided to any other job
seeker, including the Adult program priority as appropriate.
Community Service Block Grant
As a WIOA partner program, the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) is another
program that can integrate with the WIOA Adult program to serve and support low-
income individuals and families. CSBG can provide services such as child care,
transportation subsidies, emergency food services, and other customer supports.
More information on the CSBG program can be found here -
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/csbg.
Continuum of Care (CoC) Program7
HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote community-wide
commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by
nonprofit providers and state and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless
individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to
homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to
and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families;
and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing
homelessness. The CoC Program includes an employment-related policy priority and
encourages communities to develop partnerships with the workforce system, local
employers, and public and private organizations with the goal of prioritizing job
training and employment to people experiencing homelessness.
Providing quality services to homeless individuals is another way to improve the services
to the priority populations of the WIOA Adult program, as most homeless individuals fall
into at least one of the WIOA Adult priority populations. Effective partnership is pivotal
to maximize resources and to align services with career pathways and sector strategies.
Attachment I contains additional information on resources/programs for serving high-
priority adults—specifically, programs and services for homeless individuals.
c. Report Accurate Services Data
ETA has developed a desk reference to assist grantees in reporting the most relevant
PIRL elements for assessing the provision of priority of service in the WIOA Adult
program:
https://performancereporting.workforcegps.org/resources/2019/11/08/19/53/Performance-
Reporting-for-WIOA-Adult-Priority-Populations-Desk-Reference. This guide includes
descriptions of how each population is determined by looking at data reported for certain
PIRL elements and which service-related PIRL elements are used. State and local area
attention to accuracy and reliability of data can improve data-driven decisions and
document the public workforce system’s success in serving priority populations.
States are required by WIOA sec. 116 to report accurately the characteristics of
participants, the services received, and the outcomes achieved. This will help ensure that
states are implementing the priority of service provisions of WIOA. ETA will analyze
state-submitted data to identify states that are reporting that less than 50.1 percent of their
total WIOA Adult participants receiving individualized career and/or training services are
7
For additional resources for addressing homelessness, see Attachment I.
a part of one or more of the priority groups. ETA will provide technical assistance to
such states, as needed.
d. Engage with ETA Activities Supporting State Implementation
ETA, along with its federal partners, is working with its state partners to ensure
individuals in need of assistance receive appropriate workforce services. In addition to
the recommendations and resources in this guidance, ETA will be reviewing data,
evaluating progress, and providing technical assistance geared towards improving the
validity and integrity of the data on those served as well as strengthening the policies and
procedures relating to the provision of priority of service. ETA activities will include:
Review states’ Priority of Service policy implementation and monitoring;
Identify and share promising practices and facilitate peer-to-peer assistance among
states and local areas;
Monitor the numbers of individuals from priority groups that are enrolled in
individualized career services and training services, as well as the policies and
practices that support these services;
Monitor state and local area implementation of priority of service; and
Work with states to identify and solve data reporting issues, including data validation
and data integrity efforts like the Quarterly Report Analysis (QRA) process ETA is
currently piloting.
e. Technical Assistance Resources
To assist in grantees’ efforts to better serve these priority populations, ETA will continue
to provide technical assistance tools, resources, and events that highlight best practices
and lessons learned. These resources are available through WorkforceGPS.org, where
communities of practice like the Innovation and Opportunity Network (ION) or
Performance Reporting have resources like:
“Adult and Dislocated Worker Key Resources - Special Populations” page
(https://ion.workforcegps.org/resources/2017/03/09/11/25/Special_Populations_-
_Adult_and_Dislocated_Worker_Populations) or
“Performance Reporting for WIOA Adult Priority Populations” Desk Reference
(https://performancereporting.workforcegps.org/resources/2019/11/08/19/53/Perform
ance-Reporting-for-WIOA-Adult-Priority-Populations-Desk-Reference).
The Department of Labor’s Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research has also
curated studies on interventions that are most successful for improving employment
outcomes for low income adults at https://clear.dol.gov/topic-area/low-income-adults; see
also the HHS Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse at
https://pathwaystowork.acf.hhs.gov/. Sessions from HHS’s Research and Evaluation
Conference on Self-Sufficiency provide practical ways to implement findings from
research on economic self-sufficiency; see http://recsconference.net/.
5. Inquiries. Please direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.
6. References.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law (Pub. L.) 113-
128) Title I sec. 134(c)(3)(E) enacted July 22, 2014;
Employment and Training Administration, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act; Final Rule (WIOA DOL Final Rule) published at 81 FR 56071 (Aug. 19, 2016)
(20 CFR 680.600);
OMB Control Number 1205-0522, Required Elements for Submission of the Unified
or Combined State Plan and Plan Modifications under the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act;
TEGL No. 19-16, Guidance on Services provided through the Adult and Dislocated
Worker Programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA ) and
the Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service (ES), as Amended by title III of WIOA,
and for Implementation of the WIOA Final Rules (March 1, 2017);
TEGL No. 16-16, One-Stop Operations Guidance for the American Job Center
Network (January 18, 2017); and
TEGL No. 4-15, Vision for the One-Stop Delivery System under the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (August 13, 2015).
7. Attachment.
Coordination with Programs Serving Individuals At-Risk for or Experiencing
Homelessness
Attachment I
Coordination with Programs Serving Individuals At-Risk of or Experiencing Homelessness
WIOA places a strong emphasis on planning across multiple partner programs to ensure
alignment and collaboration in service delivery. A key goal of WIOA is to develop effective
partnerships across programs and community-based providers to provide individuals access to
the employment, education, and training services they need to obtain skills and employment.
Providing quality services to individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness is an important
opportunity to strengthen services to the priority populations of the WIOA Adult program
(recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic
skills-deficient), all of which include individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Effective partnership is essential to maximizing resources and aligning critical services with
career pathways and sector strategies.
The table below includes examples of federally funded programs that provide services to
individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness and can provide access to resources and
services that may be made available for individuals that are eligible for services under the WIOA
Adult program. Local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) or individual American Job
Centers (AJCs) are encouraged to partner with grantees/awardees of these programs to better
serve individuals at-risk of or experiencing homelessness in their local area.
(Note: Funding for the programs identified below may not be available in all communities. For
information about local efforts to prevent and end homelessness, including availability of federal
grant funding, place contact your local Continuum of Care.)
Homeless Veterans The Department of Labor funds programs that provide employment, job
Reintegration training, and related support services to veterans experiencing
Program (HVRP) homelessness. More information is available at:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp
A list of grantees and contact information is available at:
https://nvtac.org/find-a-grantee/
Community The CDBG program, administered by the Department of Housing and
Development Block Urban Development (HUD), provides communities with resources to
Grant Program address a wide range of unique community development needs. The
(CDBG) program provides annual grants on a formula basis to local governments
and states to ensure affordable housing, provide services to vulnerable
populations, and create jobs through the expansion and retention of
businesses. More information is available at:
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/communitydeve
lopment
Grantees and contact information is available at:
https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/
Continuum of Care HUD funds collaborative, community-wide efforts by nonprofit
Program (CoC) providers, states, and local governments to quickly re-house and provide
services for people experiencing homelessness and to promote access to,
and effective utilization of, mainstream programs. More information is
Attachment I
available at:
https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/coc/
A list of grantees and contact information is available at:
https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/
The EnVision HUD’s EnVision Center Demonstration provides a new service-delivery
Center mechanism to provide low-income households the ability to benefit
Demonstration from life-changing opportunities through the advancement of the four
specified pillars: 1) Economic Empowerment, (2) Educational
Advancement, (3) Character & Leadership, and (4) Health & Wellness.
More information regarding the program and the locations of current
Envision Centers is available at:
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/envisioncenters/home.html
Emergency HUD provides ESG funds to: (1) meet the immediate needs of
Solutions Grants individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness; (2)
(ESG) improve the number and quality of emergency shelters; (3) help operate
these shelters; (4) provide essential services to shelter residents; (5)
rapidly re-house individuals and families experiencing homelessness;
and (6) prevent families and individuals from experiencing
homelessness. More information is available at:
https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/esg/
Contact information regarding ESG Grantees and Awards can be found
at: https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/
Family Self- FSS is a program that enables HUD-assisted families to increase their
Sufficiency earned income and reduce their dependency on welfare assistance and
Program (FSS) rental subsidies. Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) work in
collaboration with a Program Coordinating Committee (PCC) to secure
commitments of public and private resources for the operation of the
FSS program, to develop the PHA’s FSS Action Plan (the FSS policy
framework), and to implement the program. More information is
available at:
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs
/hcv/fss
Family Unification Under the FUP, HUD can provide housing choice vouchers (HCVs) to
Program (FUP) promote unification of families to two different populations:
1) Families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor
in:
a) The imminent placement of the family’s child or children in out-of-
home care or
b) The delay in the discharge of the child or children to the family from
out-of-home care. (Note: There is no time limitation on FUP family
Attachment I
vouchers.)
2) For a period not to exceed 36 months, otherwise eligible youths who
have attained at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age and
who have left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in
accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the
Social Security Act, and is homeless or are at risk of becoming
homeless at age 16 or older.
More information is available at:
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs
/hcv/family
Contact information for FUP awardees is available at:
https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/Copyof_FUP_Awards
_All%20Years_.pdf
Grants for the The GBHI program is a competitive grant program administered by the
Benefit of SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). The goal of
Homeless the program is to help communities expand and strengthen treatment
Individuals (GBHI) and recovery support services for individuals (including youth and
families) experiencing homelessness who have substance use disorders
or co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.
More information is available at:
https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources/grant-
programs-services/gbhi-program
Treatment for HHS provides funding for communities to integrate behavioral health
Individuals treatment and recovery support services for populations experiencing
Experiencing homelessness with a serious mental illness, serious emotional
Homelessness disturbance, or co-occurring disorders. More information is available
(TIEH) at:
https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources/grant-
programs-services/tieh-program
Information regarding awards for CABHI, GBHI, and TIEH is available
at: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements-2019
Homeless Providers VA provides short-term funding to promote the development and
Grant and Per Diem provision of supportive housing and/or supportive services with the goal
Program (GPD) of helping veterans experiencing homelessness achieve residential
stability, increase skill levels and/or income, and obtain greater self-
determination. Program models include: Bridge Housing, Low
Demand, Hospital-to-Housing, Clinical Treatment, Service-Intensive
Transitional Housing, Service Centers, and Transition in Place. More
information is available at:
https://www.va.gov/homeless/GPD.ASP
Attachment I
A list of grantees is available at:
https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/docs/GPD/GrantList5192020.pdf
Supportive Services VA funds rapid re-housing and prevention services for Veteran
for Veterans households experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. More information
Families (SSVF) is available at:
https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/
Information regarding the SSVF provider list is available at:
https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/?page=/home/general_program_info
_regs
Transitional DOJ provides funding for organizations to assist victims of domestic
Housing Assistance violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who need housing
Grants for Victims assistance and related supportive services. More information is
of Sexual Assault, available at:
Domestic Violence, https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/1117496/download
Dating Violence,
and Stalking Contact information for awardees is available at:
(Transitional https://www.justice.gov/ovw/awards/fy-2018-ovw-grant-awards-Housing Program) program
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