Congress Considers Funding for Important Programs that Support Families

With new reports that the unemployment rate is hovering near 9.5 percent, and one in seven people were living in poverty last year, on September 16, Sen. Baucus (D-MT) introduced the Job Creation and Tax Cuts Act of 2010, proposing to spend $1 billion for Workforce Investment Act “grants to states for youth activities,” and an additional $1.5 billion for basic assistance for families, short-term, one-time aid for needy families and subsidized employment programs under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

Urge Congress to extend benefits for people in need!

Tell Congress to continue to provide supports for people who aren’t fortunate enough to be a part of the labor force. With an unemployment rate stubbornly hovering around 9.5 percent, an increasing number of people in need are turning to Goodwill for pre- and post-employment services, including skills training, job search assistance, job retention support, and other career programs. Ask Congress to continue to make these critical services possible by extending the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Contingency Fund, which will expire on September 30.

Urge Congress to Support Funding for Job Training

The U.S. still struggles to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. And unemployment stubbornly hovers near 10 percent. But Goodwill continues to invest the bulk of its revenues into providing services to people who face employment challenges.

Federal investments in this work are vital to us. Today, we are asking you to contact your Members of Congress, and ask them to support funding for job training programs. Continue reading to learn more, or take action now.

Congress Considers Spending for Key Workforce Programs

Today, July 27, 2010, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee with jurisdiction over funding for the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Subcommittee considered its FY 2011 spending bill. The full Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on Thursday, July 29. While full details are not yet available, sources assert that funding for the Workforce Investment Act’s (WIA) youth, adult, and dislocated worker funding streams would be increased.

Celebrating 20 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act

On July 26, 2010, we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the first-ever civil rights law for people with disabilities that gave people with disabilities better access to goods, resources, services and job opportunities. We celebrate the ADA as a symbol of our nation’s commitment to equality, and rejoice in the progress that has been made over the past 20 years. But there is still much to do.

Haiti Earthquake: How You Can Help

Over the past week, the world has sadly witnessed images of the devastation caused by the earthquakes in Haiti, a country already struggling to recover from four hurricanes that hit in 2008. The caring people that work at 166 member Goodwill enterprises in the United States and Canada, as well as its 14 international affiliates, send their thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti, along with deepest sympathies for the unimaginable pain and suffering the people of the country are enduring.

Success Story: Bob May

Robert “Bob” May is a veteran of the U.S. armed services and spent a decade homeless, living on riverbanks and wandering along railroad tracks.
A divorce had triggered severe depression. He also stopped taking medication for his bi-polar disorder and began drinking heavily and abusing drugs.
One day in 1995, a local organization for American veterans with disabilities discovered May living under a bridge and referred him to the Goodwill Serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa in Omaha. He was initially hired as a custodian and, today, works as an equipment repair technician. As part of Goodwill’s commercial services program with NISH/AbilityOne, he restores and repairs a wide array of janitorial equipment at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

Success Story: Candy Nunez-Jura

Alcohol abuse and violence were a part of Candy Nunez-Jura’s childhood. She and her younger sisters would hide in the family car to escape from her father’s abuse. At age 18, Candy became pregnant and got married. Her new husband was also abusive.
After several years and the birth of her second child, Candy left her abusive husband and had a difficult time finding a job and supporting her family as a single mother.
She suffers from dyslexia, therefore, never learned to read or write and struggled with severe arthritis in her hands.

Success Story: Eddie Leonard

Eddie Leonard is passionate about Goodwill.
Eddie was once an active high school athlete and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He lived overseas while working for the Department of Defense and later worked as a supervisor with an agency that served youth and group homes in his home state.
Eddie was once an active high school athlete and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He lived overseas while working for the Department of Defense and later worked as a supervisor with an agency that served youth and group homes in his home state.

Success Story: James Bennett

James Bennett dreamed of playing professional basketball. He was a talented player and was scouted by local high schools.
But that dream ended in January 2005, when he was shot in the head and spine, leaving him with partial paralysis, because he was mistaken for a gang member’s rival.
James spent a month in the hospital and five months in rehabilitation. His school system failed to reassign him to a new school. He sat at home for three years, started using drugs and slipped into depression.
Then, shortly after he turned 18, his mother abandoned James and his younger siblings.