- Contact the Committee

MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE. THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR VETERANS EDUCATION AND TRAINING, INC. WAS ESTABLISHED APPROXIMATELY TWELVE YEARS AGO WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE HOMELESS VETERANS, AND OTHER VETERANS IN NEED, WITH COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO REJOIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
THE SERVICES OFFERED DURING A VETERAN’S STAY IN OUR FACILITY ARE DESIGNED TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO RECOVERY. THESE BARRIERS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, DEBTS, COURTS, CHILD SUPPORT, TYPES OF DISCHARGES AND PHYSICAL/MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
THE HVRP GRANT HAS ALLOWED MCVET TO MOVE HOMELESS VETERANS INTO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL MAINSTREAMS AS SELF-SUPPORTING AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS TO THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND THE ASSISTANT PROGRAM COORDINATOR, WHICH ARE POSITIONS FUNDED BY THE GRANT, ENABLED US TO PLACE VETERANS IN JOBS SUCH AS:
• DRIVERS WITH CDL (A & B) CLASS LICENSES
• HVAC TECHNICIANS
• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
• PAID APPRENTICESHIPS IN PAINTING, ELECTRICIAN, CARPENTRY, ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE, SHEET METAL, MACHINIST, HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPEREATOR
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELORS
• YOUTH COUNSELORS
• MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
• PUBLIC SAFETY
• HOMELAND SECURITY

MCVET’S JOB OFFICE HAS PLACED VETERANS IN HIGH PROFILE JOBS SUCH AS DRAFTING, HOTEL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN FOR A MUNICIPAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, MASTER FITNESS TRAINER AND WEB MASTER.

THESE VETERANS ARE REUNIFYING WITH FAMILIES, PURCHASING THEIR OWN HOMES, STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND PARTICIPATING IN THE ECONOMY RATHER THAN LANGUISHING ON WELFARE ROLES.

TESTIMONY OF
JACK R.M. PIERCE, Ed.D
DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES
MARYLAND CENTER FOR VETERANS EDUCATION AND TRAINING, INC.

BEFORE THE

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

MAY 4, 2005

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MY NAME IS JACK R, M. PIERCE AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES AT THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR VETERANS EDUCATION AND TRAINING, INC.: COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS MCVET.

MCVET WAS ESTABLISHED APPROXIMATELY TWELVE YEARS AGO WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE HOMELESS VETERANS, AND OTHER VETERANS IN NEED, WITH COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO REJOIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. MCVET OPERATES A MILITARILY STRUCTURED FACILITY WHERE VETERANS ARE REINTRODUCED TO THE MILITARY TYPE OF DISCIPLINE THAT WAS ACCUSTOMED TO THEIR SERVICE.
THE REAWAKENING OF THE ROUTINE MILITARY DISCIPLINE ENHANCES MCVET’S ABILLITY TO STABILIZE AND REORDER THE LIVES OF THESE VETERANS. EACH RESIDENT IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND SUBSTANCE ABUSE CLASSESS AND ALCOHOLICS/NARCOTICES ANONYMOUS MEETINGS, AND WORK IN CONJUCNTION WITH A CASE MANAGER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL SERVICE STRATEGY PLAN WHICH IS A LONG-RANGE PLAN USED AS A TOOL IN REMAINING DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE.

• DAY DROP-IN, EMERGENCY, TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING
• ASSISTANCER WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
• JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT
• EDUCATION

MCVET OWES ITS VERY EXISTENCE TO THE FEDERAL GRANTS TO COMMUNITY BASED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS. WE HAVE UNIQUELY MARRIED THE HOUSING SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM HUD, THE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE SUPPORT AVAILABLE FROM VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND THE JOB TRAINING/EDUCATION SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IN ORDER TO MOVE HOMELESS VETERANS INTO THE SOCIETAL MAINSTREAM AS SELF-SUPPORTING AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS TO THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

FROM DEPARTMENT OF LABOR:
• HVRP (TRANSITIONAL HOUSING) 07/01/04-06/30/05 $248,364
• HVRP (TRANSITIONAL HOUSING) 07/01/03-06/30/04 $203,588

MCVET HAS USED THESE GRANTS TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE CONTINUUM OF CARE CONSISTING OF:
• A 50 PERSON CAPACITY DAY DROP-IN CENTER
• A 50 PERSON CAPACITY EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM
• A 120 PERSON CAPACITY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM
• AN 80 ROOM PERMANENT HOUSING FACILITY (SRO)
• A COMPLETE KITCHEN, LEARNING CENTER, FITNESS GYM AND CLASSROOMS

THUS, A VETERAN CAN GO FROM BEING HOMELESS TP PERMANENT HOUSING WITHIN THE SAME PROGRAM WHILE MAINTAINING CONTINUITDY OF COUNSELING AND SUPPORT. WE ARE FOCUSED TODAY ON GRANTS PROVIDED BY THE HVRP PROGRAM AND HOW THEY BENEFIT THE HOMELESS VETERAN. THE $248,364 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS ENABLED MCVET TO 214 VETERANS IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. 188 VETERANS WERE PLACED IN FULL-TIME UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMEANT WITH A SALARY AVERAGE OF $12.39 PER HOUR. THE PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM SERVICED 88 VETERANS. CASE MANAGEMENT AND COUNSELING ARE ONGOING COMPONENTS OF THE VETERAN’S STAY IN PERMANENT HOUSING. ALSO, IT IS AT THIS HOUSING LEVEL THAT FEMALE VETERANS CAN ACCESS MCVET’S SERVICES.
AS ONE CAN READILY SEE, VETERANS WHO ARE EDUCATED, GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AND INDEPENDENT ARE ASSETS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER DRINKING AND DRUGGING AND COMMITTING MAYHEM ON AN UNSUSPECTING SOCIETY. RATHER, THEY ARE REUNIFYING WITH FAMILIES, PURCHASING THEIR OWN HOMES, STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND PARTICIPATING IN THE ECONOMY RATHER THAN LANGUISHING ON WELFARE ROLES. BECAUSE OF OUR WORK WITH VETERANS, HUD DECLARED THE PROGRAM A NATIONAL MODEL ON 7 MAY 1997. THIS OCCURRED AFTER WE HAD BEEN SERVING VETERANS A LITTLE LESS THAN 3 YEARS.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU AND TO SHARE MCVET’S STORY. HOMELESS VETERANS ARE LIKELY TO FACE GREATER CHALLENGES IN THE YEARS AHEAD AS SCARCE RESOURCES STRAIN A SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT IS ALREADY OVERBURDENED. I URGE YOU, IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS, TO CONSIDER THE PLIGHT OF THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN SENT TO DEFEND THE IDEALS OF THIS COUNTRY. MANY OF THEM ARE RETURNING HOME BROKEN OF BODY, MIND AND SOUL AND THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH RESOURCES TO ENABLE THEM TO SHARE IN THE AMERICAN DREAM. I IMPLORE YOU TO PASS THE LEGISLATION FOR THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE HVRP ACT OF 2005.

VITAE

Jack R.M. Pierce, Sr.
5211 Norwood Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21207
(410) 448-2783
(410) 576-9626
jpierce@mcvet.org

Education: Hampton University Hampton, Virginia
Bachelor of Science June, 1959

Howard University Washington, D.C.
Master of Social Work June, 1968

The University of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland
Post-Graduate Study (School October, 1984 to June, 1985
Of Social Work)

The University of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland Post-Graduate Study (College of October, 1984 to June, 1985
Business and Management)

Executive Development Program-Nonprofit Sector Baltimore, Maryland
Post-Graduate Study June, 1987 to June, 1988

Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland
Doctor of Education May, 1995

Training: Boys Village of Maryland Cheltenham, Maryland
Graduate Student September, 1966 to May, 1967

The Offender Rehabilitation Division Washington, D.C.
Graduate Student September, 1967 to May, 1968

The Baltimore City Detention Center Baltimore, Maryland
Graduate Student (Doctorate) September, 1990 to May, 1992

Experience: Maryland Center for Veterans Education Baltimore, Maryland
And Training, Inc.
Director of Student Services
July 2, 1995

• Identified problems, diagnosed causes and determined corrective actions.
• Wrote, designed and produced the program of services for the agency.
• Expedited communication between upper level management and general personnel.
• Executed daily operations of the Resident Services Division.
• Assisted subordinates and supervisors in identifying and resolving problems.
• Maintained case records and produced reports for various funding sources.

Bureau of Rehabilitation of the National Washington, D.C.
Capitol Area, Inc.
Substance Abuse Counselor
February, 1971 to February, 1973

Responsible for providing the client with a range of social work, family counseling, vocational counseling and group counseling services to meet individual client needs. These needs are determined jointly by the counselor, paraprofessional ex-addict worker and the client. The establishment of a therapeutic relationship on a one-to-one basis is considered essential parts of this program.

The Prisoners Aid Association of Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland, Inc. (PAA)
Executive Director
July 2, 1973

Responsible for the administration of the agency in accordance with policies determined by the Board of Directors and as required under the advice of the Executive Committee of the Board.

The Offender Rehabilitation Division of the Washington, D.C. Public Defender Service
Division Chief
February, 1970

In charge of the Division’s activities. Responsible to the Director of the Public Defender Service and its Board of Trustees. Assumed responsibility for the program’s total operation.

The Baltimore City Department of Baltimore, Maryland
Social Services-DSS
Caseworker
May, 1963
Provided Aftercare Supervision for delinquent boys and girls.

Worked with dependent and neglected children

Provided direct service to unmarried and pregnant girls

Investigated charges of child abuse

The Baltimore City Department of Baltimore, Maryland
Social Services –DSS
Supervisor
Supervised caseworkers in unmarried parent service and adoptions.


Community: The Leadership – A Program For Emerging Civic Leaders
January, 1986 to November, 1986

Advisory Board For Correction, Parole and Probation
January, 1986 to January, 1990

Foster Care Review Board
January, 1992 to January, 1996

The Homeless Relief Advisory Board – Baltimore City
January, 1993 to 2004