VA to Train Homeless Vets for National Cemeteries

The Department of Veterans Affairs is hoping to move some of America's homeless veterans off the streets in part by giving them jobs at the country's national cemeteries.

Veterans in the program will be trained as cemetery caretakers and representatives, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki told members of the House Veterans Affairs in testimony Feb. 15

"Veterans who successfully complete the program at national cemeteries will be guaranteed full-time permanent employment at a national cemetery or may choose to pursue employment in the private sector," he said.

The VA's National Cemetery Administration oversees 131 cemeteries currently, with plans underway to develop five more, officials said during the 2012 budget rollout earlier this week.

The apprenticeship program comes even as the union representing federal employees slammed the VA for cutting back on its federal workforce by hiring private contractors for caretaker jobs.

John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said in a statement last week that the outsourcing began during the Bush administration but has continued. Gage said the outsourcing violates the "Vow to Hire Heroes Act" intended to boost veteran employment.

"The outsourced jobs include many entry level jobs that disabled veterans rely on to get back on their feet after returning from the battlefield," he said.

The cemetery administration's budget for next year only supports four additional jobs, so additional trainees will have to wait until current employees leave or retire.

The VA currently has about 1,700 full-time employees, according to officials.

The apprenticeship program is part of the "employment" category, one of the "Six Pillars" of the VA's plan to end veteran homelessness.  The others are outreach, treatment, prevention, housing and support services, and community partnerships.