Category: The Goodwill Blog

Veterans Day is an opportunity for us to honor members of the armed services who have served our country and made tremendous sacrifices to protect our nation. Today, we invite you to join Goodwill in recognizing over 22 million veterans and thousands of deployed soldiers for their bravery and service, as well as another group that often goes unnoticed - military families. From physical injuries to psychological distress, many veterans are left with battle wounds that deeply affect their ability to find jobs, rekindle relationships and transition back into civilian life. Moreover, the families coping with those challenges often experience stress, depression and can feel isolated – all of which makes it difficult to achieve financial and emotional stability.

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You’ve worked hard to own your home. If you are having problems paying your bills, take advantage of the many resources that can help you reduce the amount of your monthly payments and refinance your mortgage. The mortgage modification option calls for mortgage providers to reduce a qualifying homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment to no more than 38 percent of the homeowner’s pre-tax income. Refinancing may also be an option if your home has little to no equity and if the foreclosure costs would be higher than the expensies to modify your mortgage.

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In a tough economy, there are often more job seekers than available positions, making competition amongst job candidates fierce. In this crowded field, avoiding common mistakes can mean the difference between landing a position and getting overlooked. Stand out in the crowd and find your next job with help from the following tips.

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On October 23, thousands of people will volunteer their time to organizations across the country in celebration of the 10th annual Make a Difference Day. For some, this is the one time of year to give back to their community. But how much difference can you make in a day?

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Last week, Congress adjourned to give anxious Members of Congress time to hit the campaign trail. Having failed to pass a single appropriations bill to provide funding for federal programs in FY 2011, Congress passed a temporary spending measure or “continuing resolution (CR)” that, for the most part, extends funding for federal programs at current levels through December 3, 2010. The December 3 deadline is significant because it falls after the November mid-term election, yet before the new 112th Congress convenes, meaning that soon-to-be-former Members of Congress must return to Washington in mid-November for a “lame-duck session” to approve spending levels for all federal programs.

READ MORE from Decision 2010 Implications: Job Creation and Job Training Services Need Your Support

Congress returned from the Summer recess to staggering reports, such as the unemployment rate hovering near 9.6 percent, and one in seven people living in poverty last year. Although congressional time is limited before the Election Day recess - set tentatively for October 8 - lawmakers remain hopeful that at least a few employment-related bills - can get through the Congress before the recess or during a possible lame-duck session after the election.

READ MORE from Congress Returns to Washington with Busy Agenda

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.

READ MORE from Congress Considers Funding for Important Programs that Support Families

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.

READ MORE from Urge Congress to extend benefits for people in need!

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.

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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.

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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.

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