HVRP Fact Sheet on Ex-Offenders and Employment

A job can be the spark of hope that changes the path for a homeless veteran and his or her family. Many homeless veterans, who are accustomed to living on the street, have had altercations with the law. Now their struggle to secure employment has just gotten more difficult because they will not pass an employers criminal background search. Ex-offenders do face a unique set of challenges, but with proper support and guidance these challenges can lead to competitive employment success.

One of the main barriers facing ex-offenders in gaining employment after serving their sentence is identifying employers who are willing to take a risk. It can be scary for employers to hire an ex-offender, and often companies have rules and policies which restrict the employment of individuals with specific criminal backgrounds. However, this does not mean that individuals with a criminal background will not be able to find employment, but it makes it harder and may take more time and incentives to be successful in the job market. Read this fact sheet.

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