MEDFORD, Ore. — Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) visited the offices of Easterseals Oregon on Tuesday, meeting with organizers to discuss their programs for veterans, and to commend them for their ongoing work in the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). 

According to Walden's office, Easterseals was able to place 68 out of 95 homeless and at-risk veterans into HVRP jobs last year, with an average starting hourly wage of $12.14. All 95 veterans were connected with VA facilities for medical care and benefits.

Walden has long fought to fund Easterseals, lobbying the Health and Human Services subcommittee in Washington, D.C. to fund their programs in 2017.

This year, nationwide funding for an HVRP program became part of the omnibus spending bill that was passed. The program was fully funded at $50 million—a first in the program's history. Historically, Easterseals Oregon receives many of those grants to fund their own HVRP program.

The organization that would become Easterseals was founded in 1907 in Ohio, originally meant to benefit disabled children. As Easterseals grew and spread to locations across the country, its mission expanded to include adults and seniors—and particularly veterans.

Easterseals' HVRP program has locations in Medford and Portland, and focuses on employability and skills assessment—offering services to prepair vets for independent living and working. They accept walk-in enrollment from vets or referrals from human services, individuals or families.

If you want to reccomend your business to partner with the Easterseals, you can call the Medford office at (541) 842-2229.