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ServiceSource Warrior Bridge Serves Wounded Veterans |
The ServiceSource Warrior Bridge is a national initiative to provide a range of support for wounded and injured veterans as they reintegrate into civilian life. Warrior Bridge is committed to supporting our returning heroes by directly hiring veterans, helping veterans obtain competitive employment, and focusing especially on the unique needs of servicemen and women of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). The program provides employment services and support to enhance independence and improve quality of life for veterans with all disabilities. The initiative is making a tremendous impact in employing and supporting wounded veterans.
 In 2011, Warrior Bridge employed over 200 veterans across the corporation, 124 of them with significant disabilities, and served over 220 additional veterans through rehabilitation programs. The program launched the Veterans' Mall in Clearwater, FL, a storeroom of household necessities available for homeless veterans with injuries transitioning from homelessness into new housing.
Warrior Bridge also began three new AbilityOne contracts with a special emphasis on hiring Wounded Warriors:
- Mark Center – When awarded the AbilityOne Mark Center Total Facilities Management Contract in March 2011, ServiceSource committed to hiring veterans and specifically Wounded Warriors as a part of the operational/phase in plan. To date, 65 veterans are employed in various positions on the contract, including 36 veterans with disabilities and nine Wounded Warriors.
- U.S. Department of Defense Contract Management – ServiceSource committed to fully staff the direct positions on two new AbilityOne contracts in Fayetteville, NC, and Clearwater, FL, with veterans with disabilities, with a preference for Wounded Warriors. A total of 10 staff have been hired across both contracts, and all eight direct positions are staffed with Wounded Warriors.
Other successes achieved by the Warrior Bridge initiative include:
- Florida Warrior Bridge Service Office – The Florida Service Office in Tampa Bay, FL, has operated for the past three years in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, serving a total of 162 veterans with disabilities and placing 72 veterans in community employment. Services include job placement, temporary financial assistance to remove barriers to employment, homelessness prevention and housing stabilization, family support, transportation support, and linkages to support services.Women Warriors – In the past year, ServiceSource has developed a unique focus on women warriors, hiring 12 women veterans and helping over 19 women warriors increase their employability skills.
- Home Accessibility Modifications – The Florida Service Office was awarded grants totaling $25,000 from The Home Depot Foundation to modify the homes of eight veterans with injuries in Tampa Bay, FL. Accessibility retrofitting and energy efficiency upgrades provide veterans with safe and accessible homes with lower utility and maintenance costs.
ServiceSource is committed to increasing the support provided to wounded veterans through its Warrior Bridge Program. In order to achieve our vision to be a recognized national leader in supporting men and women Wounded Warriors as they return and reintegrate into civilian life, ServiceSource organizes the Warrior Bridge Ambassador Council to support Warrior Bridge in improving the employment outcomes, self-sufficiency skills and quality of life characteristics of returning men and women Wounded Warriors of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). The Ambassador Council will provide expertise and guidance and to help build partnerships to drive three major outcomes: (A) Serve More Wounded Warriors; (B) Increase Resources; and (C) Design the Program Framework.
Learn more about the Warrior Bridge.
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