Firm Helps Pinellas County Agency Acquire $1.25 M to Provide Housing to Homeless Veterans

Orlando, FL: Meraki Strategic Group, an Orlando-based woman owned small business providing grant writing and workforce development consulting was hired by Pinellas Ex-Offender Re-Entry Coalition (PERC) to produce a competitive application in response to the 2018 Department of Veterans Affairs Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) in support of the Transition in Place (TIP) program to launch “Pinellas IN-V.E.S.T.”. This federal grant had a limited number of funds that were distributed nationally to a handful of agencies following competitive evaluation.

The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded PERC $1.25 Million dollars to support the Pinellas IN-V.E.S.T. program and its veteran participants.

“Anytime we help an organization acquire funds to support their mission’s work it’s a good thing—but it’s especially exciting to help a client obtain federal funding to support a very special and well deserving population, veterans; and to help veterans with stabilization and housing—such important issues” comments from Jennifer Evans, Meraki Strategic Group President.

Pinellas IN-V.E.S.T. will provide wrap-around support, service, and transition in place housing to Pinellas county veterans needing stable transitional housing to avoid homelessness.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity PERC has to meet this important need. Veterans are a unique population and one deserving of any hand-up to ensure homelessness is a challenge they won’t have to face. I look forward to the positive impact Pinellas IN-V.E.S.T. will make for our community and our veteran population”, stated by PERC CEO/Executive Director Michael Jalazo.

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About Meraki Strategic Group

Meraki Strategic Group, LLC. is a Certified Woman Owned Small Business. The goal of Meraki is to support other small businesses, start-ups, and non-profits to increase their revenue, funding and impact through technical writing, consulting, and training. Meraki services include grant writing, innovative strategic solutions for initiatives that are focused on serving disadvantaged populations with workforce support and development, program development, workforce and economic development consulting, creating company infrastructure, developing personnel growth and customized training.

Meraki (mah-rah-kee), like the Greek word, is to leave a piece of yourself behind in the work that you do. At Meraki, you receive customized, creative, and competitive solutions that are delivered with passion and pride.

For more information on Meraki Strategic Group, contact: J.Evans@MerakiStrategicGroup.com or visit our website at: www.MerakiStrategicGroup.com.

About PERC

The Pinellas Ex Offender Re Entry Coalition (PERC) has existed as an organization for nearly thirty years through advocacy, direct service programming and education.  This has been delivered for the past 18 years through direct structured programs, cognitive behavioral classes, comprehensive case management, transitional and permanent housing solutions, and employment development.

Offenders who hope to become and remain ex-offenders, those who are unemployed or underemployed, the homeless, and other at-risk individuals and families are the clients PERC serves, both inside and outside the criminal justice system.  PERC has expanded its offerings to the community with three offices throughout Pinellas County and has served statewide- working with three gubernatorial administrations, the state legislature, the Florida Department of Corrections, and a variety of communities looking to start coalitions similar to ours.  This has expanded nationally as well, helping spread successful reentry practices through initiatives of the Council of State Governments and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, among others.