The U.S. Department of Labor is awarding $478,000 to help two Hawaii community service organizations return homeless veterans into the work force.

The federal funding will go to Honolulu-based Network Enterprises and Kapolei-based United States Veterans Initiative Hawaii.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, said he supports the increased funding to combat homelessness among veterans.

He says the national economic downturn, combined with Hawaii's already high cost of living, makes it difficult for island veterans to make ends meet.