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Meghann Cotter CONNECTING THE HOMELESS CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM TO MAINSTREAM RESOURCES
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Faith-based non-profit that focuses on the chronic and street homeless in Fredericksburg, Virginia Supports people experiencing homelessness and identifies paths to sustainable housing. Programs Basic needs center Winter shelter Post-hospital respite shelter Rapid re-housing Permanent supportive housing Assistance with disability applications (SOAR) Employment assistance Mental health outreach (PATH) MICAH MINISTRIES
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Running a day labor company Starting a business Operating a job help center Employer recruitment and job placement Developing a certification program Leveraging Workforce Investment Act (WIA) dollars for on-the- job training and special certifications Offering GED classes and helping people to enroll in community college Providing a transportation service Paying for taxi cabs, bus tickets and other basics that are necessary for starting a job (i.e. shoes, pants, etc.) Helping people reinstate licenses and get cars WHAT WE’VE TRIED
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Put more emphasis on job placement than job development. Offered income assistance services first come, first serve. Operated income assistance programming separate from our housing program. Tried to serve multiple populations in the interest of convincing more employers to work with us. Attempted to be an employment agency, when there are plenty of others who do that for a living. Allowed people to become dependent on our transportation, rather than empowering their own long-term solutions WHAT WE DID WRONG
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Looked around in our community to see who was offering employment-related services already. Employment Resources, Inc. (services for 18-24 year-olds) Goodwill (job help center, employment specialist, stores/businesses that can employ people) Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (supportive employment for people with disabilities) Temp services Virginia Employment Services Better connected employment and disability assistance programming Stayed focused on the needs of the most vulnerable, longest homeless WHAT WE WISHED WE HAD DONE
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STAFF: FT Income Navigator who operates SOAR and supportive employment for disabled clients PT Employment Specialist employed by goodwill Use employment attempts to help build the case for disability Leverage partnerships with agencies that already offer employment services. Grow direct relationships with Employers Improve skill building that helps people keep jobs Focusing income case management to individuals we are placing in housing WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO NOW
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Sit down with other service providers and explain what you are trying to accomplish. You might be surprised how they are willing to help you. Bringing money to the table. Can you leverage money you already have to strengthen a community partnership? Go knock on doors! DO: Help employers see how you can solve some of their human resource needs. DON’T: Seek benevolence hires. WIA Programs: Bring them clients; bring them employers. Consider: Rapidly employing people isn’t a lot different than rapidly re-housing people. What is the minimum amount of assistance necessary for the person you are working with to be hired? TIPS
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