Keep Pushing Forward

By Employment Job Coach Constance Taylor

When Ms. Joiner shared that her job was moving to another state, I searched for the right words to say.  I knew how hard this young lady had worked to secure position. The hourly wage was sufficient for permanent housing. She had just purchased a truck. The kids were all in daycare and the daycare payment fit her budget. How could this be happening? Not right now!

Ms. Joiner had just been approved for her new home. The income from her job allowed her to become self–sufficient.  She was now faced with no income. I assured her everything would be okay and reminded her that with her motivation and tenacity she would have another job very soon, “You just wait and see.” 

As we talked, I learned more about her dream job, and what type of career would inspire her. Although she never complained, she did tell me that the last job was only a stepping stone to where she wanted to be. She needed her high school diploma to move forward. She just didn’t have the time to devote to improving her education; her priority was having the income necessary to providing a home for her five children.  She also shared her desire to reinstate her Certified Nursing Assistance (CNA) license so that she could go back to taking care of people who were unable to care for themselves. At that moment I reflected back on the day she came to Community LINC.  She maneuvered with the twins in a double stroller and another young child walking alongside her. Each child was intently listening and following her instructions.  She was a natural nurturer and helping her reinstate her CNA was the way to get her back on track. We located the funds to pay for the license and she quickly registered for an upcoming test. Within a few weeks, she received her certificate and was on her way. She networked with some people in the healthcare field and was hired very quickly.

Ms. Joiner enjoys her new job and is excited about the benefits that include transportation to work if she ever needs it.  Recently, she was offered an opportunity for a paid training course to become a Certified Medical Technician. If successful, she’ll increase her salary. She works manyof her off days and just secured part-time employment with another company on the weekends.

Ms. Joiner is a perfect example of what it means to keep pushing forward.

Intake Matters: Intake during the winter

By Intake Case Manager Holly Gardner

 

This is my first winter working in my capacity as an intake specialist. There is always a sense of urgency when you are working with homeless families, but it really intensifies as the temperatures drop, becoming more deadly, and our volume of calls and referrals increase.

 

With this in mind I wanted to highlight our newest family to move in. A mom who is in her 3^rd trimester of pregnancy, a dad and their two 10 year old sons.  For the last few weeks they have been living in a vehicle on and off.

 

How does a family go from having close family ties, community supports, income and some security to living in their vehicle? These are sometimes complex answers.

 

This dad’s complicated history includes being jailed for unpaid child support for a son he actually has custody of.  During this time, he lost the apartment that he had been renting for over 2 years. Although very fit and healthy, he is finding it challenging to find a job with a felony on his record.

 

Mom's history includes fleeing a violent ex, receiving counseling for related issues and choosing to move away from an unhealthy support system even if it means entirely rebuilding her life.

 

Needless to say, after I move a family in, our employment coach, family coach and family therapist have their work cut out for them. It isn't easy to connect with a new family, “meet them where they are”, and encourage them on their journey to remove barriers find a new home and a new start. Housing is our priority and we work as a team to help ensure the most successful transition from our program to what truly will be a permanent home.

 

The gratitude parents share with me is hard to explain.  It is warmth like no other. 

 

This family explained how having a simple meal together in their dining room with their two boys seated together was what they were looking forward to the most.  This is a small gesture that many families may take for granted. A meal together, seated at the same table, and how that moment is what inspires them to keep moving forward.

 

As I drove home Friday to my elderly dad and husband, my mind was on this family and their evening together.  We also had our dinner together that very chilly night and I gave my thanks that we had one less family sleeping outside in these bitter conditions.

 

We know there is one more family with hope again, a plan and supportive staff ready to greet them Monday morning. I know our work with this family has only begun, but making it to this stage from their life on the streets in the heart of winter feels like such an accomplishment. It is truly warming.

 

Jobs are fundamental

We've been watching the number of families who have left the transitional housing program for permanent homes decline over the last two years. To figure out why, Senior Director of Programs and Operations Jeannine Short compared the characteristics of the people who succeeded in transitioning to permanent homes to those who didn't, including their self-sufficiency assessment scores. Not surprisingly, she pinpointed unemployment as the most important factor in the decline.

We knew that unemployment was keeping people from "working the program" and it goes without saying that unemployed people aren't likely to get permanent housing.

Jeannine's study revealed that 100% of the families who exited successfully to permanent homes in 2009 and year-to-date in 2010 had jobs. Only 20% of the families who left without a permanent home had jobs. Their stays were also much shorter –13 months for those who exited successfully compared to less than 5 months for those who did not. Our residents don't always have marketable skills and they are competing for jobs with many others who do. Those who give up without a job, pay a high price for getting discouraged.

Jobs aren't the only factor that permanently ends homelessness. Financial education (budgeting), new life skills, coaching and mental health counseling all contribute to building the skills needed to stay living independently. But, jobs, like affordable housing, are fundamental.

In response, we've beefed up our job placement program by creating a computer lab where our clients can access the Internet, write resumes and get coaching (and the kids can have supervised access at night). And, we've been extremely fortunate to find that one of our interns, Norma, is skilled in job placement. In the few weeks since she took over the lab, she's found jobs for three residents we didn't think had a snowball's chance of being hired. Demand is so high, she's having to set up a schedule to accommodate both our outreach clients and our transitional housing residents. There is light at the end of this tunnel.