Meghann Cotter CONNECTING THE HOMELESS CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM TO MAINSTREAM RESOURCES

 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

 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

 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

 Looked around in our community to see who was offering employment-related services already.  Employment Resources, Inc. (services for 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

 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

 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