EDCO 266, Dr. Williams, Fall 2011

A Career Development Program for Homeless Individuals: A

Group Presentation by

Introduction: A Career Development Program for Homeless Individuals

Q: Why Don't Homeless People Just Get Jobs?

A: There aren't many jobs for homeless people out there right now as few employers will hire them!

Introduction: A Career Development Program for Homeless Individuals

Q: Okay, well,  aren't there 'people' helping the homeless get jobs?  Are there no prisons?  Are there no workhouses?

Many Homeless People Have Jobs Already!Despite having a job, people can still become homeless

Sometimes Employers Will Not Consider Unemployed Job Applicants...much less homeless unemployed job applicants

The Poor Economy Affects Homeless People, TooWith a rising jobless rate more people are becoming homeless and homeless people face tougher competition for jobs

Introduction: A Career Development Program for Homeless Individuals

• Description of those who will attend this program and/or use our services

• Describe the career development needs and/or challenges that this group may have.

• Description of the program 

• Who will lead the program?  Roles and responsibilities

• What is the goal of the program?

• How technology will be used

• How will we know the program is a success?

Q: What can we do then?

A: Design a career development program for the Homeless

Who will attend this program or use our services?

Career Development Program for Homeless Individuals - who we will serve:

As for the specific group of homeless individuals we will be covering, we came up with the following specifications:

• Not longer than 6 months unemployed

• Not longer than 3 months homeless

• No current or ongoing substance abuse (if they have a history, they need to be sober at least 3 months prior to entering our program

 

Who will attend this program or use our services?

Career Development Program for Homeless Individuals - who we will serve: (cont'd.)

• Services are for head of household only. We will have a limited number of beds in our facility, we wouldn't be able to house entire families. therefore, if they do have dependents, they need to be referred by one of our partnering family shelters to ensure that they're serious about completion of this program

• They must be citizens or able to have sufficient work clearance (i.e. green cards, visa)

• Able to function as psychologically capable individuals (i.e. no debilitating mental illness)

Who will attend this program or use our services?

Career Development Program for Homeless Individuals - who we will serve: (cont'd.)

• No criminal record (nothing more than a misdemeanor)

• Services will be rendered to males OR females cohorts in order to avoid intimate relationships while housed

Program Components• During the initial 14 week period, we will provide

clients with housing and work on securing shelter for them following completion of the program

• During this period, clients will work on building skills necessary for employment

• Following their completion of the 14 week intensive program, we will provide 90 days of additional services (attendance mandatory) with a focus on finding and maintaining employment

• Upon completion of the program as a whole, we will provide a lifetime of post-graduate services

Components continued...

• Shelter • Food• Dress for Success• Official Documents• Transportation needs• Literacy workshops• Computer skills• Remedial education services/ GED prep• Communication and interpersonal skills development• Mentoring

Components continued...

• Internships• Networking events• Assessments (i.e. Holland SDS, MBTI)• Post-employment counseling• Money management courses• Support groups/group counseling• Individual employment counseling

What materials will be available?

• Computers• Copy machines• Fax machines• Textbooks• GED prep materials• Newspapers, magazines, fiction and non-fiction reading

materials• Telephone and voicemail services• Email accounts• Stress management services (i.e. yoga, fitness)• Religious/spiritual events

Conclusion

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