# Presentation: 924066

## Principles & Practices:Assisting Homeless Families with Employment Skills

- John Rio
- Advocates for Human Potential

- Policy Academy 9
- Anaheim, CA
- November 2, 2005

## 
“Housing First”

Readiness not required – from streets to permanent housing
Participation in treatment or sobriety not a condition for housing
Harm reduction strategies used
Scattered-site, master-leased, or congregate housing
Support through integrated services team
Protection of a lease
Stability in safe, affordable mainstream housing is the goal

**“****Housing First”**
- Readiness not required – from streets to permanent housing
- Participation in treatment or sobriety not a condition for housing
- Harm reduction strategies used
- Scattered-site, master-leased, or congregate housing
- Support through integrated services team
- Protection of a lease
- Stability in safe, affordable mainstream housing is the goal

**“****Work First”**
- Readiness not required – “standing offer of work”
- Work as a tool for engagement
- Jobs range in skills & wages
- Harm reduction approach
- Supported employment, customized to client situation
- Access to ongoing integrated treatment and case management
- Consumers meet job standards
- Independent mainstream jobs at a living wage using employment EBP is the goal

## Expected Outcomes

- Improved self-esteem & confidence
- Facilitate motivation to change
- Establish trust in self & others
- Rapid placement in permanent housing
- Reduction in street homelessness
- Increased tenure in housing
- Results not contingent on clean & sober behavior

- Make $$ - Pay Rent
- Provide hope, improved self-esteem, & confidence
- Facilitate motivation to change
- Establish trust in self & others
- Desire to increase hours of work & obtain a better job
- Develop an initial job goal & support services plan
- Improve knowledge of job options, skills, & credentials needed
- Practice job skills & aptitudes

- Housing First

- Work First

## Challenges

- Leasing-up scattered site
- Securing needed supports for families
- Substance use issues
- Family-sustaining employment
- Creating career pathways
- Managing the 3-legged stool
- Modulating service intensity

## Principles – Linking Homeless & Workforce Development Systems

- 1. High value placed on employment services & housing for homeless individuals & families
- 2. Local champion bridges systems
- 3. Mainstream workforce system acts as a leader for homeless employment services across the multiple systems
- 4. Shared planning – LWIB and CoC

## 5. Funding is coordinated and “braided” to serve homeless people
6. Organization of service delivery reflects community choice
7. Engage faith-based community, corrections, and MH/SA treatment 
8. Co-case management share the goals of housing and job stability
9. Practitioners and leaders see the need to connect employment & housing to end homelessness
10. Develop and maintain staff skills

- 6. Organization of service delivery reflects community choice
- 7. Engage faith-based community, corrections, and MH/SA treatment
- 8. Co-case management share the goals of housing and job stability
- 9. Practitioners and leaders see the need to connect employment & housing to end homelessness
- 10. Develop and maintain staff skills

## Resources

**www.workforce3one.org**
**www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-homeless.htm**
**www.socialsecurity.gov/homelessness**
**www.csh.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=3562&nodeID=81**
**http://www.beyondshelter.org**