# Presentation: 782101

## Improving Access to Mainstream Services for Families with Children Experiencing Homelessness2005

**Assisting Homeless Families with Employment Skills**

## SEARCH

- Associate Vice President
- Programs
- Houston, TX
- klyons@searchproject.org
- www.searchproject.org

## 		Mission Statement:

- SEARCH serves Houston by assisting homeless people with dignity and providing those who choose to change their lives the resources necessary to become productive citizens.

## Houston Statistics

- 2005 enumeration found 12,000 to 14,000 people are homeless on a given day
- This number is BEFORE Katrina hit the Gulf Coast

##             Houston Statistics

- Educational level of homeless individuals
- 8.6%  <9th
- 17.3% Some high school
- 32.0% High school grad
- 25.2% GED
- 13.2% Some college
- 3.2%   College grad
- 0.5%   Post college

## Reasons for Loss of Housing

- Job loss     			59.0%
- Drug use			26.3%
- Forced out			20.9%
- Domestic violence		19.2%
- Disability			11.0%

## Program Design Based on Need

## SEARCH’s Approach when Designing Programs for Homeless Families 

- Identifying needs
- Identifying barriers
- Locating funding to meet the needs
- Providing a familiar environment
- Experienced staff

- Providing additional services to address ongoing issues

**Notes:**
Discuss SEARCH’s approach/objectives when designing programs

## SEARCH Programs

- Resource center
- Mobile Outreach
- Employment Education Center
- House of Tiny Treasures Child Development Center
- Health care services
- Onsite housing
- Community-based housing
- Business enterprises

**Notes:**
Comprehensive programs, meeting the needs of the homeless.  

## Employment Education Center

- Literacy Program
- GED Program
- Job Bank
- The WorkSource

**Notes:**
Short history of how we began then where we are today

## Adult Education ProgramFunded Through HUD and TEA

-    SEARCH’s Employment Education Center’s Adult Education Program’s primary purpose is to provide services that enhance an individual’s ability to read and write in English and compute and solve problems to function effectively at home, in the workplace, and in society at large. To this end, we operate two separately funded classrooms to respond in the most effective manner to the needs of our clients.

**Notes:**
Discuss original program and the need for additional instructor and more aggressive case management to meet the needs of participants entering with lower level entry scores (Below 5th grade in reading, math, language)

- SEARCH’s Employment Education Center was awarded an SHP SSO contract in 1996 to enhance the employability and long-term self-sufficiency of the homeless people of Houston. This grant provides life skills, job readiness classes, case management, short-term training, job leads, supplies needed for employment, and followup services (job coaching & case management) for up to 1 year after completion of the program.

- HUD-funded Job Bank

## Relationship with Our Local Workforce Development Board

- JTPA
- WIA
- The WorkSource

## The WorkSource

- How did a homeless provider become a career office operator?

**Notes:**
Mention evaluation by Social Policy Research Associates and approaching board with the idea

## The WorkSource

-     In 2005, SEARCH received $630,857 to operate a demonstration local career office that provides services for all residents in the Gulf Coast area under the WorkSource franchise requirements – and also offers a unique and innovative combination of family and individual support services _for the homeless_.

## The WorkSource

- Traditional one-stop employment services
- Job placement assistance
- Access to computers, fax, copiers, & phones
- Job readiness & life skills workshops
- Occupational skills training
- Case management
- Counseling
- Information and referral

## Additional services SEARCH provides 

- Hot lunch
- Showers
- Laundromat
- Clothing room
- Mail service
- Community voice mail
- Medical and dental services
- Access to other providers located on site (VA, SS, MHMR, HCHD)

- - Hot lunch
- - Showers
- - Laundromat
- - Clothing room
- - Mail service
- - Community voice mail
- - Medical and dental services
- - Access to other providers located on site (VA, SS, MHMR, HCHD)

## Challenges

- Combining traditional and nontraditional employment services under one roof
- Incorporating SEARCH’s goals with the Workforce Board’s performance targets
- Developing reporting methods for the additional funding streams not included in traditional one-stops
- Change is difficult!!!

**Notes:**
Flow; Goals are the same yet different; we’re different than any other contractor; 

## Community reaction

- SEARCH staff
- Other homeless providers
- Other career office staff
- Customers