Church volunteers assist the Outreach Director and a staff of two to provide these services to the neighborhood. A popular service of the Center is the availability of a fax machine, telephone, copier, and computers. The church makes this equipment available to welfare recipients to helop them obtain employment. Participants can drop by during the day, for example, to use the fax to send resumes to prospective employers. The telephone assists with follow-up on job leads.
Computers help recipients access the Internet for employment opportunities.
The Center plays an advocacy role in representing the individual rights of welfare recipients. Staff members accompany individuals in their visits with social workers to help them fill out forms and file appeals. SVOC is a community organizing coalition of 30 African American Protestant and Latino Catholic churches. Its operating principle is that programs should spring from the people, not directly from the government. Community organizing associations have in the past not usually wanted to venture into the area of providing services.