BOSTON – Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Joanne F. Goldstein today announced $1.7 million in state funding to place more than 320 homeless individuals in stable employment opportunities. The funding will be awarded in the form of grants to seven organizations working in all regions of the state to help individuals get back to work.
“Supporting employment programs for homeless individuals is one of the many resources the Patrick administration is committed to providing so that homeless individuals and families can return to a path of stability and self-sufficiency,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Joanne F. Goldstein. “There are countless programs throughout the Commonwealth focused on this cause, and we are pleased to partner with seven exemplary organizations to train and place hundreds in sustainable employment.”
“Sometimes all it takes is a job for a homeless person to become a self-reliant tenant,” said Undersecretary for the Department of Housing and Community Development Aaron Gornstein. “Sometimes it takes training and a bit of help for a person to find that job. These agencies have done extraordinary work over the years, and I am sure will provide the services and support that their program participants will need to find a job in our growing economy.”
The grant funding is targeted to support training for unemployed or underemployed residents, 18-years or older, who are homeless and in need of training and or job placements. Commonwealth Corporation will work with the seven awarded grant recipients over the next two years to prepare, support and place more than 320 homeless individuals in sustainable employment in all regions of the Commonwealth.
Grantees were required to work collaboratively with local employers to further ensure successful placement of targets individuals. These employers are committed to the shared goal of meaningful and sustainable employment for this population.
“By including businesses in these partnerships that will train and place homeless individuals, we are ensuring that there are real jobs at the end of the training program,” said Nancy Snyder, president of Commonwealth Corporation.
The seven grant recipients and proposals include the Corporation for Public Management at $230,000 serving cities and towns in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties.
This project will support the Western Homeless Employment Network (WHEN) initiative, a new partnership between the Corporation for Public Management, the Franklin Hampshire Career Center, ServiceNet and Construct, four workforce development and social service agencies, which will address the acute shortage of employment and training programs for homeless individuals in western Massachusetts. The four organizations will provide access to career exploration, education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement and ongoing support to overcome the challenges to achieving self-sufficiency. The program will serve 70 homeless individuals.
“This funding will increase access to workforce development services to homeless individuals and families, thereby ensuring housing stabilization through career exploration, education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement and ongoing support,” said Vice President of Employment and Training, Ken Demers. “This grant will provide opportunities for personal and professional growth to those who have been unsuccessful in overcoming the myriad of challenges in achieving self-sufficiency resulting from limited access to individualized support and guidance.”
To learn more about resources available to support homeless individuals and families in Massachusetts, visit the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development: www.mass.gov/dhcd.
