Partnership grant continues support for proven employment services for public-housing residents

Category:

The Partnership for New Communities recently awarded a $200,000 grant to the Association House of Chicago to continue and expand its programs to help public-housing residents train for, find and keep good jobs.

Association House will provide contextualized literacy training and transitional jobs, two types of programs that have proven effective in reaching public-housing residents, along with supportive services.

The grant is part of Opportunity Chicago, an initiative co-founded by The Partnership, the Chicago Housing Authority and the City of Chicago that aims to help 5,000 public-housing residents prepare for and find quality employment over five years (2006-2010).

Through programs funded by this grant: 51 public-housing residents will complete an 8-week program focused on career preparation; 15 will participate in a transitional job (real work experience but with wages paid through the program); 25 will gain unsubsidized employment following the program; Sitter Service, in-house childcare for participants’ children funded by a previous Partnership grant, will take care of 20 children; and 20 parents will be involved in parenting classes at Sitter Service.

Opportunity Chicago is the first initiative of its kind and has generated many new lessons about the particular needs of unemployed public-housing residents and what it takes to help them successfully engage with the world of work.

One of several Opportunity Chicago providers, Association House has tracked outcomes for these programs since 2007 and continually refined its approach based on what works for public-housing residents.

Armed with that information, the organization added more transitional jobs opportunities; stepped up job readiness and career planning; piloted and formalized on-site childcare and parenting classes; and made programs more customizable to suit participants’ individual needs.

“Association House is a strong and experienced partner in Opportunity Chicago and has contributed valuable information about effective workforce development for public-housing residents,” said Maria Hibbs, The Partnership’s executive director. “Continuous learning and improvement and the ability to be flexible are key to why Opportunity Chicago has produced strong results.”

The initiative exceeded its goal of placing 5,000 individuals earlier this year.

Read more news

Share it

• Del.icio.us
• Facebook
• Stumble Upon
• Twitter
• digg
• email