Employment Strategies Supportive Housing

1. Employment StrategiesSupportive Housing Justine Couvares Chrysalis Center Inc May 8, 2014

2. Employment Strategies • Who we serve • Barriers -untreated mental health/disability -active substance abuse -no or poor work history -transient- no housing stability -unmotivated

3. Employment Strategies The Usual Suspects • Pre employment-soft skills • Applications • Online applications • Bring to interview/job fairs • Job development • Assist with transportation • Training

4. Employment Strategies The Not So Usual Suspects • Management buy-in that work is a PRIORITY • Executive Team to Managers/Supervisors case managers • Employment discussed at all levels of the organization and at all meetings • High level of scrutiny on employment outcomes by Management

5. Employment Strategies Organizational belief that everyone CAN WORK

6. Employment Strategies Successful Tactics- Upon admission • Tenant welcome packet to include resume builder worksheet and budget worksheet • Filled out with case worker- setting the stage that work is a priority and expected • Discuss value of additional finances • Discussion that subsidy may not be forever

7. Employment Strategies Successful Tactics-ongoing • FOCUS staff on work readiness of each person • Scale of 1-5 and reasons why • FOCUS employment energy on the 5’s- low hanging fruit • Once successful, FOCUS on moving the 4’s to 5’s, then 3’s to 4’s etc • Continue this exercise weekly in team meetings

8. Employment Strategies The team that piloted this strategy has an employment rate of 44%

9. Employment Strategies QUESTIONS