The Homeless Action Team

1. The Homeless Action Team Hospitality Certification Program for persons that are homeless and have a disability

2. Hospitality Certification Program • People with disabilities face considerable barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment in the competitive labor market. • Work not only provides the financial means for covering the material expenses of food, clothing, and shelter but it also imposes punctuality, responsibility, and stability.

3. HospitalityCertification Program A subcommittee of the Indiana Employment Network, the Homeless Action Team, devised a plan and developed a program to improve employment outcomes for people with a disability who are homeless or formerly homeless and living in permanent supportive housing.

4. Hospitality Certification Program • START Curriculum designed by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association • Training for jobs in hospitality industry • 180+ hours over 10 weeks • Includes locally developed “soft skills” curriculum

5. Hospitality Certification ProgramTarget Population • People with disabilities And • Homeless, or formerly homeless and living in permanent supportive housing

6. Hospitality Certification ProgramTarget Population-Eligibility • Disability status assessment • Voc Rehab functional limitations • Priority given to people with significant disabilities • Educational level • START is 8th – 9th grade reading level • We’ll try to work with those who read at 4th grade level

7. Hospitality Certification ProgramEligibility • Priority to those with significant disabilities • Must be homeless or formerly homeless living in permanent supportive housing • Must have accepted treatment • Meet minimum threshold of readiness • Have interest in hospitality employment • Must be VR eligible

8. Hospitality Certification ProgramEligibility/Referral Form • Checklist to help program staff assess eligibility • Referral and recommendation from a servicing agency • Signed statement of support throughout training

9. Hospitality Certification ProgramApproach • Classroom setting • Skills-based training in 12 line-level positions • Job shadowing • Field trips • Hands on experiences

10. Hospitality Certification ProgramProgram Graduates • Receive certificate of completion from AH&LA • After 90 days on the job, grads qualify for a professional industry certification for their current position • Receive job placement assistance

11. Hospitality Certification ProgramProgram Staff Positions • Project Director—manage project • Business liaison—identify vocational needs • Care Coordinator—develop individualized plans • Trainer—conduct START trainings

12. Hospitality Certification ProgramProgram Evaluation and Outcomes • We will conduct process evaluation which will look at quality assurance, client and employer satisfaction and program improvement. • The annual evaluation will look at program outcomes

13. Hospitality Certification Program Partners • Adult & Child • Behavior Corp • CHIP • Cummins BHS • Gallahue • Homeless Initiative Program • Horizon House • Indiana Dept of Veterans Affairs • IPIC • Midtown • Second Helpings • All major downtown hotels

14. Hospitality Certification Program • We will roll out more details on how and where to make a referral once staff positions are filled