A Place to Live, The Skills to Work:

The Impact of Workforce Investment

Joseph M. CarbonePresident and CEO

The WorkPlace, Inc.jcarbone@workplace.org

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“The best protection against homelessness is a meaningful and sustainable job

that pays enough to afford a safe, decent place to live. Helping those most at risk for

homelessness to access existing work support programs as well health care and income support services to which they are

entitled are key prevention strategies.”

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--Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness 2010

The Workforce Investment SystemHow It works:• WIBS receive formula

funding• Certify eligibility for

participants• Achieve federal

performance measures• Business, education,

provider, government on board

• Inadequate funding to service all those in need

How to Work It:• Be proactive• Don’t wait for the WIB to

approach you• Serve on the WIB board• Aggressively compete for

available funds related to employment and training

• Insist on a culture of support in One-Stops

• Ensure training for One-Stop staff in serving the homeless 3

• Skillpoint Alliance (Austin, TX): Construction Gateway program -- Intensive Service program with staff based in the One Stop servicing those with barriers, including the homeless.

• At Your Service (Boston, MA): Community Works Services, a voc-rehab non-profit organization, partnered with state lodging association and local hotels to develop training and employment for the homeless.

• Ending Chronic Homelessness through Employment and Housing: DOL, jointly with HUD, sponsored five-year demonstration programs in partnership with Local Workforce Investment Boards in Boston, Indianapolis, Portland, Oregon, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

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Workforce Development Success Stories

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Innovative Funding

What does it mean?

• Competitive Grants – federal, state, local, foundation• City/County Projects – partner with housing authority,

jobs funnel, education, block grants…• State – many departments (Labor, Economic

Development, Education, Environmental…)• Foundations – local, state, national• Corporate – philanthropic, custom projects• Legacy – estates & trusts

Potential Sources:

What if we compete and don’t win?”

There’s value in the effort to:• Assemble partners to build

a project• Reach out for ideas, help,

extra resources• Reach deep into the

community

Benefits: Public awareness

Organizes community support

Generate ideas

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It’s never wasted time…

It’s all part of demonstrating your worth.

Why it Works for Us

Accessible One-Stops Mobile Services

Shared Commitment:Housing + Work = Basic Rights

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Unemployment Benefits ExhaustedStatewide (CT):• May 15, 2010 – 12,200

people exhausted benefits (up to 99 week limit)

• Ongoing – 800-1,000 per week

Nationally:• Unemployment rate at

9.5% in June• 1.2 million exhausted

benefits at end of June without extension

Nationally: Of total unemployed, 55+ age group has highest long-term unemployment(49% of group unemployed 27 weeks or longer)

Driving Factors:

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Top 20 States by Rate of Foreclosures (May 2010)

1. Nevada 1/792. Arizona 1/1693. Florida 1/1744. California

1/1865. Michigan

1/2236. Georgia 1/2927. Idaho 1/3098. Illinois 1/3509. Utah 1/36010. Maryland

1/399

11. New Jersey1/440

12. Colorado1/444

13. Hawaii 1/48614. Ohio 1/48915. South Carolina 1/50616. Oregon 1/51817. Virginia 1/53018. Wisconsin

1/55719. Indiana 1/57320. Washington 1/574Total Properties with foreclosure filing reported (these 20 states): 250,600

Sources: RealtyTrac Note: RealtyTrac foreclosure numbers based on a count of the total number of properties with at least one foreclosure filing reported during the month.

Foreclosure Crisis Continues

Multi-Faceted Response

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Policy

Programs

Support

Public Policy

• Collaboration with community and housing service providers

• Cross-training for shelter and supported housing staff• Contribute to the region’s 10-year plan to end

homelessness and to Continuum of Care• Streamlined process for education and training of

chronically homeless, particularly vets• Coordinate with vocational rehab to service SSI/SSDI• Build provider capacity through training

Innovative Programs

• Property Management Careers Program for supported housing clients

• HomeWork Program to train supported housing case managers to help clients enter or return to work

• ReEntry Works Program for homeless with a criminal record

• Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program grant recipient 6 consecutive years

• Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitative Services staff presence in the One-Stop

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Programs and Outreach in SWCT

Property Management

Career Pathways Program

ReEntry Works

STRIVE of Fairfield County

Jobs Funnel

HomeWork

HomelessVeterans

ReintegrationProgram

Pathways Out of Poverty

IncarceratedVeterans

TransitionProgram

CTWorks Career Centers Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program Veterans Workforce Investment Program Homes for the Brave ReEntryWorks Jobs Funnel STRIVE of Fairfield County Pathways Out of Poverty HomeWork Property Management Career Pathways Program

CTWorks Career Centers

Veterans Workforce Investment

Program

Homes for the Brave

HomelessVeterans

ReintegrationProgram

Program Highlight:

• Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program:– Transitional and permanent housing assistance

through partnership with Homes for the Brave– Case management, housing counseling, vocational

skills, job information, supportive services– Training supported by WorkPlace scholarships– Job search and development by One-Stop– VA of CT Health Center partnership– 49 % Employment rate at exit for last grant cycle

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Support Services

Mobilize the Career Coach as an outreach and education platform at local shelters and supportive housing units

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Established a Community Resource Center to provide micro-grants

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Support Services (continued)

Provide transportation assistance

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Help women who are struggling to find interview appropriate clothing

Provide on-site ABE/GED programming within our One-Stops

National Benchmarks

• HUD goal for Continuum of Care: 20% of persons employed at program exit. Bridgeport-area CoC reached 44% in 2008 and 36% in 2009– HomeWork program provides Technical Assistance

• Landmark Steward B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (now McKinney-Vento) created the Job Training for the Homeless Demonstration Program in the 1980s-1990s.

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"No one should experience homelessness, no one should be without a safe stable place to call home."

- US Interagency Council on Homelessness

• Expect more of local WIBS• Make a part of the culture• Be in their face• Silence produces nothing

• Expanded partnerships add value• Trained and knowledgeable staff• Partners connected to One-Stop

programs• Aggressively compete for available

funds• Make sure WIBs compete too• Make WIBs grant partners

• Develop outreach strategies• Go beyond the One-Stop

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Contact Information

• Joseph M. Carbone• President & CEO• The WorkPlace, Inc.• E-mail: jcarbone@workplace.org• Phone: 203-610-8500