Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
CM/ ACM: John Cabrales
Date: February 21, 2017
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff direction regarding a possible funding allocation for the Employ-2-Empower Program to assist the homeless in gaining the skills, experience and confidence needed to find living-wage jobs.
Body
BACKGROUND
Employment empowers people experiencing homelessness. Meaningful and sustainable employment is a key component to creating and maintaining housing stability. However, individuals experiencing homelessness face obstacles to finding and maintaining employment. Connecting them with job training and placement programs is critical to ensure they have the tools needed to exit homelessness for long-term stability.
Denton City Council members expressed interest in pursuing a similar program to Albuquerque's program called "There's a Better Way". City staff was asked for ideas regarding how to implement a program that creates employment opportunities for the homeless in Denton. In November, 2016, a planning group of City staff and local nonprofits was assigned the task of drafting a project proposal and identifying the level of interest for implementation from other community partners.
The planning group met regularly through February 2017. The group reviewed similar projects offered in Albuquerque, Amarillo, and Denver. As a result, the group has drafted a proposal for a pilot project called Employ-2-Empower.
This program will help the literally homeless gain the skills, experience and confidence needed to find living-wage jobs through assistance such as the following:
1. Help people develop a job history.
2. Provide training and experience to develop soft skills.
3. Connect people to long-term employment opportunities.
The group is making a recommendation to the City Council to provide $42,000 in funding to be leveraged with cost sharing options provided by multiple community part...
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