Coalition for the Homeless - First Step 2008

A record 9,400 families sleep each night in New York City's emergency shelter system. Thousands more live doubled- or tripled-up with friends or relatives, unable to afford housing in one of the country's tightest real estate markets. The overwhelming majority of these homeless families are headed by single mothers who want to provide their children with safe and stable homes. Many lack the career skills necessary to find and maintain living wage employment. Others suffer from low-self esteem and self-worth, usually caused by years of domestic abuse. That's why the Coalition's First Step Job Training Program is so vital. By empowering homeless women to reach self-sufficiency through hands on job training, internships, mentoring, job placement and social service support, First Step benefits every member of the family.

First Step's innovative 14-week curriculum includes over 75 hours of computer instruction, along with literacy workshops, communication and interpersonal skills development, and other hands-on activities that give students a thorough and practical understanding of the job market and workplace. First Step also places students in internships with major corporations or non-profit organizations, and offers mentoring by experienced professional women. We also provide a lifetime of post-graduate services, including job placement assistance, ongoing mentoring from staff and volunteers, support groups, additional training seminars, and numerous networking opportunities with alumni and business professionals.

Each year First Step helps hundreds of women achieve a newfound sense of self-esteem and direction. The program has proven to be highly effective, with over 75 percent of last year's graduates securing full-time employment. At present, approximately 85 percent of those who were placed in jobs in the last year remain employed.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• coalition
• homeless
• job
• training
• women
• nonprofit
• public
• service
• announcements
• outreach
• new
• york
• jobless
• single
• mothers

[CoalitionforHomeless]

Great video! I am impressed at your innovative way to fight against poverty and homelessness; it seems we are engaged in similar work as our shelter also provides educational and vocational opportunities.

Be sure to check out our video and let me know what you think: I'd love your input!