Breaking the Cycleof

Chronic UnemploymentYvonne Nair, CEO

Saffron Strand, Inc.Saffron Strand, Inc.

124A Washington Avenue, Unit CPoint Richmond, CA 94801

Tel: (510) 778-9492Fax: (510) 778-9493

E-mail: info@saffronstrand.orgWebsite: http://saffronstrand.org

Our Mission

• Building job skills and increasing employment of homeless adults and youth in Richmond and other Bay Area communities

• Providing public education and professional training to increase employment and economic self-sufficiency of homeless, hard-to-employ, and long-term unemployed

The Need: Get the Homeless & At-Risk Back to Work

• National overview

• California situation

• Contra Costa County challenge

• Richmond -- the Perfect Labor Storm

Major challenge – homeless, hard-to-employ, and long-term unemployed face barriers to employment that determine duration of unemployment

• Technical barriers• Psychological and behavioral barriers• Saffron Strand intake process

Technical barriers have practical solutions. Psychological and behavioral barriers require case management and intentional community.

Challenge of Work Readiness

• Definition of trauma• Causes of trauma• Impact of trauma• Shifting the focus• Coping strategies• Taking the fence down

Case Management Tools:

Trauma Informed Care

• What is Motivational Interviewing?• Why is it used?• How does it work?• Readiness for change• Stages of Change1. Precontemplation2. Contemplation3. Preparation and determination4. Action and will power5. Maintenance

Case Management Tools:

Motivational Interviewing

& Behavior Change

• Definition of intentional community

• Role of the intentional community

• Social supports of an intention community

Intentional Community

Homeless People Want to Work

• Sacramento Homeless Connect

• Homeless survey in Austin, Texas

• Homeless survey in Baltimore, Maryland

• Homeless survey in Portland, Oregon

• Saffron Strand’s interest survey

• “Employment and Income Supports for Homeless People” -- David Long, John Rio, Jeremy Rosen in National Symposium on Homelessness Research, 2007

• “Alternative Employment Strategies for Hard-to-Employ TANF Recipients” -- Erin Jacobs and Dan Bloom, MDRC, 2011

• Saffron Strand experience -- stipend versus no stipend

What Research Shows

Saffron Strand Center: Work-Ordered Day

Time General Activity Skills Building9:00 a.m. -- 10:00 a.m.

Member sign in Breakfast Work readiness

update Employer/co-

worker issues Answering

phones Shelter/ housing

needs and issues

Food needs Health issues Domestic

violence Mental

health/substance abuse issues

Criminal justice issues

Working in an environment of trust, respect and dignity

Preparing for the work day Dressing appropriately for work Work related social interactions with

other volunteer staff and other members

Appropriate phone communications Responding to potential employers

and others in a timely fashion Learning to use office equipment and

software consistently and accurately Learning and accessing resources to

address their individual needs

Saffron Strand Center: Work-Ordered Day

Time General Activity Skills Building

10:00 a.m. --12:00 p.m.

Addressing immediate, emergent issues that would interfere with membership or employment

Targeted job search Resumes and cover letters Job interview skills practice Applying to schools Financial aid applications Help with homework

assignments Clean Slate applications Other benefits applications EEOC complaint issues

Technical skills Working on the

computer Key boarding skills Learning effective e-

mail Answering phones,

professional messages Internet searches Microsoft Office Suite

and other softwareSoft skills Working with diverse

co-workers, supervisors, etc.

Time management Managing resources Appropriate work-

related language and behavior

Dealing with racism, stereotypes and biases

Saffron Strand Center: Work-Ordered DayTime General Activity Skills Building

12:00 p.m. –1:00 p.m.

LunchInformal involvement of “intentional community” in addressing issues

Team work in the kitchen

Proper food handling, preparing and serving

Table manners Proper nutrition Cleaning up1:00 p.m.

– 3:00 p.m.

Daily Center operations, community outreach, projects

Programming questions Finding member

resources Presentations to funders

and community leaders Leading member

meetings Benefit information Warm line outreach Recruitment Annual Conference, etc.

Critical thinking skills

Applying logic to projects

Appropriate use of office equipment and software

Creative work Skills for special

projects Learning how to

speak to community leaders

Leadership training Member advocacy

training Giving back

Why It Works

Trauma-informed, professional-quality working environment which offers a medium of trust, respect, and dignity

Emotional support through an intentional community dedicated to achieving gainful

employment or enterprise for every member

Staging area during normal business hours in which to practice life, social,

and work skills

Identification and reinforcement of individual strengths, including factors of resiliency which

enable recovery from the trauma of homelessness

Transition from learned helplessness and survival conditioning to self-reliance and giving

back to the community

Empowerment of each member as an economically independent individual with

valuable work skills and experience worthy of respect and paid compensation

Case Study 1: Clinton

• 24 year old African American male born and raised in Texas• Lived in several foster homes and emergency shelters as child• Raised in very rigid, religious foster homes• Moved to California in search of employment• History of serial employment lasting no longer than 6 months to a year

Case Study 2: Natalie

• 34 year old African American female raised in Richmond, CA• Had long criminal history due to drug abuse and mental health issues• Due to early exposure, found education and employment in social services field in order to make changes in system she found to be flawed• Held positions in AODA rehabilitation clinic, child services programs, and mental health clinic but was always terminated for lack of training and inappropriate behavior

Case Study 3: Anderson

• 67 year old African American male born and raised in the Bay Area• Suffered exposure to drugs and alcohol as a child•Lived several homeless shelters as adult with repeated drug rehabilitation relapses•Lived in very rigid, religious treatment facility and transitional housing program•Mouth had most teeth missing with abscesses and ulceration due to chronic drug abuse•History of serial employment lasting no longer than 1 year

Case Study 4: Silvia

• 26 year old Hispanic female born in rural Mexico• Emigrated to U.S. at 16 years old for a better life• Education limited to 6th grade level, spoke very little English• Had 3 children – 2 grade school aged, 1 toddler• Had extended family in U.S. • Spouse required Silvia to stay at home raising children but spouse unable to make enough money to solely support the family• Had several jobs cleaning homes and offices and working in food services, but was terminated due to lack of training and child care issues

Saffron Strand Outcomes

• More than 250 homeless and low income people served

• 210 total members• 74 active members• 12 very active

members• 108 currently

employed• 41 employed 2

years or more• 37 employed 4

years or more

• 66% African Americans

• 18% Caucasians• 8% Hispanics• 6% Asians• 2% Native

Americans

• 42% Ages 18-35 • 36% Ages 36-55• 21% Ages 56-75• 1% Ages 76+

Questions?

Saffron Strand, Inc.124A Washington Avenue, Unit C

Point Richmond, CA 94801Tel: (510) 778-9492Fax: (510) 778-9493

E-mail: info@saffronstrand.orgWebsite: http://saffronstrand.org

Thank You!