We are a Housing First model. This is a core component of our program, and everyone in our program has housing. Our belief is that everyone needs a safe place to call home, and that is a prerequisite to stabilization and subsequent moving to self-sufficiency. Housing is the first step, and it is part of our program.
After students have been employed for 2-3 months through our program, we facilitate finding and securing independent housing for them. We provide ongoing community and support. We measure how many are still employed and maintaining their housing 12 and 18 months later.
We have a commercial kitchen and run groups of students through the kitchen for six weeks of hands-on learning. After successful completion of the curriculum the students enter our 6-12 week internship which we also run onsite. At the end of the 3-5 month training period, we facilitate them getting employment in the community, ideally at one of our business partners.
Continued housing and support are maintained to provide stability during this transition period, and to help ensure they keep their jobs. We help the students find independent housing as they become once again self-sufficient.