Carry It Forward - carryitforward.net – a Eugene, OR based
non-profit that provides workforce development and housing for the unhoused.
We take so many things for granted when we are housed.
Think about the personal routine you follow to get ready for
work each day. You wake, shower, put on clean clothes, eat breakfast (or not),
brush your teeth and head out the door. However, if you are homeless, where do
you shower? And what about having clean clothes? And breakfast? Brushing your
teeth? Lack of housing has a dramatic negative impact on one’s ability to
function as a contributing member of society in ways many of us take for
granted.
Carry It Forward is a Lane County nonprofit organization dedicated
to attacking the root causes that create homelessness. The idea for the
organization was started during an ice storm in 2015. Founding members put out a call on Facebook
for community donations to help those in imminent need. After posting about the experience, donations
continued to flow in, and the organization was born. Service has now expanded from clothing
distribution to include: 24/7 shelter
services, a tiny home construction initiative, an RV renovation program, and a
workforce development program.
The workforce development program is innovative in that it
is based on a three-tiered model of scaffolded support. Client start in SPOT (Shelter Prioritizing
Onward Traction) which focuses on basic stabilization. Once stabilized, clients can enter PAVE
(Personally Assisted Vocational Engagement).
PAVE helps clients to set vocational goals, and offers stipend volunteer
work, providing a chance for clients to demonstrate consistency. Once this is accomplished, clients are eligible
for STAR (Support Training Achieve Recruitment). STAR training can lead directly to full-time
employment eligibility. Clients receive
training in first aid/CPR, Narcan administration, harm reduction and
de-escalation, peer support, and trauma informed care. Additionally, clients can enroll in micro apprenticeships
where they gain valuable construction skill building tiny home units. Employing people with lived experience helps
the organization connect with those most in need in an impactful way. Learn
more about the agency by watching this video.
Carry it Forward is providing value to Lane County clients
by providing short-term housing, and a tiered support structure for workforce
development. This enables those with
lived experience to move forward in their own lives, while also giving back to
others in need. To see their spot shelters being built and learn more about the
process, please view this video.
To learn more about Carry It Forward, please visit their website carryitforward.net.
@carryitforward #carryitforward #psu #ecopol #endhomelessness
#affordablehousing #eugene #lanecounty
~ Laurie Inglish
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