Central City Concern - centralcityconcern.org – a Portland, OR non-profit dedicated to supporting the unhoused.
If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you may have had
the opportunity to watch a video about Walt. A person who successfully
transitioned from being unhoused to housed. In the video, Walt credits finding
a job as the main reason he was able to obtain housing. You may think it would
be easy to find a job in this market, where employers are understaffed and
paying more per hour to attract talent than they did pre-COVID. Well, pre or
post COVID, finding a job when you are homeless is challenging. Fortunately,
there are nonprofit agencies in Oregon that offer programs to help the unhoused
find employment. Central City Concern (CCC) is a Portland based nonprofit that
helps people “find home, regain health, and move toward long-term stability and
success.” Providing job search assistance and training programs is a key focus
for this agency. CCC offers free job counseling, resume assistance, workshops,
and access to computers, copiers, phone/voicemail, and fax services. Their programs
are nationally recognized and help to reduce barriers to securing permanent,
sustainable employment. Through their Employment Access and Blackburn Centers, CCC
provides clients with job readiness training, coaching, skills workshops, interview
workshops, vocational and computer training, transportation assistance, and
help with cover letter and resume writing. And, when it is time for an
interview, their clients can select an outfit from the clothing closet!
One of the great things about this agency is their connection
to employers. Since 1992, they have been helping companies hire talented and
qualified employees who are ready to work. Employers can partner with the
Employment Access Center free of charge. They appreciate the hiring support the
agency provides, particularly during seasonal or busy periods. CCC’s housing
program also contributes greatly to helping people obtain employment. Their Housing is Health initiative offers
over 2,100 housing units in partnership with local hospitals and health systems. Clients are allowed to pick from several housing
options based upon their situation: low-barrier, substance-free recovery, mental
health challenges, hospitalization recovery, recently reunited families, or
newly employed moving toward self-sufficiency.
But CCC does even more!
They provide clients with a vast array of information and resources
focused on two additional areas: healthcare, and substance abuse recovery. As a
Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), they provide services at multiple
locations, addressing both physical and mental health needs. They also offer
recovery services on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Review the
following KGW News video to learn more about their programs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN4CsA4yu68
As they state on their website, “CCC’s approach addresses both the systemic drivers of homelessness and the individual factors that reinforce it.” CCC offers a unique and critical wraparound service to the unhoused population and community at large through job training and partnership with local employers, complemented by their health and recovery services. The following video highlights their Clean Start program.
@cccportland #centralcityconcern #psu #ecopol #affordablehousing
#portland #pdx
~ Laurie Inglish
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