Is “Employment First” the Next Leading Strategy to End Homelessness?

Rohit Varma
Sep 6, 2018 · 4 min read

One of the most popular approaches to ending homelessness in the United States is “housing first.” With this approach, people experiencing homelessness receive permanent housing before being connected to resources so they have a stable environment in which to address the issues at the core of their problems. Historically, organizations required people to complete substance abuse, job training or other programs before they received housing.

The housing-first approach has helped reduce homelessness in the past decade. To continue this trend, conversations about a new approach called “employment first” have begun. This approach emphasizes the importance of securing employment to maintain housing and pushes for stronger employment services programs.

What Does It Look Like to Implement an Employment-First Approach?

While it may sound contradictory, housing first and employment first can work in tandem. The employment-first approach requires both stable housing and finances for a person to move forward. One program that has already implemented an employment-first approach works closely with each client to decide how they can achieve stability — whether that means negotiating a grace period with a mortgage lender to give the person time to focus on a job search, or placing them in supportive housing as they improve their skills and build a resume. Next, staff members help people identify what they have to offer to potential employers and practice interviewing techniques.

To facilitate the process, programs with an employment-first approach must forge relationships with local employers and job placement agencies so clients can make use of their unique abilities and talents. People often become homeless due to unfortunate circumstances, not because they lack job skills and experience. AimHire, an employment-first program, has helped people secure jobs as technicians, teachers and lawyers. Clients interested in exploring new fields can often find paid internships to get the experience they need to launch a new career. Because AimHire also understands the importance of housing, it networks with local landlords to help secure shared housing and other affordable solutions. The program ensures that all participants earn enough to support themselves.

What Can Individuals Expect From an Employment-First Program?

The employment-first approach can have a powerful effect on the mental health of someone recovering from a period of homelessness. AimHire makes the basic assumption that every person who walks through its doors is employable and treats them that way. When people are experiencing intense instability, they can feel like they have no control. However, seeing people believe in them unconditionally helps boost their self-confidence and fuels the process of rebuilding. That’s why service organizations need to focus on finding the right solutions for clients, rather than simply pushing them down available paths. Employment-first programs can prove empowering and help people feel more in control of their lives as they engage with other supportive programs. Furthermore, getting people employed promotes social inclusion and facilitates the process of reintegrating into society.

Help in an employment-first program does not end after a person finds a job, just as programs that adopt the housing-first approach do not stop their support once people secure housing. AimHire helps participants obtain a job in an average of 90 days and provides them with a month’s rent during the transition back to work. In general, the program’s operational costs are less than $6,000 per participant, making it cost-effective. Participants continue to receive advice and guidance with their decisions for as long as they wish after beginning employment. In addition, AimHire offers other forms of support, including mediation. Employment-first programs need to continue the relationship with their clients so they can address any issues that arise so problems don’t result in becoming homeless again.

What Impact Might Employment First Have on Homelessness?

Some of the factors driving today’s high rates of homelessness include underemployment, low wages and unemployment. An employment-first approach can help individuals regain stability, but it’s important to recognize that people experiencing homelessness face many barriers to employment. Some of the obstacles to securing a job with a living wage include chronic health problems, criminal records, lack of access to childcare and mental health issues. Employment-first programs need to recognize these barriers and help people find solutions, which may mean engaging with other forms of support during the process. Many of the hurdles can be overcome by forging relationships with employers and developing mutual trust.

Research shows that people experiencing homelessness, including those who have been chronically homeless, can secure and maintain meaningful employment when they receive opportunities and sustained support. The US Department of Labor maintains the Job Training for the Homeless Demonstration Program, which shows employment as a legitimate route to stability. If more service providers begin taking an employment-first approach with their programs, many hurdles to employment for people experiencing homelessness may begin to disappear as the process becomes more normalized and employers become more willing to consider these candidates.

Rohit Varma

Written by

Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, is an internationally recognized opthalmologist and researcher who focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

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