Way Finders’ Employment Support Services help people envision—and make—the connection between stable housing and stable employment, all in pursuit of helping people achieve greater economic mobility. We support households who are receiving various services from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
Our programs address barriers to employment and provide one-on-one career counseling and other forms of support, such as with resume and cover letter writing, job searching, and interview training. We also offer a robust Work Readiness Certificate program.
If you do not qualify for our programs, we can refer you to one of our community partnerships with a One-Stop Career Center. There you will receive free access to job counseling, skill building workshops, and opportunities to interview with local employers.
Do you reside in a family shelter? Do you receive HomeBASE? Have you received Emergency Financial Housing Assistance in the past 12 months? Do you receive SNAP or DTA benefits?
If you answered YES to any of these questions you may be eligible for Employment Support Services.
SJI is a supportive employment program for homeless families and households receiving Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), or Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
To be eligible for the Secure Jobs Initiative, you must live in Hampden or Hampshire county and be receiving assistance from one of these programs:
CIES provides training, education, and job readiness services to families who are interested in obtaining employment and who are receiving Transitional Aid for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) through the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
All CIES participants must have a current referral from DTA. They must also meet the four criteria below:
Way Finders’ SNAP Employment & Training program can help SNAP clients realize their job search goals, such as by gaining needed skills and readiness.
To be eligible for Way Finders’ SNAP Employment & Training, you must:
Way Finders’ Work Readiness Certificate Program is open to all participants of our Employment programs and is facilitated in both English and Spanish. Participants are encouraged to attend in person (virtually), though recorded sessions are available by request.
The Work Readiness Certificate Program is designed to help people learn about—and take steps to address—employment subjects such as:
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Way Finders’ job developers build strong, long-lasting relationships with many local businesses and employment agencies. As a participant in our programs, we will help connect you with employers and resources that may lead to stable employment.
