SERVICES WE PROVIDE

The Goldie’s Place Employment Assistance and Supportive Services program is designed to address core issues underlying homelessness, and to fill gaps in the existing services offered through other agencies. Emphasis is placed on one-to-one interaction with a focus on building self-sufficiency and self-confidence. Taken together, these services form a unique, integrated system that works holistically by enhancing self-esteem, job readiness, presentable appearance, dental wellness and employability.

The Employment Assistance Program

As the heart of the Goldie’s Place services, the Employment Assistance Program provides a group of services that help homeless individuals to increase their employability and their skills to obtain employment. Through employment, people who are homeless can become more financially stable and independent so that they can handle the financial and social responsibilities of permanent housing. Obtaining and maintaining employment is clearly a crucial step in achieving self-sufficiency. Many people who are homeless are unprepared to handle the demands of a job. They often lack self-esteem and on the job coping skills.

Our employment staff assists individuals with an assessment of skills, interests and work history. They also help improve job search techniques, resume writing, application preparation, interview and presentation skills. With guidance from job coaches, each participant creates an individual service plan, mapping out concrete steps to securing and maintaining a self-sustaining, permanent job.

In 2005, Goldie’s Place initiated the following two-track employment assistance program:

1) The Gateway Track
The Gateway Track can provide help for those individuals who demonstrate fewer challenges to finding employment. They can use Goldie’s resources to polish up their resumes, access online job searches and then apply to those job leads by phone, fax or email. Goldie’s staff helps with transportation to interviews and during the individual's first week on the job. Participants are encouraged to stay in contact for ongoing support.

“I got just the help I needed. Now I’ve got a job!”

2) The Bridge Track
Most of Goldie’s participants require more employment assistance. They are challeged by little or no work history, low skills and very little education. Additional barriers to employment such as ex-offender status and/or substance abuse are typical issues. For those who are willing to make a commitment to positive change, Goldie’s developed The Bridge Track which offers intensive employment case management. The focus is on finding a transitional, part time job to sustain basic needs while working on skill improvement such as GED preparation or vocational skills training. The goal is to help the participant persist through small, necessary first steps which will lead to self sustaining long term employment income.

“I wanted something better for myself. I just didn’t know where to begin.”

Goldie's Place also provides Work force Development Training.
A series of three, week-long job readiness training workshops are offered by Goldie’s Place at selected agency sites. They offer practical help with filling out applications, researching employers, interview tips and more.

The Supportive Services Program

Job readiness and employability involve much more than a resume and a job lead. In the spirit of filling gaps in existing services, the Supportive Services program offers tangible help that is hard to find for people who are homeless.

The Clothes Closet Program assists homeless individuals to become appropriately clothed, accessorized and groomed. They gain a greater degree of confidence through their transformed visual appearance. This new appearance also helps them become more employable and ultimately employed. An average of 1,500 items are available for male and female participants to select from, including suits, slacks, shirts, blouses, dresses, shoes, belts, socks and undergarments. The Clothing Closet is operated by volunteers who screen, sort and display each item. We specialize in interview and work-appropriate clothing and accessories and offer seasonal clothing as well.

“I look great! I feel much better about my interview tomorrow.”

The Dental Services Program assists homeless individuals to maintain or attain dental wellness, through dental services staffed by volunteer dentists. There are very few sources of dental care available to people who are homeless. Yet exhibiting good dental hygiene and being pain free are essential elements of employability and maintaining stable employment.

“Nothing kills an interview like a missing tooth."

Goldie's Place | 5705 North Lincoln Ave. | Chicago, IL 60659
773-271-1212 | 773-271-8922 fax
hope@goldiesplace.org