Nationwide, two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty.

A 1999 survey of homeless assistance providers in Wake County revealed that their clients cited "help finding a job" as their number one need. This is consistent with the findings of an informal survey of homeless men and women in our service neighborhood in Raleigh: they cited help getting a job as one of their most important needs.

And, as an additional obstacle, homeless persons and those who are marginally housed possess barriers to meaningful employment that may not be addressed by traditional job training programs. In addition to the lack of stable housing, barriers to employment typically include: lack of reliable transportation, substance abuse, criminal record, depression, inadequate healthcare management, and/or limited education.

Our programs, therefore, engage community volunteers and organizational partners to help people who are homeless, marginally-housed or otherwise living in poverty.

In the short-term we help adults in poverty by listening without judging and offering a problem-solving construct. In the long-term and through community partnerships, we help men and women become employed so that they have the steady income necessary to secure housing and create financial and social stability in their lives.