moving out of poverty suzanne f. clifford president of inspiring transformations, inc. former...
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Moving Out of Moving Out of PovertyPoverty
Suzanne F. CliffordPresident of inspiring Transformations, Inc.
Former Director of Mental Health and Addiction for Indiana
June 2009
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AgendaAgenda
The critical combination: employment and housing
Policy issues and barriers to employment
What can you do?
Questions and comments
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Housing and EmploymentHousing and Employment
A critical combination
Hard to sustain one without the other
Housing provides stability, promotes health and sleep, facilitates personal hygiene, etc.
Employment generates income to pay for housing and other needs, builds social network and self esteem, etc.
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Barriers to EmploymentBarriers to Employment
Perceived and actual cash, housing and healthcare disincentives
Lack of access to affordable healthcare
Lack of follow-along services to help people keep a job
Discrimination
Lack of outreach to businesses
Criminal histories
Gaps in employment
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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:Healthcare Healthcare
Healthcare work disincentives Lack of affordable healthcare creates a dependence on Medicaid and Medicare However, people can earn money up to a certain point without losing their Medicaid & Medicare eligibility (Get benefits counseling!)
If a person is receiving SSI or SSDI, they are entitled to free benefits counseling & access to the Ticket to Work program
Improvements are needed!!!!
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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:CashCash
Cash work disincentives – Social Security
Work with your service providers to maximize the New Ticket to Work program
If you are receiving SSI or SSDI, you are entitled to free benefits counseling
More improvements are needed!!!
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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:HousingHousing
Housing work disincentives
Income limits
Lack of affordable housing
Shelter rules that unintentionally discourage employment
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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:Criminalization Criminalization
Criminalization of homelessness
Arrests and convictions on a person’s record significantly limit employment and housing opportunities
Diversion programs are critical and have a high human and economical impact re: employment
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What can you do?What can you do?Areas within your controlAreas within your control
Focus on employmentDo you know the job goals and financial stability interests of each individual?
Promote an employment-oriented culture and system that helps people reach their financial stability goalsHelp with resume writing, applications, and interview skillsFocus on a good job match
Understand the needs of the business!!!Interests of the job seekerSkills of the job seekerWork environment, hours, etc.
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Benefits of a Good Job MatchBenefits of a Good Job Match
Improves fiscal stability and the ability to pay for housingIncreases self-esteemProvides structureEnhances social integration and friendshipsEncourages the person to think about something other than their problemsIncreases society’s understanding of people who are homeless
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What can you do?What can you do?Leverage resources and build Leverage resources and build
partnerships partnerships Coordinate with other service providers currently working with the indivdual
Work with your local service providers to maximize the New Ticket to Work program
Work with your local service providers to maximize employment programs and streamline the processes for Vocational Rehabilitation, TANF, criminal justice re-entry, etc.
Strengthen relationships with primary care, mental health, and addiction treatment providers (Example: Homelessness & Mental Health Work Group)
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What can you do? What can you do? Leverage resources and build Leverage resources and build
partnerships (cont.)partnerships (cont.)
Collaborate with Workforce Investment Boards/Work One offices and educational institutions to leverage training, understand business needs/trends, design training
Foster peer support focused on employment
Increase the use of asset building techniques and financial literacy programs
Partner with organizations that have transportation
Refer people who receive SSI or SSDI to free benefits counseling
Partner with or build supported employment programs
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Foster the Principles of Foster the Principles of Supported Employment*Supported Employment*
A single-minded focus on competitive employment
Eligibility for services based solely on client choice, with no exclusion on the basis of work readiness, substance use, lack of motivation, treatment non-compliance, etc.
Rapid job search upon program admission
Attention to client preferences in job search, rather than dependence on a pool of available jobs
Close integration between the employment services and mental health treatment team
Ongoing, individualized support after clients obtain employment
Systematic benefits counseling
* Bond, 2004
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What can you do? What can you do? Communicate – Write letters/talk Communicate – Write letters/talk
with elected officials, the media, etc.with elected officials, the media, etc.
Reinforce the importance of employment at national, state and local levels
Reduce state and federal healthcare work disincentives (Medicaid, increase access to affordable healthcare, etc.)
Reduce federal cash and housing work disincentives
Increase federal resources for benefits counseling
Improve supports and benefits to employers
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What can you do?What can you do?Partner with businesses Partner with businesses
Ask businesses what they need and create win/wins
Customize services and supports
Work with the business people on your organization’s board
Maximize the federal bonding program for job seekers with criminal histories
Provide tax credit training and support
Work with a business leaders to engage other businesses (Example: The Employment Network in Indiana)
Form training and employment projects that fill workforce gaps (Example: Hospitality Certification Program in Indianapolis)
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The Employment Network of IndianaThe Employment Network of Indiana
CMHCsVR & VA
Medicaid OthersSocial Services
DMHAConsumers,
Families&
Advocates
HomelessPrograms
Employ&
Educat
City
Lilly & Other
businesses
To increase employment for the citizens of Indianapolis that
have a disability and are often homeless
Questions or Questions or comments?comments?
For more information, contact
Suzanne Clifford at [email protected]