Ready to work has proven itself over the past year. And this year will bring even more to the program: Farming, Mentor Program for residents, refined employment preparation and mock interviews, aid with getting credit scores improved, substance abuse meetings, the latest being Lifering. Local Boulder residents get to be a part of the program. A look back at what was being said by local Boulder, Colorado: 06/02/2012 11:35:28 AM MDT | Updated: 4 years ago The idea behind the Ready to Work program is to provide a pathway toward self-sufficiency for homeless people in Boulder. The transitional work program allows the participants to save some money and to, hopefully, access other employment by demonstrating that they have the necessary skills to hold down a job, including showing up on time and following through with responsibilities. Program participants also are guaranteed a place to stay at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless during the program, and they have access to a number of support services through the Bridge House, including life skills training and financial management. Participants also commit to staying clean and sober throughout the six months. "It's a very welcome opportunity (for participants)," McDevitt said. "Although the job itself is not glamorous, it's a chance to earn a paycheck and build a resume and become productive." Martin said that the additional services provided by Bridge House make it a better choice to contract with Ready to Work than to hire homeless workers themselves. "The 20 hours of week of work is just one aspect of the program," Martin said. "They get counseling and a guaranteed place to spend the night. When they come to work, they are well rested, they're ready to go and they have good supervision." The five original participants are now nearing the end of their six-month commitment. (Three are moving on to permanent jobs and two also have found permanent housing.) The funding from the city will pay for five new workers, and privately raised funds will help expand the total participants in the program to 10. In the future McDevitt hopes to expand the program even further -- possibly partnering with other government agencies and community institutions. For now, though, Bridge House is being careful not to grow Ready to Work too quickly. A six-month pilot program to help local homeless men and women get back to work has been so successful that the city of Boulder has decided to contract with the program, guaranteeing more work for program participants through the end of the year and, likely, through 2013. Ready to Work, which is run by the Bridge House day shelter, kicked off in December with a crew of five homeless participants -- chosen from a pool of more than 100 applicants -- and funding raised through private donations. The crew has been hard at work since then, mostly doing "supplemental sanitation" jobs on the Pearl Street Mall and at the downtown municipal complex, which typically involves tasks such
Boulder Employment Guide for anyone in Colorado who is Ready to get work
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