Economic Stability

SUPPORT RESIDENTS SO THEY CAN SECURE LIVING-WAGE JOBS, INCREASE THEIR INCOMES, ACCESS BENEFITS, AND HAVE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO MEET THEIR DAILY NEEDS

Western Heights residents want stability and to have ample resources to meet current and future needs. Transforming Western will use existing and new programs to improve outcomes in financial stability and wealth creation. This goal expands programs to support job training and localized apprenticeships to complement residents’ interests and new neighborhood maker and incubator spaces. This goal also focuses on improving financial literacy, in such areas as budgeting, credit repaired, etc. Partners will coordinate existing non-profit and post-secondary programs to offer skills development and to meet the needs of current and future employers. Partners will work together to address barriers to adult education and employment.

Overcoming barriers will be critical to achieving the goal of economic stability for families. Residents identified access to skilled job training or certification as a barrier to getting a job or staying employed. Up to 25% of residents require jobs where a criminal background is not a barrier.

STRATEGY 1

Build financial security for target residents » Connect each household in the target area to case management, including financial assessment, goal-setting, and regular progress evaluation toward self-sufficiency » Provide and coordinate referrals to employers and assistance providers to help residents maintain or gain adequate income » Host an annual job fair for adults, youth, and seniors » Promote job training offerings in local industry growth sectors » Notify residents of tax promotions and offer free tax preparation services to increase earnings » Promote child tax credit and other Federal benefits to target households » Identify non-custodial parents and provide case management to help them pay down a greater portion of past-due child support obligations

STRATEGY 2

Increase knowledge and access to information that residents need to grow their wealth and protect their assets » Target financial literacy programs to Western

Heights adult and teen residents » Support Western Heights residents with credit repair services

» Refer interested target residents that demonstrate stability to homeownership assistance education programs » Connect target residents with a disability to benefits counseling regarding the impact of income growth on their current rent and benefits » Promote AmeriCorps Seniors stipend program to eligible residents in target housing » Refer eligible target residents to SSI/SSDI outreach to obtain benefits » Open a micro-business incubator and entrepreneurship center to support home-based and local businesses

OUTCOMES

• Residents can easily obtain and maintain employment • Residents are better prepared for higher-wage jobs that can help their households become financially stable and grow their wealth • Career pathways and diversified education opportunities are created for Western

Heights residents • Households are financially stable and self-sufficient • Households grow their median household income • Households have improved access to eligible benefits

EXISTING CONDITIONS

76% of work-able target residents have wage income $10,689 is the average household income for target residents (compared to $55,266 in Knox County)

62% of target residents are unemployed; of those 40% cannot work due to a disability, and 10% are retired

54% of households with children report that easier access to childcare could help eliminate barriers to getting a job or staying employed

19% of residents indicate that banking is needed within their community

TARGET METRICS

100% of work-able target residents have wage income 100% of work-able target residents increase their wage income by 50%

100% of target residents who are able to work are fully employed in meaningful work with employers or entrepreneurship 100% of disabled and retired target residents have access to the appropriate benefits and have sufficient resources to meet their daily needs 100% of target residents report fewer barriers to employment

100% of target residents that desire a bank account establish one, and then increase their savings and improve their credit scores

STRATEGY 3

Prepare target residents for careers that pay a living wage and connect them with opportunities to learn the skills necessary to benefit from local job offerings » Support food business start-ups and job training in food industries through the on-site social responsibility restaurant » Offer job training programs that utilize the community-shared makerspaces and increase opportunities for wealth through entrepreneurship » Identify and supervise resident ambassadors to provide peer-to-peer networking opportunities » Create an on-site training lab so that residents can get specialized skills training in such areas as manufacturing and technology » Provide on-site job coaching and mentorship opportunities through local businesses serving the Western Heights community and throughout Knoxville-Knox County » Connect eligible adults to Section 3 hiring, training, and apprenticeship opportunities created by implementing this Transformation

Plan » Connect eligible adults to higher education programs » Offer workforce development training and life skills classes that focus on leadership, real estate, and investment » Offer online computer basics/employee soft skills classes

STRATEGY 4

Mitigate and eliminate barriers to education and employment so that target residents can obtain viable career pathways » Host a job fair specifically for justice-involved individuals / re-entry to expand employment networking opportunities » Create an on-site jobs access station to connect job seekers with resources and opportunities » Expand transit to employment opportunities not on the public bus route and with significant hiring needs » Offer English-language and citizenship classes » Offer legal assistance to refugees living in

Western Heights, such as referrals, adjustments of status, renewing work permits, providing citizenship and naturalization referrals, etc. » Extend childcare opportunities to accommodate shift-work schedules

PARTNERS

• American Jobs Center • Baptist Compassion Center • CAC AmeriCorps Seniors • CAC Family Benefits Specialists • CAC Families Together Academy • CAC Steps for Success • CAC Ticket to Work • CAC Transit • CAC Workforce Connections • CAC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance • Catholic Charities of East Tennessee,

Immigrant Services • Center for English • First Horizon Bank • Knoxville Chamber of Commerce • Knoxville College • Knoxville Leadership Foundation • SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) • Socially Equal Energy Efficient

Development Knox (SEEED Knox) • Tennessee College of Applied Technology • Tennessee Re-entry Collaborative • Regions Bank • University of Tennessee, TCSEPP