About The Hope Works Program

 

"Where there's a home there's hope." These are not just catchy words or wishful thinking — the atmosphere of hope is palpable as soon as one walks in the door of Samaritan House. This optimism is in large part the result of the fact that residents are required to participate actively in their own recovery and are encouraged to focus on rebuilding their lives and returning to a life of independence and productivity.

Financial independence is an indispensable part of the path back to normality. Finding and holding a job can be a challenge for an HIV-positive person. Prospective or present employers don't always understand unexplained gaps in work history, or absenteeism caused by intermittent health problems. Hope Works is an intensive new program aimed at helping residents overcome these obstacles and prepare to reenter the job market.

In 2006 Samaritan House built and opened The Villages, a 66-unit apartment complex housing individuals, couples and families. This tripled client capacity and also increased significantly the proportion of residents who are ready to seek employment. The agency has long provided career and educational counseling and skill acquisition on an ad-hoc, individual basis. Responding to the increase in numbers of employment-seeking residents, find and keep a job.

The initial phase of Hope Works assists participants in learning to write an effective resume and fill out job applications. Interview skills are also addressed. Training in use of computer software and other specific skills in available as needed. When a resident has completed this phase successfully, he or she is offered an "internship." During this period, the participant works as a volunteer, assisting Samaritan House staff with various projects related to the resident's area of employment interest. Internships are structured in 20 hour segments; participants may complete the internship in as little as 20 hours or as much as 80 hours.

The internship phase offers residents several advantages. It is an opportunity to gain current experience that can be added to the resume, which is especially valuable if the person has been out of work for some time. It also gives the participant the chance to re-acclimate to adhering to a work schedule and taking responsibility for completing task, after what may have been a protracted period of unstructured living. The other function of the internship is to give staff an opportunity to assess the motivation, skills and work habits of each individual, in order to be able to recommend appropriate placement. During this phase the participant will also engage in a mentorship program. An outside mentor will provide guidance and support the participant returns to the work place.

When a participant has completed the internship, the Samaritan House staff assists with job placement. Staff and volunteers involved in establishing Hope Works have consulted with members of the business community to find ways to recruit potential employers who are willing to employ people with unconventional job histories and substantial health problems. Finding and maintaining a pool of employers is an ongoing process. Subsequent employment agreements are between private sector employers and employees, although Samaritan house continues to monitor job performance for participants. A limited number of employment opportunities exist through Hope Works itself.

Finding and holding a job is a giant step forward for residents striving to return to an independent life. Besides providing the financial wherewithal to stand on one's own, useful work of any kind is an essential tool for rebuilding confidence and fostering self-esteem. For people whose lives have been devastated by the health challenges, stigma and financial fallout of living with HIV/AIDS, support and encouragement in the effort to return to the working world are more than a hand up. They're a lifeline, a line to a life of hope.