A graduation celebrating skills, self-sufficiency

Georgia Works! a comprehensive program aimed at addressing and ending chronic homelessness in Atlanta by breaking the cycles of addiction, criminal recidivism, and unemployment held its 2015 graduation on Sept. 17, the program’s second annual such event.

Georgia Works! is a comprehensive six- to 12-month program aimed at the chronic homeless in Atlanta who are challenged with a host of barriers. These include past due fines, past due child support, suspended drivers’ licenses, bad habits and joblessness due to criminal history.

The graduation, held in the main sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, was well-attended by family and friends of current clients and graduates, as well as a host of employers and supporters of the program. The 2015 graduating class of 55 brings to 85 the total number who have graduated from the program since its inception in 2013.

The highlight of the evening was testimonials by a 2014 graduate and three 2015 graduates. The 2014 graduate, who charged the 2015 class to stay committed to their dreams and goals, has now held a full-time job for more than a year. He is pleased that he is now the father he always wanted to be as his teen-age daughter now lives with him. Prior to Georgia Works!, he had been homeless for many years, unable to acquire full-time employment.

The 2015 graduates who spoke left the crowd inspired and in awe as they regaled us with stories of their journeys from many years of chronic homelessness — sleeping on the streets of Atlanta and unable to find sustainable employment — to now being productive members of society.

The graduates shared that they are now confidentthey can attain and achieve the best that life has to offer as their lives are now grounded on the premise of self-honesty, hope, and a good work ethic. All of the men have full-time employment and permanent housing. They are taxpayers and self-sufficient men.

Members of this year’s graduating class are employed in various industries, such as metal fabrication, apartment groundskeeping, warehousing, downtown hotels, recycling, securityand building maintenance. The average starting wage of this year’s graduating class is $10.50 per hour.

Georgia Works!’ trademark is it’s paid transitional work.

After a 30-day trial period, program trainees are assigned to a “Street Team,” where they work 30 hours per week. Dressed in blue Georgia Works! uniforms, the men clean, and care for the streets around downtown Atlanta. The trainees are paid $7.40 per hour, which amounts to $222 per week. The trainees pay Georgia Works! $100 for their weekly room and board; they are required to put $50 per week into savings. The remaining $72 is their spending money.

After about four months in the program, trainees go to work with one of Georgia Works! corporate employers. Currently, more than 30 Atlanta companies provide temporary employment opportunities to Georgia Works! trainees. More than half of the program’s 85 graduates have obtained full-time employment through employers who are partners with Georgia Works!

While in the program, participants are provided intensive case management and are guided down a path of independence. By graduation, all of the issues that made them homeless are addressed. By graduation, the participants will have saved approximately $2,000 from stipends paid during their time in the program and acquired full-time employment of at least $10.00 per hour.