Make a difference in the lives of those most in need. Donate Goods.

Make a difference. Donate Goods.

Chapman Partnership helps homeless find steady income

April 16, 2014

Published on: Miami Today, April 3, 2014
Click Here to View the PDF Version

While Chapman Partnership’s first priority is getting the county’s homeless into good places to live, helping them find a steady source of income is a close second.

“Homelessness does not have to be a perpetual cycle,” says President & CEO Daniel Vincent. “A consistent, sustainable income is the key to reducing recidivism.”

In 2013, he says, Chapman Partnership, successfully outplaced 64% of its clients; the national outplacement rate  is 15%-20%. 

Over the last 12 moths, its development case managers placed clients in 400 full-time positions with an average hourly wage of $10, in industries as diverse as construction, hospitality, retail, sales, food service, flower arrangement and financial services.

Aiding this effort is Chapman Partnership’s job development program, called Housing Opportunities and Personal Enrichment, or HOPE, funded by JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, TD Bank and Banco Popular. Through partnerships in the community, HOPE provides job training for residents of Chapman Partnership’s Miami and Homestead facilities. 

For example, Mr. Vincent says, the Culinary Arts Program at Chapman Partnership South in Homestead is the result of a partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ South Dade Educational Center.

The program’s chef-instructor, Myrna Betancourt, whose credentials include a stint at Mandarin Oriental Miami, was recently named MIami-Dade County Teacher of the Year. From her kitchen, called Cafe du Jour, students learn to prepare and serve international cuisine, while building a portfolio and making contacts that will help them find employment. 

In addition, Lindsey Hopkins Technical Center provides onsite accredited courses in Environmental Services and Private Security Officer unarmed training. 

“We previously had a patient care technician class,” Mr. Vincent said, “and we are currently seeking funding to reinstate that course.”

Job development officers help residents learn the computer skills necessary to apply for jobs, write resumes, and develop interview, basic business and workplace skills. They’re also provided with workplace and interview attire donated by local businesses; for example, Burberry recently donated gently used men’s and women’s suits worn by its sales staff.

“Through case management; job development, training and placement; and access to governmental and social service benefits,” Mr. Vincent says, “the average household income for a family of four increase from an average of $13, 800 at intake to $47,520 upon outplacement.”

Established in 1995, Chapman Partnership played a significant role in reducing the homeless rate from more than 8,000 in the mid-1990s to 840, as of the January 2014 Homeless Trust Census.