Job Fair Addresses Employment Challenges Faced By The Homeless

Dell Computer Corp., H-E-B Grocery Co., Austin Community College and Construction Gateway were among the local employers that participated in a recent homeless job fair in Austin, TX. The job fair is one of three that were organized through the partnership of the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, the Capitol Area Homeless Alliance and the Travis County district attorney's office.The homeless job fairs address the challenges in getting a job when faced with homelessness. "The events allow people to fill out several applications at one location and help them make professional contacts." The goal of the job fairs were not only to connect job seekers with employers, but also to provide information on job training and "dispel the notion that the nation's 3.5 million homeless people don't want to work." According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors' 2002 Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities, more than 22 percent of homeless people have jobs.

Thanks to Connie Chung