Employment Services for People Experiencing Homelessness
Many organizations are working to connect unhoused individuals with employment that helps them regain stability and independence. In this guide, we’ll explore these services and discuss how you can access them. We’ll also provide resume ideas and answers to common questions.
Where To Find an Employment Service
Employment services are often provided by:
- Homeless shelters
- Community centers
- Nonprofit organizations
- Religious organizations
- Local workforce boards
- Government agencies
Here are examples of several organizations focused on helping unhoused individuals:
- Back on My Feet (16 cities nationwide)
- Chrysalis (Los Angeles)
- Coalition for the Homeless (New York City)
- Goodwill Industries
- National Alliance to End Homelessness
- Project HOME (Philadelphia)
- The Doe Fund (New York City)
- The U.S. Department of Labor
Check local listings and 211 referral services to find similar programs in your area.
How an Employment Service Can Help
This type of program can help you:
- Clarify and build your work skills
- Define your search goals
- Grow your support network
- Connect with a caseworker
- Prepare for an interview
- Acquire work clothing and equipment
- Write and tailor your resume to each job application
- Obtain job-required ID or documentation
- Gain access to phones, email, and the internet for job searching
- Pursue second-chance employers or temp work opportunities
Tips for Writing a Resume While Unhoused
- Use the combination resume format to emphasize your job-related skills. Keep in mind that no matter your background or circumstances, employers care about what you can do for them and their customers. A combination resume lets you focus on those abilities.
- Ask for help from a caseworker or others in your support system. These individuals can provide referrals and help you figure out the skills you might offer an employer.
- List a reliable contact method like an email address you can check and a phone number you can answer (some shelters help with this). Note that housing status does not need to weigh heavily on how you write your resume. That’s because (a) you don’t need to give a mail address in your contact header, just your city and state, and (b) the location you give for any past jobs should just be the city and state where you physically worked at the time.
- Include relevant volunteer experience and short-term jobs. If you combine paid and unpaid work in the same resume section, use “Related Experience” or simply “Experience” as that section header. This edit maintains accuracy and lets you give employers a clear overview of your background in relation to the job.
- Don’t try to conceal any employment gaps, but don’t feel you have to explain or call attention to them either.
- Mention any job-related training or certifications. These details can help further demonstrate your skills and offset any gaps in your work history.
- Save a copy of your resume on a free cloud-based program like Google Docs so you can more easily retrieve and edit the document later on.
Resume Examples for Job Seekers Experiencing Homelessness
Shawn White
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Philadelphia, PA
Efficient worker with experience in janitorial services, landscaping, and warehouse support. Committed to learning new tasks quickly and contributing to team success.
Key Skills
- Building maintenance
- Cleaning and sanitation
- Customer service
- Equipment handling
- Groundskeeping
- Inventory stocking
- Lawn care
- Team collaboration
- Time management
- Workplace safety
Experience
Shelter Volunteer Maintenance Assistant, New Start Transitional Housing Program, Philadelphia, PA | May 2023 to present
- Clean shared kitchen, bathrooms, and sleeping areas for over 30 residents
- Assist maintenance staff with minor repairs and daily facility upkeep
- Follow cleaning schedules and complete tasks on time
- Consistently praised for overall work ethic and initiative
Seasonal Landscaper, Community Greening Project, Philadelphia, PA | March 2022 to November 2022
- Maintained public park spaces through mowing, trimming, and trash removal
- Worked outdoors in all weather conditions to meet weekly maintenance goals
- Helped plant trees and flowers in urban greening projects
- Gained experience using lawn care equipment safely
Warehouse Helper (Temp), Staffing Solutions Agency, Philadelphia, PA | January 2021 to March 2021
- Loaded and unloaded trucks in a fast-paced warehouse environment
- Organized inventory and maintained clean workspaces
- Completed tasks efficiently with minimal supervision
Education
GED Certificate, Adult Learning Center, Philadelphia, PA
Certifications
- OSHA 10-Hour Safety Training, Philadelphia Works
- Food Safety Basics Certification, Community Training Program
Frequently Asked Questions: Employment Services for People Experiencing Homelessness
When necessary, you may be able to use the address of a shelter, community center, or job program you're working with. Make sure you have a consistent way to check email and voicemail, since this is how most employers will contact you.
Yes, many transitional housing programs combine job training with temporary housing. Talk to a case worker or call 211 to find programs in your area that offer both.
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