Jobs Plus
Jobs Plus was a five-year (1998-2003) national demonstration program designed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation. Its mission was to increase employment among residents of public housing through a combination of employment and support services, work incentives, and building community support for work.
Jobs Plus was a collaboration between the residents of Mt.Airy, the Saint Paul Public Schools, the St.Paul Public Housing Agency, the Ramsey County Department of Human Services and the Wilder Foundation.
The goals of Jobs Plus at Mt. Airy were to help residents:
• Get prepared for work
• Find and keep jobs
• Career advancement and job retention
Services
The Jobs Plus program provided a wide range of employment and support services including transportation assistance, English as a Second Language (ESL), and GED and Adult Basic Education classes. The program also helped participants enroll in parenting or citizenship classes, and participate in chemical dependency or mental health treatment. Program participants worked with employment counselors to develop individualized employment plans.
Results
Seven sites were picked nationally to carry out this strategy to promote employment. The St. Paul project transformed Mt. Airy by increasing the percentage of working residents from 15 to 54 percent over the five year project. The project led the nation in positive outcomes.
The success of the Jobs Plus demonstrated that saturation services, staff stability and pre-existing institutional relationships are all critical factors in producing such dramatic results.
