People access CHUM’s services in times of crisis. The provision of basic services such as emergency shelter, food shelf, nurses clinic, etc. is an opportunity to help people achieve stability and self-sufficiency. A prerequisite for realizing this goal is regular, livable income.

The path to employment, especially for those without a good work history or marketable skills, is a difficult one. Others also have barriers to employment such as mental health problems, physical disabilities, criminal histories, or addictions.

CHUM’s Employment & Income Services responds to people with a range of needs along this continuum of realizing income stability.

Social Security Income Advocacy

CHUM’s Social Security Advocate assists those with disabilities through the often-convoluted Social Security Insurance (SSI) application process. SSI can provide a foundation of stability to someone with a severe mental illness or other permanent disability.

CHUM’s SSI Advocate is available at the CHUM Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 to 2:30.

Supported Employment Services

Supportive Services for Employment is a three-year program to help people with barriers to employment such as illiteracy, lack of high school diploma, criminal background, homelessness etc. to obtain and maintain employment. The Supportive Employment case manager helps them navigate the often intimidating and confusing work environment while gaining the skills and assets needed to realize their career potential and objectives.

Many who utilize CHUM’s services must achieve other benchmarks like finding housing, maintaining sobriety, and addressing health problems before they can begin to think about employment. Social workers support them as they take even small steps towards these objectives knowing that the journey to stability can take months and even years.

Specifically, this often means help building resumes, completing applications, and preparing for job interviews. CHUM partners with SOAR Career Solutions to help participants build confidence by identifying career goals and them training resources that can get them there.

Supported Employment Services is part of a new generation of strategies to break the cycle of poverty.

To learn more, contact Jewel Schmidt.