This page was created 3.12.2025.
Supportive Workforce Opportunity Grant - Update
First and foremost, a thank you to all those who applied for the recent Supportive Workforce Opportunity Grant. The incredible work delivered by local organizations is crucial to address shared challenges around the City of Portland, including the homelessness crisis.
To provide an update on the Supportive Workforce Opportunity Grant, three grants have been finalized with the following organizations to deliver supportive work programs (no single grant from the Supportive Workforce Opportunity Grant exceeds $80,000):
- Cascadia Clusters
- PDX Saints Love
- Stone Soup PDX
The Supportive Workforce Opportunity Grant is part of a larger Workforce Development Pilot Program.
Workforce Development Pilot Program Overview
The FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget includes $500,000 for a Workforce Development Program. The intention of the Workforce Development Program is to develop and pilot a program that provides support and flexible, low-barrier workforce opportunities for individuals who are currently in shelter, who are ready to move out of shelter into permanent/subsidized housing, or who have recently moved into housing from a shelter site. The proposed program can be described as a ladder approach, with three “steps” designed to prepare and support individuals to move towards part- or full-time work opportunities and some level of financial stability.
Regional and national studies emphasize that supported employment services are a vital part of the effort to end homelessness by advancing individuals towards health, wellness, community, and economic self-sufficiency. The Workforce Development Pilot Program leverages non-profit groups who already have established workforce programs serving homeless individuals to provide targeted, scalable programs to serve a large population of individuals who are interested in re-entering the workforce.
The pilot program will be delivered at one shelter location (Menlo Park Safe Rest Village) and will include data collection to understand successes and challenges around supportive work opportunities. The intent of the pilot program is to understand what tools are most effective for individuals interested in accessing work opportunities, and to leverage future funding opportunities to expand those tools.
The following is an overview of the Workforce Development Pilot Program:
- Step 1: Work Opportunities In Shelter Site. For this pilot, we will work with Cultivate Initiatives, which will deliver its pre-existing Internship Program at Menlo Park Safe Rest Village. The Menlo Park Safe Rest Village Internship Program will include up to 5 paid workdays per individual and will include the opportunity to work with an Employment Specialist to develop employment skills, acquire work-related documents, and engage with on-site supports to work towards income and employment. Graduates of the Menlo Park Safe Rest Village Internship Program who are interested in continued supportive work opportunities can be referred to Step 2 of the Workforce Development Pilot Program. Note: not all graduates will want or need continued supportive work opportunities; all individuals will be encouraged to apply for education/skills training/work opportunities/social programs as interested.
- Step 2: Supportive Work Opportunities Outside Shelter Sites. For individuals interested in continued supportive/flexible work opportunities, Cultivate Initiatives can refer individuals to Cascadia Clusters, PDX Saints Love, or Stone Soup PDX to apply for their Supportive Workforce Programs:
- Cascadia Clusters: On the Job Training Program (Construction)
- PDX Saints Love: Peer Support Interns, Kitchen Interns, Operational Interns
- Stone Soup PDX: Culinary and Workforce Training
These programs offer varied work opportunities along with trainings and support to help individuals gain skills as well as develop a recent work history in a field of their interest, leading to Step 3.
- Step 3: Utilize Support Networks to Apply for Regular Work/Employment. Graduates from Step 1 and Step 2 can continue to work with the aforementioned non-profits as needed, with the goal of securing regular work or employment. The end goal is to reach some level of work and/or financial stability outside of supportive work opportunities.
A final report will be developed at the end of the pilot program, which will be funded through December 2025.