The City of Toronto is stepping up to the plate and trying to do something constructive about homelessness. They have launched a pilot project called Transition to Work for shelter residents. With $300,000 in funding, the program is designed to give shelter residents a viable means of supporting themselves by giving them the necessary career skills. Twelve men have begun apprenticeships as chefs, plumbers, sheet metal workers, electricians, and millwrights. The funding pays for their tuition to George Brown and books and tools, in addition to providing ongoing job coaching and employment counselling. Staff will also be trained to teach life skills at employment resource centres.

The program is already showing great signs of success. Of the 12 men enrolled in the program, 10 of them have already completed at least 1 eight-week course of their apprenticeship education. Some of them have already secured fulltime work as apprentices, have moved out of shelters, are living on their own, and supporting themselves. The others are working while looking for apprenticeships.

To read more about this interesting program follow the link below.

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/191540

It may be a small step, but it is a step never-the-less. I say bravo! What do you say?