“Employment is vital to breaking the cycle of homelessness, and these programs provide it with compassion and dignity … Without them, we lose a proven tool to keep people housed and continue to rely on the status quo.” – Multnomah County Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon

Worksystems’ Economic Opportunity Program: A Home for Everyone (AHFE) is a proven model that offers individualized employment support for people exiting homelessness. These services are delivered through community-based career coaches who provide population-specific outreach and support: Central City Concern, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Latino Network, POIC, and Our Just Future. Last year, we served 568 individuals, with 83% securing jobs that helped stabilize their housing.

Through partnership with Multnomah County, Worksystems co-invests additional resources—nearly $887,000—to extend the reach of AHFE. This co-investment significantly amplifies the County’s impact, providing an efficient, high-return use of public dollars. However, Worksystems cannot sustain these programs alone.

Today’s article in Willamette Week highlights the risk to AHFE and other Employment Services within the Homeless Services Department Budget.