Project Place is proud to have launched a new Social Enterprise, WOW, which provides opportunities for homeless women with children to gain meaningful employment experience while also learning to navigate the transition from relying solely on public assistance to becoming more financially independent. WOW contracts with local small businesses to provide a range of services including light assembly and production; packaging and labeling; order processing and fulfillment; and sales and marketing.
Project Place clients who participate in WOW receive case management support to help tackle common barriers to employment such as lack of day care for children and negotiating the benefits system. “Women with children experiencing homelessness face multiple barriers to entering the workforce―lack of skills, training or formal education; limited work history, no child care, and fear of losing critical childcare assistance once employed,” said Executive Director Suzanne Kenney. “WOW engages women in an enterprise that provides them with real work for real pay, supportive on-the-job supervision, and other services to help them gain the confidence they need to achieve long term employment and a more secure future.”