Volume 1, Issue 5

The tight labor market all across the country makes this an ideal time for public housing residents to explore opportunities with various employers they may not have thought of before.  Employers for their part are instituting training programs to reach individuals that have been out of the labor pool for an extended time.

With the national economy continuing its unprecedented "boom," corporations are spending a great deal of time and energy recruiting record numbers of workers, desperately trying to reach all segments of the population.  For companies in search of good help, public housing residents are no different from other potential employees.  Identifying and seeking out untapped portions of the job market, such as public housing residents, is not an easy task, however.

Fortunately for several corporations in NJ, reaching out to individuals who are not aware of the many jobs now available has become the mission of Community Builders Anju Bhargava and Patrick Morris.  The two Newark (www.ci.newark.nj.us/home.html) CBs teamed up to target and assist untapped markets by developing a collaborative employment strategy with several private corporations and a number of NJ public housing agencies.  Their goal was not only to increase access to jobs, but also to facilitate the development of job skills. 

Drawing on eighteen years of experience in corporate America as a banker and organizational management professional, Bhargava researched and identified employers and service providers for potential partnerships.  Bhargava contacted many Fortune 1000 and smaller companies and visited likely training and educational centers.  She communicated HUD's proactive initiative to link employers with job seekers who reside in public housing and HUD entitlement communities.  Morris relied on his own in-depth experience with public housing residents to encourage resident participation and to establish solid partnerships with the Mayor's Office of Employment and Training, local employers, and service providers who could create opportunities for the residents.

One of the many employers Bhargava contacted was UPS (www.ups.com).  "We have experienced a high degree of success in developing our employment strategy with UPS.  Once we reached the appropriate Regional Workforce Planning Manager, Jim Reynolds, responsible for UPS's work-force development program, we found tremendous receptivity in employing the public housing residents." UPS was ready to hire and willing to work with the public housing labor pool. 

Morris identified the potential labor pool within the residents in the targeted communities, coordinated their visit to UPS sites and assisted them in their transition.  Initial efforts with residents in Newark, Plainfield and Edison have resulted in over 70 people gaining employment.  Asbury Park has identified over 100 people who will visit UPS sites shortly to gain employment.  Bhargava and Morris are continuing to work with other communities, helping connect them with UPS and other employers.

A resident recently told Morris, " I am very excited I am working again.  Thanks to HUD for taking the initiative to help residents find jobs at UPS."

Jim Reynolds considers the partnership with HUD of great value.  It not only provides UPS with a labor pool which it is seeking in this tight market, but also helps it meet its social responsibility goals in which it has taken a lead.

Building on their success, the CBs have begun collaborating with the NJ Department of Human Services and Department of Labor to link up with other State initiatives, such as the employer outreach initiative.  Knowing that Business Representatives from the NJ Department of Labor call on over 500 large companies in New Jersey to implement the Work First program, Bhargava encouraged them to consider public housing residents as a viable labor pool when addressing employers workforce needs. 

Kenneth Lemberg, Deputy Director, Private Sector Initiatives, Office of Policy and Planning recently indicated, "Anju has thus helped lay the foundation for collective statewide efforts in matching the employment needs of HUD sponsored participants with those of interested employers looking for workers." 

The Newark CBs have also formed a working partnership with the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Enterprise Development Center (http://www.njit-edc.org) to provide public housing youth access to Prudential Young Entrepreneurs Program.  Through the program, selected individuals aged 18 to 30 will learn the skills and steps needed to start a business, network with other entrepreneurs, have access to technical assistance, and office space to develop themselves to becoming self-sufficient.