How can you support homeless individuals in finding meaningful employment?

1 Understand their needs

Before you start coaching a homeless individual, you need to understand their specific needs and circumstances. Homelessness is not a homogeneous condition, but a result of various factors such as poverty, trauma, mental health issues, substance abuse, domestic violence, or discrimination. Each person has a unique story and a different level of readiness for employment. Therefore, you need to assess their strengths, challenges, preferences, and aspirations, as well as their access to basic resources such as food, shelter, clothing, hygiene, transportation, and health care. You can use tools such as the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, the Career Construction Interview, or the Self-Determination Theory to guide your assessment and tailor your coaching accordingly.

2 Build trust and rapport

One of the most important aspects of coaching homeless individuals is building trust and rapport with them. Many of them may have experienced trauma, abuse, rejection, or discrimination, and may have low self-esteem, confidence, or motivation. They may also have distrust or fear of authority figures or institutions, and may be reluctant to share their personal information or accept help. Therefore, you need to create a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for them, where they feel valued, listened to, and empowered. You can do this by using empathy, active listening, open-ended questions, positive feedback, and motivational interviewing techniques. You also need to be consistent, reliable, and transparent in your communication and follow-up.

3 Explore their options

Once you have established trust and rapport with your homeless client, you can help them explore their options for meaningful employment. This involves helping them identify their values, interests, skills, and goals, and how they relate to different types of work. You can use tools such as the Holland Code, the Career Values Card Sort, or the Skills Profiler to facilitate this process. You can also help them research various occupations, industries, and employers, and learn about the requirements, expectations, and opportunities in each field. You can use online platforms such as O*NET, CareerOneStop, or Indeed to access this information. You can also help them network with people who work in their desired fields, and arrange informational interviews, job shadowing, or volunteering opportunities for them.

4 Prepare them for action

After your homeless client has explored their options and narrowed down their choices, you can help them prepare for action. This involves helping them create a realistic and achievable action plan, with specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals and steps. You can use tools such as the SMART Goal Worksheet, the Action Plan Template, or the GROW Model to support them in this task. You can also help them develop or update their resume, cover letter, and portfolio, and tailor them to their target jobs. You can use online platforms such as Resume Genius, Cover Letter Builder, or Canva to create professional and attractive documents. You can also help them practice their interview skills, and provide them with tips on how to dress, behave, and communicate effectively during an interview.

5 Support them during transition

Once your homeless client has secured a job offer, you can help them during the transition from homelessness to employment. This involves helping them address any potential barriers or challenges that may affect their ability to start or sustain their job, such as housing, transportation, child care, health care, legal issues, or financial management. You can connect them with relevant resources, services, or agencies that can assist them in these areas, such as shelters, food banks, bus passes, child care subsidies, health clinics, legal aid, or financial literacy programs. You can also help them negotiate their salary, benefits, and working conditions with their employer, and advocate for their rights and needs. You can also help them cope with any stress, anxiety, or fear that may arise from the change in their situation, and provide them with emotional support and encouragement.

6 Follow up and evaluate

The last step in coaching homeless individuals is to follow up and evaluate their progress and outcomes. This involves maintaining regular contact with them, and checking on their satisfaction, performance, and well-being at their new job. You can use tools such as the Job Satisfaction Survey, the Performance Review Template, or the Well-Being Index to measure these aspects. You can also solicit feedback from their employer, supervisor, or co-workers, and identify any areas of improvement or concern. You can also celebrate their achievements and successes, and acknowledge their efforts and growth. You can also help them plan for their future career development, and explore any opportunities for advancement, learning, or change within or outside their current job.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?