Our House Education and Training Center

Our House's Education and Training Center offers the following programs to help develop Our House residents' ability to be self-sufficient:

1.  Computer skills classes that teach students how to type, the basics of the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and how to use the Internet. Recognizing that many manufacturing jobs have moved overseas and entry-level service jobs are often low-paying, the course prepares adult participants for office jobs. This enables participants to move from low-skill, low-education, minimum wage jobs (for example, at fast food restaurants or in housekeeping) to higher-paying office jobs. Our House offers these courses free of charge to our homeless residents:

a.  12 week, full-time program (Typing, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, MS Office Suite Certification, Internet, Business Technology)

b.  3 week full-time program (Typing, Word, Excel, Internet)

c.  1 day program (Basic computer skills)

d.  1/2 day program (Introduction to computers or refresher class)

2.  Open computer lab (for adults and

      children), where homeless people

      can:

a.   Search for job opportunities online

b.   Prepare resumes

c.   Practice typing and other computer

      skills

d.   Complete homework

3.  Job Skills course is available for people who are unable to find work because of lack of education or lack of basic skills. Course participants are offered the opportunity to learn a skill that could lead to a paying job. Program participants who live at Our House are offered stipends to offset the cost of their absence from the workforce. Our House provides this course in the following areas:

a.  Culinary Arts (to prepare residents to work in restaurants or kitchens)

b.  Facilities Maintenance (to prepare residents to work as building maintenance personnel)

c.  Landscaping/Grounds (to prepare residents to work as landscapers, grounds-keepers

d.  Residential Housing Management (to prepare residents to work in the housing or rental industry, including in dormitory settings, social services sector)

e.  Reception/Office Administration (to prepare residents to work office administration or social services sector)

f.   Housekeeping/Maintenance (to prepare residents to work in housekeeping either in the hotel industry or in commercial cleaning businesses)

g.   Daycare Assistance (to prepare residents to work in licensed daycare or early childhood centers)

h.   Gate Keeper (to prepare residents to work as parking lot attendants, building safety personnel)

4.  GED preparation program for adults who have not completed high school. Our House residents who do not have a high school diploma or GED are required to participate in this class.

5.  Literacy program for illiterate adults.

6.  Human relations and English for the workplace offers adults interview skills, resume prep skills and the ability to participate in the workplace.

7.  Life Skills offers adults classes in financial literacy, parenting, conflict resolution, grocery shopping and food preparation, hygiene, and context-appropriate behavior.

Training Center Success Story

Recently, Annette Sanders, a 1996 graduate of Our House's education and job training program stopped by our campus to offer her help as a volunteer.  She reflected on the impact that Our House has made on her life.  When Annette first came to Our House, she was, in her own words, "unemployable".  She says, "I was not equipped to have a sustainable life.  I had been married for 19 years and had recently gotten divorced.  I couldn't support myself.  I had entered a drug recovery program.  I was searching for a new life, and Our House gave it to me.  Our House gave me a start- the start that I needed."

Annette's lack of education and job skills and bouts with addiction had led her to Our House.  While at Our House, she took courses in human relations and English for the workplace.  She learned the full Microsoft Office Suite of tools.  Over the course of the program, she says, "I realized that I could be successful.  I gained both skills and confidence.  After I graduated, I went to Pulaski Tech.  Then, at Philander Smith, I got my Bachelor's in Social Work.  I wanted to help people understand that they could make a change in their life - that their life could be as good as they wanted it to be.  I've spent the last several years working in the field of social work and just this summer started the Masters program in Social Work at UALR.  I just don't think I could have made it here had it not been for the program at Our House.  Our House gave me the drive, desire and will to do what I'm doing today."  Annette, who was jobless a decade ago, today counsels people in a smoking session program at UAMS's College of Public Health.  Financial contributions and corporate sponsorship are used to guide more people like Annette down a path that, as Annette says, "leads to a whole new world.  A world of freedom and independence."

Our House provides free childcare to any homeless parent who is participating in the educational programs or who is working (at Our House or elsewhere). This is a service we offer to our residents to enable them to work full time or to improve their skills.

Our House residents are required to save 75% of their earnings so that when they leave our program, they will be able to afford an apartment or even put a down-payment on a home. Recently, two of our residents left Our House with a savings of $10,000 each! In 2005, a 55 year old female resident was able to get a mortgage and buy a home.