Workforce and Economic Development Program
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As unemployed persons and low-wage workers face the ongoing challenges of poverty, they are marginalized from society with little access to skilled jobs, careers with family-sustaining wages and health benefits. Many individuals and families living in poverty need access to education, skill development, jobs with family-supporting wages, and income supports to advance in the labor market and achieve financial self-sufficiency. The major challenges that keep individuals in poverty and present barriers to employment are low literacy and skill levels, drug addiction, poor health care, lack of affordable housing, criminal records and limited transportation options.
To help unemployed and underemployed residents obtain jobs, overcome these barriers and develop work skills, Baltimore City has a large number of public agencies, non-profit service providers, and private organizations that provide life skills courses, industry-specific job training and barrier-removal support services. Many of these organizations are helping their participants find jobs, stay employed and plan for career advancement, but the challenges they face to transition people out of poverty are enormous.
OSI–Baltimore’s Workforce and Economic Development Program aims to overcome these barriers and improve the economic security of low-income Baltimore City residents and their ability to become active members of society.
