St. Francis Seraph Ministries
1615 Republic Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Expanding Skills Training for Homeless and Low-Income Individuals
The Sarah Center empowers our neighbors to craft beautiful futures for themselves and their families by learning sewing, quilting, and jewelry-making skills. Sarah Center programs promote stability and community through training sessions, where students build confidence as they hone technical skills. The Sarah Center serves 9-15 neighbors per month - mostly, but not exclusively, women.During its first year, the Sarah Center's #Stitched# program partnered with local textile manufacturer, AeroElite, to offer program graduates full-time employment in the textiles industry upon program completion. This employment improved the economic status and well-being of graduates, especially for single women with children. A living wage job meant that more resources were now available to pay for their children’s food, housing, and education. In 2023-2024, SFSM aims to expand this program to support more participants and increase community connections through #Stitched# 2. SFSM also plans to reinstate its retail opportunities for jewelry-making students.
Program Goals:
The Sarah Center provides job training programs to individuals who are experiencing homelessness and/or are low-income. The program provides requisite skill training to individuals who experience barriers to employment, enabling them to secure long-term, living wage jobs. SFSM provides job search assistance by connecting individuals with employer partners or through job navigation efforts of SFSM nonprofit partners. With Charles H. Dater Foundation funding, SFSM will expand the skill training offered through Sarah Center so that the program can serve additional 60 individuals and increase the number of skill trainings offered.
The ultimate goal of all SFSM programs is to fulfill our mission of nourishing and nurturing the underserved and marginalized in our community. The Sarah Center accomplishes this aim through the provision of regularly available and highly accessible paths to develop skills and secure living wage employment while acting as an affirming space. Sarah Center programs engage local employers to identify local workforce needs, and develop programs to address them. To best serve our target population of unhoused and/or low-income individuals, programs are intentionally designed to be low-barrier and operate through trauma-informed and culturally responsive lenses.
SFSM Goals relevant to this proposal include:
*growing the number of students in the program, serving an additional 60 un- or underemployed individuals per year;
*maintaining a program completion rate of at least 80%;
*establishing partnerships with at least two employers who can hire program graduates for full-time, stable work;
*connecting 85% of participants, minimally, with additional community resources and supports through other nonprofits and service providers; and
*expanding Sarah Center staff and programs to achieve these goals, improve data measurement and outcome tracking, and increase the Sarah Center’s scope of impact.
Program Results:
To date, the Sarah Center #Stitched#, #Stitched 2#, and Jewelry-Making classes have served 47 individuals, a 45% increase in graduates from the previous year. We anticipate serving 60 individuals through these programs by the end of St. Francis Seraph Ministries (SFSM) FY '24 in June of this year. Currently, we maintain an average completion rate of 80%. We continue to engage the community to engage partnerships with employers and are working to mobilize SFSM's extensive volunteer network to incorporate entrepreneurship mentors and professionals to lead community programming.
To date, we have established referral relationships with two local businesses: Carol Designs and Moreau Sewing. One #Stitched Graduate is currently providing Carol Designs alteration services as an independent contractor. Students interested in production sewing are connected for consideration of open positions with Moreau Sewing.
Throughout the award term, the Sarah Center connected approximately 90% of students and community members participating in Sarah Center’s less formal programs to local nonprofit agencies for additional supportive services and resources. These connections include:
* Freestore Foodbank
* Ohio Jobs and Family Services
* Working in Neighborhoods
* Cincinnati Recycle and Reuse Hub
* Indigo Hippo
* Scrap it Up
* Habitat for Humanity
* SFSM’s Dining Room Programs
All Sarah Center students are encouraged to leverage the skill sets and confidence they have learned at Sarah Center to earn primary or supplemental income. Students are regularly provided with information about job openings, and for those positions they pursue, Sarah Center Staff assist with resumes and provide letters of recommendation advocating for graduates. Notably, three #Stitched# and #Stitched 2# graduates have turned their skill sets into businesses. Moore Jewelry, Pretty Tough Apparel, and Caddies By Mel Rolling in Style provide products and alteration services. The individuals behind these brands are bringing in additional income into their households, impacting their independence and contributing to their families' financial stability.
Additionally, due to the supportive community and the confidence in mastering a new skill, 4 Sarah Center program participants have secured employment with Cincinnait’s Children’s Hospital. Sarah Center staff were instrumental in connecting these graduates with open positions at the hospital. Staff supported these individuals by assisting with resumes and providing letters of recommendation. Each of these individuals maintains their employment.
Website:
http://www.sfsministries.org Amount: $30,000
Date: April 2023
