Last Updated On: 1/29/2011
ATLANTA -- A handful of Atlanta's homeless got a hand in finding work Thursday. But the job fair dedicated to helping them wasn't the first step in getting them on the road to recovery.
When we talk about Atlanta's homeless, images of those sleeping on the streets often come to mind. But many of Atlanta's homeless are actually staying with family, friends or in transitional shelters. Putting those folks back to work is the goal of one Atlanta nonprofit.
"We're looking to get hired and stay hired. Not just a job, but a career path," job seeker Natalie Lambert said Thursday.
Like thousands of Atlantans, Lambert has been hit hard by the recession. Under-employed and living with a friend, she's looking for an opportunity to make a better life. Her search has brought her to a job fair, sponsored by the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency.
After 30 days of job and life skills training, this is Lambert's opportunity to put her best foot forward. "At first I was a little complacent, but once I did get into the search, I just found it very difficult," she said. "Even temp agencies didn't have any positions for me to go to. So I found myself online at the library, Internet."
"It boils down to making the right decisions," said Gordon Ellis from the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency.
This is the first job fair the nonprofit has held. They plan to make it an annual event. But, it's just the most visible part of a long process for the people who go to them for help.
"They come to us and they know that they're ready to make a change," Ellis said. "So, it makes our job a little easier but it's still difficult because you've got to try to reverse some of the habits that they've had for six, five, two, eight years."
"Getting into ACSS has really helped me with confidence, with a great attitude to know that there's something better waiting for me somewhere," said job seeker Tamika Green. "So I am just very grateful for the program."
"I'm a realist. We're going to have another one next year but hopefully none of these clients will be there," Ellis said.
If you’ve been unemployed for a while, you probably know how mind-numbing unemployment can be. Instead of just waiting around for the “perfect” job opportunity, you should just take a job that will get you by. A flexible part-time job means that you have the opportunity to check out new full-time jobs as they come up, but it also means you have something to stay busy and pay the bills. Delivering pizzas, mowing lawns, or walking dogs – none of these is beneath you. As long as you’re working to put food on the table and a roof overhead, you can be proud of your accomplishments.
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