GREENSBORO - GTCC and the Interactive Resource Center are expanding their joint effort to provide classes and job skills to the homeless. Many of those enrolled already are working but the classes are aimed at helping the program's men and women get better-paying jobs so they can move into permanent housing.
GTCC instructors have been teaching GED classes at the Interactive Resource Center for about a year. From the beginning, the classes were a hit.
"Quickly we realized that we needed to offer more opportunities for our guests to seek living-wage employment,” said Gwen Frisbie-Fulton, IRC’s director of community engagement. Over time it's our plan and our intention to keep on layering on classes so people can pursue full degrees."
Greensboro's homeless population mirrors the situation in cities across the U.S. Half of its clients are working but they're still homeless.
"We knew that we needed to explore ways to enhance their employment and get people into living-wage jobs,” said Frisbie-Fulton. “It's not acceptable to us that somebody would be working full time and still not be able to make ends meet to move out of homelessness."
The Center now offers computer classes.
"I'm taking Microsoft Office right now,” said Franklin Matthews, a center client. “I just finished the basic computer class, introduction to computer. I've done job skills here. Like they said, I've done about every class here."
The program not only is building skills. It's also generating pride.
"It means a lot to me,” said Arnisha Poole, another center client. “I can go to the next level, and it's my goal to be a cook and to be happy for myself for once."
Frisbie-Fulton believes the program can help break the cycle of homelessness for people like Poole and Matthews who have the drive to make their lives better.
"I think it's gonna move a lot of our guests out of having to take day labor jobs and into real positions with real incomes that will pay them a living wage for Greensboro," she said.
Greensboro native Steven Morton is supporting the partnership through the KCM Success Fund. Morton created the endowment in honor of his late son Kenny.