Promising solutions to replace poverty and inequality with opportunity for all

People who work full time should not live in poverty. All people who can work should be given the tools to work toward their fullest potential. The notion of the American dream is rooted in the shared value of work and the promise that hard work will be rewarded and that everyone will have the opportunity to provide for his or her family and live with dignity. Despite the economic expansion that has taken place in recent years, poverty and unemployment plague the lives of millions of Americans. In July 2008, 8.8 million people were unemployed and 37 million people were living in poverty. The unfortunate reality for far too many in our nation is that the American dream is in jeopardy.

Significant changes in our nation's economy over the past 25 years have substantially altered the type and quality of job opportunities available in the United States, eroding the quality of jobs people with low skills are able to get, ensuring low wages and limited or no benefits. In addition, limited access to employment opportunities and inadequate training opportunities coupled with individual and systemic barriers to entering and maintaining employment create barriers to an adequate livelihood and impede economic security for millions across the United States. The most vulnerable in our society – including those recently released from prison, disconnected youth, and those with limited or no job history – face particular challenges to labor market entry and success.

Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights is a leading provider of programs and services to vulnerable populations.   Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights is a service-based human rights organization focused on investments in and solutions for the most poor and vulnerable men, women, and children in our society. Heartland Alliance strives to partner with the most vulnerable individuals to provide opportunities to enter and succeed in the labor market, and build the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the workforce. We also advocate for human rights through the creation of opportunities and social justice for all. From people experiencing homelessness to public housing residents to the working poor, our programs strive to build on the strengths of participants to help them build a pathway out of poverty and towards economic security.

As a direct service provider, Heartland Alliance has extensive expertise developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving employment and related programs and services for vulnerable people. Through programs and services such as transitional jobs, adult education, vocational English as a second language, and vocational training, Heartland Alliance is leading the way in providing innovative and effective solutions to some of our nation's most pressing issues. Via the National Transitional Jobs Network, Heartland Alliance leads the largest national coalition focused on programming and policy for helping the hardest to employ succeed in the labor market. The following approaches guide Heartland Alliance's workforce development efforts and related advocacy efforts:

Provide sector-based language and vocational training

Vocational English language and training services create a bridge to self-confidence and sustainable livelihood through language training, career preparation, citizenship preparation, and cultural orientation and exchange. Classes designed for individuals who know little or no English cover "survival" topics such as transportation, housing, and healthcare, as well as American job culture and expectations, job opportunities, filling out job applications, and interviewing skills. Integrating these classes into specific industry trainings, such as hospitality skills, horticulture skills and restaurant skills training, builds real world skills and prepares participants for entry-level employment. Sector-based strategies such as these are an approach to workforce development on behalf of low-income individuals.  They target a specific industry or cluster of occupations by intervening through education and training organizations to support workers in improving their range of employment-related skills.

Link skill development and supportive services with paid employment

Transitional Jobs (TJ) is a workforce strategy designed to overcome employment obstacles for people with barriers to employment through time-limited, wage paying jobs that combine real work, skill development, and supportive services to help participants transition successfully into the labor market. Transitional Jobs programs begin with the premise that everyone can succeed in work if provided the opportunity and appropriate supports. TJ programs support participants as they learn and relearn behaviors of work and learn to address and manage barriers to work such as trans-portation, child care, housing, communication and anger management skills as well as substance use or mental health issues. Participants receive intensive job coaching, supportive services to help manage the barriers that affect employment, placement into permanent jobs, and follow-up services to encourage job retention. To date, TJ programs exist in over 30 states and are a proven stepping stone to successful labor market entry for individuals with employment barriers. Successful TJ programs have been found to promote higher job retention rates and wage gains, reduce employer turn-over, reduce recidivism, reduce reliance on public benefits, and lower child poverty.

Offer basic education and skill development in real-world settings 

Education that integrates mathematics, science, and language skills with vocational training in culinary arts, basic construction, landscaping, and customer service provides an effective means for adults to succeed and advance in the workplace. Skill development that takes place in real-world settings, outside of the traditional classroom setting, creates a meaningful base of experience. These contextualized education and training programs combine knowledge and skill building while connecting low-income workers to in-demand jobs.

Enact policy change that integrates best practices and effective solutions

Some workers are disconnected from the labor market due to unemployment while others have experienced a unique crisis or barrier. In these circumstances, public policy can have a significant impact on helping workers and their families remain stable so they can reconnect with employment as soon as possible. Based on Heartland Alliance's unique expertise based on delivering direct services, we support the following policy and funding strategies. 

• Congress must pass legislation and allocate funding that directs states to prioritize vulnerable populations and invest in effective workforce development strategies such as sector-based vocational training, transitional jobs, and contextualized education and training, and allocate funding specifically to support such programs and systems. 
• Congress must extend federal unemployment insurance benefits as needed during periods of economic downturn so that workers temporarily disconnected from the workforce can meet their basic needs and focus on reconnecting with employment as soon as possible.
• Federal and state governments must insure that an adequate safety net for people disconnected from the workforce due to a crisis, including emergency assistance, temporary cash assistance, child care, health insurance, and workforce development and training opportunities.

Policy Success

Learn more about our public policy successes in the arena of economic security.

Action Alerts on Economic Security