Creating Employment Opportunities
for Those in Need
by Danielle Engle
During the 2006 Minnesota
legislative session, one topic that certainly will prevail is the
competition for funding dollars. Given the proposed 2007 federal
budget cuts, the future looks dismal for local municipalities, state
governments, and those organizations dependent on government funding.
When government funds shrink, there is an increased competition for
grants. There is also a greater reliance on volunteers. They are needed to fill
the gaps created by the lack of funding for paid staff.
Unfortunately, the ultimate
fallout is on those members of society who are in need. They need
housing, healthcare, employment services, vocational rehabilitation
services, and other supportive services in order for these individuals
to become and continue to be self-supporting members of society.
Budget cuts in these critical areas reduce the likelihood that these
individuals will move past their current conditions.
A disproportionate percentage of people in our society live in circumstances
best described as surviving or just getting by. Who are these individuals?
They include people with disabilities, veterans of past and current
wars, people suffering a loss (employment, family support system,
etc.), children and families, individuals with mental, cognitive
and behavioral challenges, those who are chemically dependent or
in some stage of chronic alcoholism, and individuals living on general
assistance or social security disability insurance benefits.
Employment opportunities provide a means of moving beyond current
conditions and envision a future of hope. Where there is hope, there
is motivation and determination to succeed.
These employment opportunities that exist for people in need are
often low skilled or low paying positions. Although volunteer opportunities
help individuals demonstrate and learn new skills, they do not pay
the bills. For individuals in need, there is a far greater need for
paid employment opportunities than for volunteer opportunities.
For organizations that rely upon volunteers, including those in
need of employment, the question needs to be posed: Are the volunteer
opportunities really a benefit for those individuals who need paid
employment? In addition, there are several factors that need to be
considered, such as housing and healthcare costs.
The current demand for Section 8 housing is so great that services
are not sufficient to serve the homeless. Therefore, for those individuals
struggling to pay their current rent or mortgage, there is no affordable
housing options available. Future public housing developments do
not come close to closing the gap. With the increased cost of health-care,
insurance premiums and co-payments, utilities, gasoline and other
necessities, those monthly benefits or low wage employment checks
are not sufficient.
Healthcare costs, including provider co-pays, may appear minimal
to the working taxpayer. However, for those on a limited income,
the co-payments are often times a burden. For those few individuals
who do have transportation, travel may be restricted to work, medical
appointments and other essentials. The economic barriers prohibit
many people from tapping into those networks, even when social and
recreational activities are proven to improve physical and mental
health.
Individuals with limited mobility are forced to rely on a transportation
system that is limited, unpredictable and insufficient. Currently,
there is a proposal to dedicate a portion of motor vehicle tax
revenue into a transportation fund. Although this may look good
on the surface, it is important to remember that those dollars
are currently placed in the general fund. The general fund includes
housing, education, human resources and other critical areas. With
additional cuts pending from the federal budget, can we afford
to lose that money from the general fund?
When funding cuts impact non-profits, those organizations increase
their appeal to the good will of others. Albeit those causes are
noble, how are those donations of money, goods or volunteer labor
hours used? How many of those dollars go to support the employment
of those in need?
There are no simple
answers to the complex interrelated factors that impact those in
need. Nonetheless, we as individuals and social entities tend to
point our fingers at the government, lobbyists and special interest
groups—who have set agendas and priorities.
Perhaps another type
of appeal is needed—an appeal to the
good will of non-profit organizations and individuals within them.
For those organizations that rely on volunteer workers, create an
employment fund for individuals in need to help carry a portion of
the workload. If every organization commits five hours of paid employment
for each 40 hours of volunteer work, this fund could provide paid
employment for indi-vidual(s) in need.
Employees or volunteers could also commit a segment of their philanthropic
endeavors to this employment fund for individuals in need. If you
currently contribute to the United Way Fund, commit a quarter of
that sum to a work fund instead. If a work fund does not exist, take
it upon youself to create it. If you falter, remember that each great
endeavor begins with the single act of one individual. Why not you?
As a society and as
individuals within this society, we need to ask, “What can I do to support a work opportunity for an individual
in need?” Only then, can we pose that conscionable question
to other individuals, government, business or social entities.
What impact could there be if individuals within an organization
helped create employment opportunities for individuals in need? Better
still, what can the directors and CEOs of select organizations within
the Twin Cities do to see that this initiative is productive and
strong? When we plant a seed, it may flourish. If we do not plant
a seed, it cannot flourish. The following is an example of what an
organization with 300 full-time paid employees can do to help individuals
in securing part-time employment opportunities.
Scenario: Each employee
commits $1 of each week’s earnings
to an employment fund: Weekly Contributions to the fund: $300 --
Monthly Contributions to the fund: $1,200.
Example Question: If this fund was redistributed to a business that
employs people with disabilities, how many part-time opportunities
could it create? What new employment opportunities would there be
for individuals in need within the non-profit organizations if they
could allocate this additional $1,200 to salaries?
