Austin Homeless Task Force
Contact: Mitch Weynand, mitch.weynand@lifeworksweb.org

Congratulations to LifeWorks!
In partnership with Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop initiative and through the generous support of many community leaders, LifeWorks will own and operate a Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop ice cream store in Austin. This initiative will provide training, a positive first time employment experience, and graduate at-risk youth to career-oriented jobs, career training and higher education.

LifeWorks is dedicated to helping youth and families who are facing the most difficult challenges.
LifeWorks provides the most comprehensive network of support for youth and families in Austin a safety net of support to more than 10,000 families every year. LifeWorks’ services to runaway and homeless youth provide a pathway from life on the street to self-sufficiency. Youth development training and opportunities prepare youth to become healthy, successful adults. LifeWorks is also the largest local provider of free and affordable counseling to youth and families.

Austin Resource Center for the Homeless is Looking for a New Shelter Director
Front Steps, based on the belief that all people deserve the dignity of a safe place to call home, seeks to end homelessness through the provision of shelter, affordable housing and community education.  Front Steps is a private not-for-profit organization with a budget over $2,000,000.  Front Steps manages the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) which is a day resource center and overnight shelter.  In addition to managing ARCH, Front Steps implements several programs to assist clients of the shelter to transition to homes.  Front Steps also co-manages Garden Terrace Residences, a permanent supportive housing facility for homeless and low income people.

  Qualifications:
Good communications skills and over 5 years supervisory experience entailing staffs of over 20 people and multiple units required.  Candidates must be team players, demonstrate good listening and empathic skills and be able to multi-task.  Candidates must possess strong oral and written communication, time management and organizational skills.  College degree in social services or equivalent experience in community service and property management required.  Knowledge of and sensitivity to issues related to working with homeless people required.  Ability to operate a personal computer required.  Willingness to work flexible hours, including evening and weekend hours, required.  Candidate should be able to maintain composure in crisis situations and have an ability to work with a high level of interruptions and distractions.  Some knowledge of service point or other software systems of client tracking is helpful but not required.   Experience in managing a permanent supportive housing facility is helpful but not required.  References required.

How To Apply: For a more detailed job description, email lblancarte@fronsteps.org. Send resume, salary requirements and references to Search Committee, Front Steps, P.O. Box 684519, Austin, Texas, 78768-4519 or email to the address above.  References regarding the applicant’s current position will not be contacted without express permission from the applicant. 

Hidalgo County Coalition for the Homeless
Contact: Yvette Balderas, ybalderas@mcallen.net

The Hidalgo County Homeless Coalition conducts an outreach/distribution on the first Wednesday of every month to persons residing at McAllen Municipal Park.  Our next one is scheduled for May 4, 2005 and then June 1, 2005. We just completed our point-in-time study on April 27th.   

Midland Homeless Coalition
Contact: Juanita Castilleja, irpbaicdir@marshill.com

This year we asked a group of students from the University of the Permian Basin (UTPB) to help us with our citywide street count on March 15. Then all the members of the coalition surveyed every client they serve for a whole week, ending on March 22, 2005.

The whole experience for these students in this research class was one that they will never forget. I heard that they learned and got more out of the project than from the text book. It was a great group and we hope to continue this project with Professor Kay Ketzenberger and her students next year. The agencies that participated were: Midland Fair Havens, Area Missions Outreach Services (AMOS), Safe Place, Midland Soup Kitchen, Breaking Bread Kitchen, First Baptist Church, 2-1-1 Area Information Center, Labor Ready, Coleman High School, Midland County Housing Authority.

Thanks
Juanita Castilleja, AIC Director