About This Project
Summary
The Doe Fund's Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) program has connected over 15,000 people experiencing homelessness to jobs, housing, or both since 1990. Its unique model combines paid work experience with transitional housing, career training, and comprehensive supportive services to ensure participants build brighter futures. In 2024, The Doe Fund redesigned the program to ensure participants are more efficiently connected to permanent affordable housing and better-paying career opportunities.
Goals & Objectives
The goal of RWA is to prepare people with histories of homelessness, substance abuse, & incarceration for the workforce, connect them to living wage jobs, & place them in housing. The redesign aimed to (and succeeded in) streamlining these processes & provide deeper training opportunities.
Results & Impact
Post-redesign, RWA trainees earned $5.9 million through paid work training — serving NYC by disposing of 3,200 tons of trash — and putting nearly $700K into savings. RWA celebrated 415 placements into jobs and housing, and 73% of program graduates retained employment after six months.
JOIN THE NEWSLETTER