Ready to Work
Ready to Work
Ready to Work provides adults experiencing homelessness a unique opportunity to rebuild their lives through work. Our holistic approach combines three elements - paid work in a Ready to Work social enterprise, dormitory housing at Ready to Work House, and case management support.
Ready to Work is the first stepping stone to self-sufficiency. After one year, trainees graduate to mainstream jobs and permanent housing.
Ready to Work has a success rate of 74%.
Ready to Work operates two locations in Metro Denver.
Ready to Work has operated since 2012 in Boulder with a capacity for 44 adults at Ready to Work House and Employment Center at 4747 Table Mesa Drive. In December 2018, Ready to Work Aurora opened with capacity for 50 at 3176 S. Peoria Court.
Ready to Work was founded on the belief that when given the opportunity adults experiencing homelessness will seize the opportunity to get back to work. Unfortunately, despite a booming economy and due to systemic social problems, the unemployment rate for adults experiencing homelessness is over 80%. Ready to Work is a successful intervention for approximately 40% of adults experiencing homelessness in need of more support than what is offered by emergency shelter. These individuals have the desire and capacity, with the right support, to get back to full-time work and into independent housing after one year. Ready to Work provides that platform for success.
| Cost of Doing Nothing | RTW Trainee Costs | Community Cost for RTW Grad |
|---|---|---|
| $150k per year for highest user of Boulder County detox, hospital and ambulance (BCPH) | $15k or 15% is earned in trainee wages - funded by social enterprise | $0 |
| $45k per year for prison (CO DOC) | $5k in social enterprise expense | $0 |
| up to $550k per year estimated for chronically homeless adult (USICH) | $10k for one year of housing and support services - requires gov't and private support | $0 |
2021 Graduation
History
In 2009, Carriage House Community Table was a small non profit organization providing day shelter and meals to adults experiencing homelessness in Boulder. The small, but mighty, staff and Board of Directors at the time wanted to grow and deepen the organization’s impact. They sought out the expertise and financial resources of Social Venture Partners (SVP), a local non profit, whose mission is to support the development of non profits through consulting and grant making. That same year, CHCT became and an investee with SVP and embarked on a series of projects to help build infrastructure, develop a strategic vision, and to develop a new brand for the organization which would ultimately be renamed Bridge House.
Ready to Work
Blog Updates
Read our blog and stay up to date on the exciting happenings at Ready to Work!