We are thrilled to announce the opening of a new SJW office at 382 E. Palm Lane in Phoenix, offering a convenient location for our clients. This new site ensures easy access for those using public transportation, guaranteeing that our services remain accessible to all. As part of this transition, we moved our 19th Ave. and Bethany Home Road office and the operations team from the Keys for Change Human Services campus to this new address. The office opened its doors for business on May 6th and has already served over 200 clients.
SJW is currently serving clients from three office locations:
- Keys to Change Human Services Campus, 1125 W. Jackson Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85007
- East Valley, 1833 W. Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201
- Central Phoenix, 382 E. Palm Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85004
We are hosting an Open House on September 19th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm to celebrate, and we hope you’ll join us. We look forward to welcoming you to our new location and continuing our mission of transforming lives through quality employment. Stay tuned for more information on this exciting event!
New Innovative Workforce Housing and Training Program
In April, supported by the Arizona Housing Coalition’s Innovations for Impact Grant, St. Joseph the Worker launched its new Workforce Housing and Training Program (WHAT), providing a comprehensive solution combining career pathways and housing stability. This 120-day initiative aims to empower unhoused, low-income, and disadvantaged individuals by offering job training and secure housing, bridging the gap between job seekers and career opportunities.
The program starts with a week of immersive classroom training covering technical and soft skills. This is followed by employment opportunities where participants can earn a competitive $18 per hour, which increases to $20 per hour after 90 days. Over the course of six to nine months, wages can rise to an impressive $22 per hour, significantly outpacing traditional wage growth rates. This financial boost can be a game-changer for low-income individuals, offering them a path to financial stability.
SJW collaborates with local business owner John Morris of PHP Painting to provide this opportunity to clients for free. If you know someone seeking a new career path in this field, SJW is accepting applications for the next session starting June 17, 2024. The program is open to individuals aged 18 and older with reliable transportation and no open evictions or violent felonies. Watch the video below to learn more, or download a flyer.
Watch Fox 10’s news coverage about the program.
Meet Sonia a Member of the Workforce Housing and Training Program
Sonia, a dedicated single mother and certified behavioral health specialist, faced an unexpected crisis when she and her two children were evicted from their apartment in September. Sharing the apartment with her sister, who failed to pay multiple months of rent, Sonia was caught off guard when they were forced to leave. First, she and the kids stayed in cheap hotels until the money ran out. Then, they stayed in local shelters until she eventually found her way to St. Joseph the Worker, where she applied for our 90-day transitional housing program, Workforce Villages. Unfortunately, the program is designed to assist individuals due to the limited space and shared apartment model. Sonia made the heart-wrenching decision to send her children back to her hometown near Kansas City to stay with her mother until she could secure stable housing.
Amidst her crisis, Sonia’s resilience paved her path. She seized the opportunity to enroll in SJW’s new Workforce Housing and Training Program, determined to rebuild her life. Her dedication paid off as she recently completed the training and is now employed full-time as a commercial painter, taking on additional shifts at the behavioral health clinic to save as much money as possible. With SJW’s support, Sonia has cleared her eviction debt and is now saving for an apartment. By the end of June, she plans to reunite with her children, ages 7 and 15.
Thanks to the collaborative effort with another local nonprofit, Saving Amy, Sonia will move into a fully furnished apartment with additional resources available as needed. Stories like Sonia’s are a testament to the impact of our community’s generosity and collaboration with businesses and nonprofits that offer a helping hand to those in need.
Our housing program provides clients with gas and grocery gift cards, bus and rail tickets, professional clothing, tools, uniforms, and more when they need support. Our goal is to break down all barriers to promote long-term success. If you would like to donate gift cards to help, they can be mailed to SJW, PO Box 13503, Phoenix, AZ 85002.
Other Program Updates
Employment Without Barriers is SJW’s signature program designed to address all barriers to employment and position our clients for long-term success.
In the past month, SJW has successfully supported 1,665 clients, with a remarkable 340 individuals securing employment at an average wage of $17.62. Notably, over 87% of these clients were eligible for crucial benefits such as healthcare and mental health services, a testament to the effectiveness of our program. This was made possible through our comprehensive support, including job connections, resume and interview assistance, transportation and uniform aid, and provision of necessary certifications or tools, all of which have paved the way for our clients’ success in their new roles.
Keolis Transit, our largest Preferred Business Partner, hired 83 clients last month, with pay starting at $18.83 an hour!
Workforce Villages is a 90-day transitional housing program that helps individuals save money and obtain stable and permanent housing.
Workforce Villages enrolled 9 new clients into the program last month and celebrated the successful transition of 2 clients into permanent housing with a lease in their name. These clients saved an average of $3,114 through new skills learned from SJW’s budgeting and personal finance workshops. The current success rate of this program is 72%!
Upcoming SJW Events – Save the Dates
Join us for an evening of transformation and community empowerment! Your attendance at this rooftop happy hour is a beacon of hope for individuals facing barriers to quality employment. Enjoy live music, breathtaking views, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, auctions, a raffle, and impactful client stories.
Sunset Happy Hour Fundraising Event
The Grove • 4300 E. Camelback Rd. Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Nov. 1st • 4:30-6:30 pm • Valet Parking Available
Other Dates to Save:
- 17th Annual feeney/winthrop Benefit Concert: March 22, 2025, Location: to be determined
- 27th Annual Hike for Hope: April 26, 2025, Location: McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Our Contact Information
St. Joseph the Worker
P.O Box 13503
Phoenix, AZ 85002
(602) 309-4061
https://sjwjobs.org/
