CUED

Work, Education, and Training: Experiences and Preferences of
Public Housing Residents at ABLA, Horner and Rockwell Developments

The purpose of the survey was to find out the experiences and preferences of the residents with regards to work, education, and training. The results will then be used by the West Side Consortium to develop or recommend for development programs which would meet the major needs and desires of the residents.

Almost 90% of the survey respondents were women, corresponding to the high percentage of female heads of households in Chicago Housing Authority developments. Three-quarters of respondent households have children present, with 91.6% headed by a single parent. In two of five households with children, the children are under three years old. More than three households in five (61.6%) receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and 80.2% receive food stamps. Currently, 10.5 % of respondents are working, 16.2 % are not working due to disability, 4.3 % are retired, and 69.0% are unemployed.

The survey had the following major findings:

1. The majority of residents have not completed high school or a GED and completing this educational level was the top priority for residents, when asked to select from a list of possible activities that could result from the survey. However, only six percent of respondents have completed a GED since dropping out of high school.

2. Almost three-quarters of respondents (73.4%) reported one or more volunteer experiences, with the most popular activities being child or youth groups and food programs. One-quarter of residents are currently volunteering.

3. Over two-thirds of the unemployed (excluding retired and disabled) want to work right now; slightly over half of them have applied for work in the past year.

4. Two out of three residents who are not working (including the unemployed, retired, or disabled) have worked in the past. The top three jobs that people have held in the past or are currently holding are cashier, food service worker, and warehouse/factory worker.

5. Almost one in three (138 people or 31.2%) who are interested in working have a sufficient level of educational attainment (when defined as a high school diploma or a GED) to get an entry-level job.

6. Child care needs are the biggest reason people are not working or looking for work right now; they were cited by 183 people, or 43.7% of respondents to the question. Lack of transportation was cited by almost one in three respondents (130 people).

7. Almost one in three respondents selected "Over $12 an hour" as the wages they would need to support themselves and their families; only 2.5 % said $4 to $5 an hour would be enough. However, 40% of those with a work history (whether or not currently working) have only had jobs for minimum wage (currently $4.25 per hour).

8. The top 10 career choices for residents are child care worker, food service worker, computer programmer, cashier, housekeeper, bookkeeper, nurse's aide, bank teller, cook or chef, and building trades. Most of the top 10 careers are low-wage jobs. When career responses are grouped, careers in the social services are most popular, followed by office careers, health careers, and manufacturing jobs.

9. Of the 109 people who have taken a vocational program, only half have completed, and only half of those have gotten a related job.

10. One hundred thirty-eight residents (29% of those responding) expressed an interest in starting a business; self-employment training was among the top five activity preferences of employed residents.

The following recommendations result from the examination of the above and other survey data presented in the body of the report. The West Side Consortium should:

1. Explore the reasons for GED completion and non-completion with residents through a focus group, investigate existing GED program to find successful models, and develop tailored GED programs with support to meet the varying needs of residents, e.g., develop a "fast track" program for those who are near diploma attainment (possibly an adult high school diploma completion program at a local high school); hold GED classes at the local developments for those people who are farther from attainment; develop a job-skills related GED or diploma completion program for those people who have not completed high school or gotten a GED but have some work experience. For all classes, integrate a career awareness component, provide supportive services such as child care and transportation, and provide counseling and follow-up with participants. However, GED may not be the appropriate first step for everyone, so choice is important.

2. Institute a pre-job guidance, job development, and job placement program, with case management follow-up and continued support for the two-thirds of unemployed residents who want to work now, including developing relations with employers for job placement.

3. Develop training in one or more of the four main career clusters (see #8 above) with Malcolm X College, area employers (including health care institutions and banks), and manufacturing training programs such as the Chicago Manufacturing Institute.

4. Pursue the possibility of a child care development center as a "training business" that would address the top career choice and the top support service need. Investigate similar programs such as Esperanza Unida and Pilsen Resurrection Development Corp.

5. Investigate the possibilities for entrepreneurial training and business start-up, including among the employed who may be working marginal jobs.

6. Integrate computer training as part of any educational or career training program. The Personalized Career Institute at Malcolm X College should be looked at as a possible model. For example, computers could be purchased for use at each development and local high school students could become tutors or training assistants.

7. Investigate existing and potential supportive, informational, and other programs that can serve as resources and support for residents in education or training programs. These include but are not limited to the Illinois Department of Public Aid's "Work Pays" program, the CHA's Resident Employment and Training Department and Entrepreneurial programs, the Department of Children and Family Services, school-to-work legislation, the City Colleges, especially Malcolm X College which is the closest and specializes in health careers, and Empowerment Zone programs and services.

In implementing the above suggestions, particular attention should be paid to two things: building on existing community strengths, such as West Side Consortium members, wherever possible and starting new entities or programs only when none already exist. including the public housing residents themselves in determining reasons for past programs' successes or failures and in the design of new program ideas.

This website is maintained by Cedric Williams, Manager System Services,
UIC-Center for Urban Economic Development