Current Project
The Women’s Independence Project
Our latest Community Project Collaboration is The Women’s Independence Project. We are partnering with Hope House Inc. and the Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau’s Transitions Program. Both organizations offer intensive residential treatment for women recovering from addiction.
- The anticipated community impacts of the collaboration include:
- Increasing employment opportunities and self-sufficiency rates for approximately 90 previously homeless, addicted women participating in the Hope House and Transitions programs annually.
- Breaking the intergenerational cycle of addiction and homelessness for program participants and their children. Children of addicted parents are at the greatest risk of repeating their parent’s life choices.
- Developing the potential of women in these programs by teaching them life and employment skills otherwise unavailable to them.
- The goals of the project are:
- Researching, developing and facilitating employment skills workshops for the residents of Hope House and Transitions.
- Developing a database of employers willing to employ residents of Hope House and Transitions.
- Developing and piloting a mentoring program for Hope House residents who have the greatest need for developing their self-esteem.
Click here to access the Women's Independence Project brochure.
If time allows in Year 3 of the project, assisting Hope House with research and evaluation of a potential social enterprise, or small business for their organization, to provide income for Hope House as well as training and job opportunities for the women of Hope House.
Hope House and Transitions will educate JLFW volunteers about issues associated with addiction and homelessness to equip volunteers to interact with and facilitate classes for chemically dependent women while increasing our understanding of these societal issues.
JLFW has accomplished our first and second year goals and has been energized for year three by the positive feedback of the Women's Independence Program from our project partners!