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LIHI’s Volunteer Powered Training Program Helps Residents Achieve Goals

Low Income Housing Institute’s Computer Technology and Job Search Training program is on the move. With support this year from the Technology Matching Fund and the Solid Ground MLK AmeriCorps/VISTA program, LIHI has expanded this project from a small pilot to a growing program serving residents at nine housing sites. The program offers homeless, formerly homeless and low-income individuals opportunities to increase their employability and career advancement options through a highly individualized computer technology and […]
 LIHI graduate, Tekle Haggos, at the Bart Harvey in the Cascade Neighborhood.

Congratulations to LIHI graduate, Tekle Haggos, at the Bart Harvey in the Cascade Neighborhood.

Low Income Housing Institute’s Computer Technology and Job Search Training program is on the move. With support this year from the Technology Matching Fund and the Solid Ground MLK AmeriCorps/VISTA program, LIHI has expanded this project from a small pilot to a growing program serving residents at nine housing sites.

The program offers homeless, formerly homeless and low-income individuals opportunities to increase their employability and career advancement options through a highly individualized computer technology and job search training program. Volunteers, including students from Western Washington University’s Extended Programs and Woodring College of Education, work with refugee and US-born tenants on technology literacy goals set by the residents themselves, including computer basics and typing, completing online employment applications and searching for community resources online. During weekly one-on-one sessions, volunteers emphasize practicing computer technology skills so that participants are able to independently use computer technology after they graduate from the program.

Thirty-five residents have engaged in this volunteer-powered program so far, each gaining between 10 and 20 one-on-one hours of instruction and practice and graduating with pride in meeting their technology literacy goals and new found confidence.

For more information on the project, contact LIHI’s Community Engagement and Advocacy Manager, Ania Beszterda-Alyson.