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King County Jobs and Housing Program

King County Jobs and Housing Program

The Jobs and Housing Program, connects people experiencing homelessness to jobs, case managers, and housing support.

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Are you currently experiencing homelessness and interested in joining the program?
Please fill out this quick interest form here.

About the program

The Jobs and Housing Program provides temporary jobs, career preparation, and housing and support services to people experiencing homelessness. The average pay is between $20-25 per hour, and jobs come with health insurance and other benefits. Jobs may be with King County or other local organizations.  

Most jobs are entry-level, with little to no prior experience necessary! 

What is included in this program? 

  • Temporary jobs lasting up to 1 year  
  • Paid ORCA transit pass and other transportation assistance as needed for 1 year 
  • Housing support (rental subsidy, housing case management, etc.) for 1 year  
  • Career support and coaching services for 1 year   

For INDIVIDUALS:

Temporary employment with King County includes: 

  • Positions for 6 months to 1 year @ $20-$25/hr 
  • King County benefits 
  • Example positions: Human Resource Scanning Technician, Elections Voter Signature Projects, Parks Beautification projects, Animal Care Technicians   
  • Ongoing case management to help remove barriers to employment (e.g., childcare, transportation, work attire, cell phone plans, etc.)  
  • ORCA passes and other transportation support 

What king of housing support is available? 

The Jobs and Housing Program will support program participants with housing services. If eligible, participants will be connected to a rapid rehousing case manager; others may work with their program case manager for housing support.  

Rapid rehousing is designed to help you quickly exit homelessness and return to permanent housing. Rapid rehousing services include help finding housing, rent and move-in assistance, and case management services.  

Financial assistance may include (but is not limited to):  

  • Move-in costs, including deposit and first month’s rent  
  • Rental assistance; rental applications fees, 
  • Payments for background and credit checks  
  • Previous housing debt/rental arrears if it will help with immediate housing placement  
  • Utility deposits and arrears needed to secure housing 
  • Moving costs 

Rapid rehousing also includes housing search and support. 

Please note that it may take a couple weeks to meet with your housing case manager. Based on the local housing market, once you are working with a case manager it can take up to a few months to find housing that fits your needs. 

What type of career support is available?   

  • Basic Career Services: job readiness workshops, skills assessment, information on labor market, job search, etc.  
  • Individualized Career Services: development of an employment plan, individual career planning, workshops on resumes, LinkedIn, interviewing, etc., referral to education/ training programs.  
  • Career Attainment Fund: Support services to cover costs that will remove barriers to employment, e.g., driver’s license, childcare, work related clothes or tools, training related costs, certifications, etc. 

For ORGANIZATIONS:

The Jobs and Housing Program is funded by American Rescue Plan funds received by King County. In 2021, Executive Constantine committed $40 million in ARPA funding to create approximately 400 new temporary jobs for people experiencing homelessness and connect them with housing and other support services.  

We partner with emergency shelters, rapid rehousing providers, social service agencies, libraries, etc., to recruit participants into the program. We’d love to partner with you to refer candidates!

Please reach out to:
JobsandHousing@kingcounty.gov to learn more about the program and our current open positions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant information 

King County released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to provide jobs to individuals experiencing homelessness that will enable participants to gain skills and experience to support future stable employment. 

Housing supports will primarily be offered through King County’s contracted Rapid Rehousing (RRH) providers. In addition to housing services, Jobs and Housing participants are also eligible to receive support services (ORCA passes, attire, equipment, etc.), career navigation and wrap-around support services. 

The application window for Q1 2022 closed on February 4, 2022. If you would like to be notified about future opportunities to apply Jobs and Housing Program funds, please contact JobsandHousing@kingcounty.gov

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