Next Move Homeless Services in Sacramento has a clear focus: to help vulnerable community members facing a variety of daily challenges and housing challenges achieve self-reliance. The organization does so through a range of services, including emergency shelter, case management and other resources. Recently, Next Move held its first-ever job fair aimed at helping clients overcome employment barriers, boost confidence and take steps towards achieving self-reliance. “I’m trying to find some interview clothes, so I can get back into the workforce and earn some decent salary,” said Luz Castillo, a Next Move client, as she thumbed through racks of interview-appropriate clothing at the job fair last month.Castillo shared that she fell on hard times after she began to live alone, finding herself struggling to make ends meet and secure stable employment.“Restarting over again. That’s been my major challenge,” she said. “My experience is really, really old, or it’s too much, and they think I won’t be happy with an entry-level office job. I’m kind of stuck in the middle.”She said she felt the job fair’s resources paired with a new outfit might just give her the morale boost she’s been looking for before heading into her next interview.“Just feeling better about yourself,” she said. “I think that comes across.”Despite its name, Next Move Homeless Services helps clients in a range of housing situations with emergency shelter, family housing and permanent supportive housing.“We have to actually meet them where they are in their journey,” said Executive Director Debbie Hughes. “They have to be given a space to grow and develop and really reach for those goals that they want.”Francis House serves the most vulnerable of Next Move’s clients, providing emergency shelter to those in need, hot meals and hygiene items. Hughes said they’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people seeking that level of basic care, reporting about twice as many individuals seeking services at Francis House each month this year compared to last.As clients work towards independence, Hughes said they often reach roadblocks when it comes to finding and keeping work. “They have a lot of barriers in front of them before they can actually even get to that interview,” she said. “We set up this job readiness fair to get them ready. We need them to feel confident in themselves. We need them to have the right resources.”The event included mock interviews, resume reviews and resource booths, where participants like Kera Erwin could engage with various opportunities and make new connections.”It’s face-to-face. You can actually make a better impression,” Erwin said. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this job fair. It means a lot to me. just grateful for every opportunity here.”Many of the Next Move staff and volunteers have lived experiences similar to those clients of the organization face, Hughes said. Many clients, she said, even come back to help the organization or become donors themselves once they’re out on their own.”Sometimes you just need that person, like, ‘Hey, I see you. Let’s figure this out together,’” she said. “I see the success in our clients.” As participants, like Castillo, strive to regain independence, she remarked, “It definitely is a positive step. And, yeah, I was really happy to find it here.” See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Next Move Homeless Services in Sacramento has a clear focus: to help vulnerable community members facing a variety of daily challenges and housing challenges achieve self-reliance.
The organization does so through a range of services, including emergency shelter, case management and other resources. Recently, Next Move held its first-ever job fair aimed at helping clients overcome employment barriers, boost confidence and take steps towards achieving self-reliance.
“I’m trying to find some interview clothes, so I can get back into the workforce and earn some decent salary,” said Luz Castillo, a Next Move client, as she thumbed through racks of interview-appropriate clothing at the job fair last month.
Castillo shared that she fell on hard times after she began to live alone, finding herself struggling to make ends meet and secure stable employment.
“Restarting over again. That’s been my major challenge,” she said. “My experience is really, really old, or it’s too much, and they think I won’t be happy with an entry-level office job. I’m kind of stuck in the middle.”
She said she felt the job fair’s resources paired with a new outfit might just give her the morale boost she’s been looking for before heading into her next interview.
“Just feeling better about yourself,” she said. “I think that comes across.”
Despite its name, Next Move Homeless Services helps clients in a range of housing situations with emergency shelter, family housing and permanent supportive housing.
“We have to actually meet them where they are in their journey,” said Executive Director Debbie Hughes. “They have to be given a space to grow and develop and really reach for those goals that they want.”
Francis House serves the most vulnerable of Next Move’s clients, providing emergency shelter to those in need, hot meals and hygiene items.
Hughes said they’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people seeking that level of basic care, reporting about twice as many individuals seeking services at Francis House each month this year compared to last.
As clients work towards independence, Hughes said they often reach roadblocks when it comes to finding and keeping work.
“They have a lot of barriers in front of them before they can actually even get to that interview,” she said. “We set up this job readiness fair to get them ready. We need them to feel confident in themselves. We need them to have the right resources.”
The event included mock interviews, resume reviews and resource booths, where participants like Kera Erwin could engage with various opportunities and make new connections.
“It’s face-to-face. You can actually make a better impression,” Erwin said. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this job fair. It means a lot to me. [I’m] just grateful for every opportunity here.”
Many of the Next Move staff and volunteers have lived experiences similar to those clients of the organization face, Hughes said. Many clients, she said, even come back to help the organization or become donors themselves once they’re out on their own.
“Sometimes you just need that person, like, ‘Hey, I see you. Let’s figure this out together,’” she said. “I see the success in our clients.”
As participants, like Castillo, strive to regain independence, she remarked, “It definitely is a positive step. And, yeah, I was really happy to find it here.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel