Willis Dady Homeless Services helps people find stability through employment

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A program through Willis Dady Homeless Services is helping people find stability through employment.

”They actually helped me when I was homeless, and they got me a place to live, you know, got me back the information I needed to get back on my feet,” said Eric Fish, who now works as a liter abatement representative.

Fish says he initially got involved with Willis Dady’s Employment Program for the opportunity to get back on his feet. He has tried more than one job through the program but found his niche cleaning up trash for the city.

“I actually fell in love with it, it gets me out and about, and I get to work with great crew members, I could not ask for better,” said Fish.

Willis Dady partners with Linn County businesses and organizations to provide job opportunities through its employment program. 45 people are currently in the program, which is based on referrals.

”If you are a person in the area who needs a little bit more support, you’re at risk, or you are homeless, and you work with a case manager, you can be referred to our employment programs,” said Kelsey Culver, Employment and Outreach Director at Willis Dady Homeless Services.

Some of the opportunities include working with Frontier Co-Op, doing liter abatement with the city of Cedar Rapids, or mattress recycling on-site at Willis Dady to keep mattresses from going to the landfill.

The goal of the program is to help workers obtain the skills needed for gainful employment long term.

“We have room for people who need jobs, and we have room for people who want to employ kind of that more diverse group of people,” Culver said.

It’s a program that’s changing lives.

“You’ve got to put your mind to it and when you go and do it follow through with it and then eventually everything will turn out better,” said Fish.

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