Cachet Montgomery and Bruce Miller report waiting lines are common at MLM’s Education Center where clients learn job skills and submit applications.

Life Skill Training In Demand with Tough Job Market

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

—Author Unknown

The increase in demand for MLM’s food distribution and pantry programs has been visible with the recent economic upheaval. Less visible, an equally important effort occurs at the Chael-Dykman Education Center and MLM’s life skills training.

Cachet Montgomery, life skills and employment assistance coordinator, and Bruce Miller, project care family case manager, report that the number of clients there has increased—and so have their individual challenges.

“Sometimes even people with credentials just don’t get the job,” Bruce explained. “It’s a tough job market, to say the least.”

The center offers a row of computers with Internet access to allow for online applications, a virtual requirement in today’s job market. At times, lines stretch behind the computers as clients wait for their turn to work on resumes, complete applications and learn computer skills.

“Our clients have a real challenge,” Bruce said. “They may be trying to take care of their children and not even have a home, but they have to show up for an interview looking positive. They’re under a lot of pressure.”

Many of the individuals have trouble using computers, which are critical for almost everyone in today’s job market. MLM is increasingly seeing those who held a good job among the homeless.

Despite the challenges, there are successes. Cachet instituted a practice of placing paper stars with the names of graduates who have found a job. The program has been so successful that a second wall is now filling with stars.