A successful local program that combines affordable housing, workforce development, and support services to help individuals enter high-demand, well-paying career fields will disappear at the end of September without additional funding.
Resiliency Bridge is a public-private partnership between Aspyr Workforce Innovations and Home for Families, with the original program design facilitated by the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio. Serving residents earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income and receiving public assistance, the program combines rental assistance, case management, and access to vocational training. Participants earn industry-recognized credentials, leading to careers with starting wages averaging $22/hour.
A Proven Success
The pilot program kicked off in October of 2021, serving 77 students. Within this first cohort, the percentage of participants with no income dropped from 46.5% to 3.1%. With an average investment of $21,945 per participant, the program delivered a return on investment within 8.7 months. The average participant increased their earnings tenfold in under a year, with graduates earning an average of $33,000 annually immediately after completing their programs.
Though another 100 students enrolled in the program’s second cohort are expected to graduate by the end of the year, a third cohort won’t move forward unless new funding is secured.
A Need for Funding
The program’s first cohort was funded by JP Morgan Chase, Franklin County, and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). The second cohort, which began in September 2023 and wraps up at the end of this September, was funded by Franklin County Emergency Rental Assistance programs, The Columbus Foundation, and CMHA. But Home for Families President & CEO Beth Fetzer-Rice said new funding sources are needed for Resiliency Bridge to continue beyond the end of September.
“This program’s success proves that providing housing stability is a key ingredient in empowering people to attain the education and training necessary to lift themselves and their families out of poverty,” Fetzer-Rice said. “But we are in dire need of support to continue helping people change their lives for the better.”
A Pathway to Stability
Resiliency Bridge participants enter the program by partnering with a workforce training organization—such as Goodwill Columbus and New Directions Career Center—to select a no-cost career pathway such as healthcare, information technology, criminal justice, driving and logistics, and manufacturing and engineering technology. The starting wage for career pathways was $19.83 for cohort 1 and $22.37 for cohort 2. If funding enables a third cohort to move forward, those participants would receive a starting wage that is adjusted to the current housing wage.
A report detailing the results of the program’s first cohort was managed by lead author Dr. Stephen Metraux, Professor of Public Policy at the Joseph R. Biden School of Public Policy and Administration of the University of Delaware. The report found that 89.1% of participants exited the program with employment, and 59.4% worked in their field of study. Of program participants, 65.6% had a job that paid the program target wage, and since the study concluded, three more students (5%) reported meeting the income target.
A Brighter Future: Fred’s Story
One example of a person who saw his life changed for the better through Resiliency Bridge is Fred Thomas, a Columbus resident who had his world upended following a serious car accident that robbed him of his job and nearly his life.
After being out of work for over a year, Thomas was referred to the Resiliency Bridge program by Goodwill of Central Ohio while he was pursuing the CompTIA Security certification, an important credential in the IT sector.
From January through November of 2024, Home for Families provided crucial financial assistance to Thomas, covering his rent, utilities, phone bill, and car insurance, ensuring that he could focus on his studies and career goals without the burden of financial stress.
Thomas now serves as a Training Specialist for Goodwill Columbus’ Work and Community Services program, which provides support for individuals with developmental disabilities.
“The Resiliency Bridge program was a divine intervention in my life, and I am forever grateful,” Thomas said.
