News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Homeless Of McMinnville Effort has created a new program to help displaced people with housing and job opportunities.
It’s called Work A Day, Pay A Day. Co-Founder Shelia Fann said the organization finds jobs such as waitressing or tasks within the mission. Fann said after a full day of work, H.O.M.E pays for housing for the night.
“Like we had a family of a mother of three,” Fann said. “We kept them in a motel for it was over two weeks, but she got a job. She started working, and I saw her the other day. She is working and things are going great.”
Fann said a group within H.O.M.E called the Welfare Leaders volunteer daily with individuals. Fann said members provide services such as identity documents for applications and transportation to work.
“They take the people that call and work with them,” Fann said. “It’s not like we have an office where someone comes in, and we work with them 10 minutes and then say see you later. That’s not how it works, and I really believe that’s a part of H.O.M.E’s success.”
Fann said Work A Day, Pay A Day started two months ago. Since then, four displaced individuals have found steady work.
“It depends on the person and the situation,” Fann said. “One needed a schedule so that she could get her children on the bus. Her’s was a waitressing job that paid pretty well, but for another guy, he is at Burger King and worked 95 hours in two weeks. Another guy is working at Taco Bell four hours a day.”
Fann said seeing the success stories show that H.O.M.E is truly following its moto, Bridging the gap.
