Business Climate SPECIAL SECTION
without a roof, no one can be expected to be self-sufficient,” said Jordan. “Housing requires an income, and without a shower
HOUSING
and a place to stay organized, no one can get HEALTH
up everyday and be present and productive at work.” According to most banking and lending organizations, housing expenses like rent or mortgage should account for about 30 percent of household income. Therefore,
SUPPORT
for someone making around $12,000 or
90 Works
$13,000 a year, they can afford just $315 per month for housing. It is next to impossible to find apartments to rent for even double that amount. For the extremely poor in Escambia Country, the only option is public housing
SAFETY
via the Area Housing Commission, but there is a two-year wait for that. “This leads to serial homelessness because when too much of the income is spent on rent and utilities, households are forced to
TRANSPORTATION
use emergency assistance repeatedly, don’t have enough money for transportation and
The Self-Sufficiency Model
INCOME
work related expenses and even worse, cannot provide for their children, which leads to foster care,” said Jordan. Through relationships with landlords in the community, 90Works to able to convince management in housing complexes and apartment buildings to go out on a limb for the poor among us. 90Works also helps with first month’s rent and deposit. To qualify for this assistance, there are some eligibility requirements. Individuals must be at 30 percent or below the annual median income in Escambia County, which is $42,000. Therefore, a household must make $12,600 or less to qualify. This often includes homeless veterans, high-risk pregnant women and families involved in the child welfare system. Once they have a home, they are able to find work, the next step in the self-sufficiency model. “We work with area employers to often get people hired within a day,” said Rachel Reust, marketing director for 90Works. “These employers can put any one of a dozen skills to use.” When customers are housed and have a decent-paying, sustainable job, they attend budgeting life skills classes with counselors who help them spend their money wisely, use proper expense percentages on various
needs, and even save up to improve their
Marketplace (part of the Patient Protection
future lives.
and Affordable Care Act, also known as the
After they have a job, 90Works helps customers find reliable transportation needed to
ACA or Obamacare), Florida KidCare and Access Florida.
get to and from work. The organization was
“We help people understand what plan
recently given a grant for bicycle packages,
would work best for them, combined with
which includes a brand-new bike, vest, hel-
what we know about what disability or social
met and pump. 90Works also distributes bus
security benefits they qualify for,” said Reust.
passes in Escambia County.
90Works also recently added a personal
“The bikes are a great asset because
trainer to their social work team to improve
Pensacola is getting more bike-friendly and
self-esteem and self-awareness via fitness
it’s even becoming a thing that those who
and physical activity for parents and youth.
have cars choose to do,” said Reust. “It helps
“The personal trainer will actually go
keep you healthy, active and moving, and of
into customers’ homes and teach them how
course for our clients gets them where they
to eat healthy on a budget,” said Reust. “All
need to go.”
this health and fitness helps with anxiety and
At this point, many clients are back on
stress. For mental health issues, our social
their feet and enjoying their new, modest
workers have counterparts in those fields
lifestyles. But to ensure they do not fall back
and speed up facilitation of that process.”
into poverty or depression, 90Works contin-
For individuals who have been living in
ues working with them so that unexpected
unsafe or violent situations, 90Works coordi-
costs do not crop up.
nates with Gulf Coast Kid’s House to provide
For example, the staff at 90Works under-
advocacy in court. Some parents are at risk of
stands that customers must be healthy in
losing their children not because of violence,
order to work and take care of their fami-
but because the home in which they reside
lies. Therefore, the organization provides
is unsafe. 90Works works with contractors
advocacy and enrollment in the Florida
to do minor repairs and educate people on nwflbusinessclimate.com nwflbusinessclimate.com| |Business BusinessClimate Climate| |5151