Project Paycheck Program

Building a Bridge to Independence Through Recovery and Employment

The Project Paycheck Program is a residential component of the Weingart Center. With its structure and design based on sober-living principles, Project Paycheck provides intensive case management, recovery counseling, and employment assistance services to 42 men and women with histories of chronic substance abuse who are in active recovery. In addition, program participants receive independent living skills and job retention counseling, and are encouraged to participate in short-term vocational trainings and/or basic education classes, if needed.

With a potential residential stay of up to 12 months, program participants are subject to a battery of literacy and vocational assessments that play an integral part in the development of individualized case plans that will result in the attainment of permanent, full-time employment. Directly linked to the Weingart's Employment Center, Project Paycheck affords each client access to a wide array of employment services that includes job development, employment counseling, a job preparedness curriculum, interview and work clothing, and personal voicemail boxes.

Graduates of the program meet the program's objectives of maintaining substance abuse recovery, obtaining permanent, full-time employment, and transitioning into permanent housing. To further assist those successfully completing the program, Project Paycheck offers, and strongly encourages graduates to participate in Long-term Case Management Services.

Long-term case managers maintain post-program contact with graduates for one year and offer a myriad of support services that includes housing location assistance, resource information and referrals, and advocacy.

Key elements of the program are:

• Three meals daily and residence with other program participants in a restricted access environment.
• Random drug and alcohol testing.
• A client/case manager ratio of 20-to-1, or less.
• Self-help recovery groups and relapse prevention classes.
• A 90-day initial entry probationary period.
• A comprehensive job preparedness and life skills curriculum.
• Current labor market information.
• Job leads.
• Employment and vocational assessments.
• A savings requirement of at least 75% of income from any source.
• Opportunities for educational and/or vocational training.
• Long-term post-program support.

To ensure the highest quality of services for homeless job seekers, the Project Paycheck Program has developed formal and informal collaborative community partnerships with a number of other social service providers and community organizations such as the Salvation Army's Harbor Light Program, the Transition House, the Los Angeles Unified School District's Belmont Community Adult School, Metro Skills Center, Abram Friedman Occupational Center, the Employment Development Department, the Department of Public Social Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Goodwill Industries, Chrysalis, Union Rescue Mission, and L.A. Mission.

For information on the Project Paycheck Program, or for inquiries about intake, please contact the Program Manager at 213-689-2118.