CARA PROGRAM

Cara prepares and inspires motivated individuals to break the cycles of homelessness and poverty, transform their lives, strengthen our communities, and forge paths to real and lasting success. We give homeless and disadvantaged people the opportunity to secure a good job through a comprehensive range of job training, support, placement, and retention services. Since 1991, we have placed more than 7,500 motivated adults into more than 11,500 jobs and sustained one-year job retention rates of 70% among individuals in permanent positions.

OUR IMPACT
• JOBS: 11,500 jobs created since 1991
• WAGE: average starting wage of $14.53/hour
• RETENTION: 69% of permanent placements remain employed for at least a year
• HOUSING: 84% in permanent housing at one-year employment anniversary (vs. 30% at admission)
• TAXES: $1,066,872 paid in taxes in FY20 by employed participants
• SROI: For every $1 invested in Cara, $5.97 is produced in social dividends over five years

Cara has designed two strategies to support our mission and address the interrelated challenges of homelessness and poverty:

Cara's training curriculum simulates a work environment, where participants are expected to dress professionally, adhere to a training schedule, and comply with Cara's code of conduct. Participants take part in experiential training that focuses on critical life skills and in-demand career skills. Both training components help address the root causes of their past predicaments, including homelessness, poverty, lack of work experience, etc.

In addition to classroom-based training, Cara recognizes the value of on-the-job experience, which will ultimately make people more competitive in the job market. To provide such experience, we use our own businesses (social enterprises Cleanslate and Cara Connects) as platforms to teach new skills, which prepares participants for the workforce and generate revenue for Cara.

After nearly 30 years, Cara has built strong capabilities as a leader in poverty alleviation and workforce development. In FY20,

- Our total jobs reached an all-time high – pushing the number of adults affected by homelessness and poverty to gain quality employment to 7,500 people.
- The quality of our service sustains – with one year job retention results still more than 20 points higher than Department of Labor national norms.
- Our businesses are becoming increasingly competitive in the market - Cleanslate is on track to exceed $3M and Cara Connects has exceeded its first million - and are allowing us to play an affirmative role in creating jobs in this economy.
- Our revenue diversity remains strong – with 45% coming from our own businesses, less than 15% coming from government sources, and the remaining 45% coming from private sources: foundations, corporations, and people.
- In addition, Cara was named one of the top 20 local charities to support in Chicago by "Chicago" magazine and has gained national media from outlets like PBS NewsHour.

Cara's work is far from complete. Despite some economic recovery, Chicago's poverty rate is the third highest of major U.S. metropolitan areas, and some of our city's most impoverished communities are still facing 20% unemployment. After more nearly three decades in this field, Cara is now armed with a sustainable solution for poverty, and we are now working to take our practice to new markets through our expansion arm, Cara Plus. With two affiliates in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and Atlanta, Georgia, already in operation (and dozens more organizations joining us for Institute trainings), we are building an inclusive employment movement across the nation.