Education is the ticket out of poverty, but for many in Central Ohio, a lack of stable housing keeps them from pursuing the training needed for high-demand careers in medicine, technology, and other growing industries. This reality leaves workers trapped in low-wage jobs and employers struggling to find qualified candidates.
A groundbreaking local program is changing that. Resiliency Bridge combines affordable housing, workforce development, and comprehensive support services to help motivated students enter career fields with strong earning potential.
A newly released evaluation of Resiliency Bridge’s first year reveals remarkable success: 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.
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. The program is made possible through grants from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, JPMorgan Chase, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, and the Columbus Foundation.
The Resiliency Bridge pilot program kicked off in October of 2021, with the goal of graduating 50 students and increasing their hourly wage by 75%. The program ended up surpassing its goal, serving 77 students. Now in its second cycle, Resiliency Bridge plans to graduate another 100 students by the end of the year and is actively seeking additional funding to continue its successes.
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty with Career Mobility
Despite rising housing costs and a national shortage of affordable homes, most Resiliency Bridge graduates secured jobs that met or exceeded the local “housing wage” immediately upon graduation. Many entered fields with significant long-term earning potential, including careers in nursing, information technology, and commercial driving—industries essential to Central Ohio’s economic growth.
Exit interviews underscore the program’s impact: 71% of graduates said they would not have been able to complete their training without the support provided by Resiliency Bridge.
“No one is going to return to school if the cost of doing so is homelessness. They won’t put their families through that risk,” said Beth Fetzer-Rice, President & CEO of Home for Families. “Resiliency Bridge proves that when people have safe housing, they will invest in their careers and create their own economic mobility.”
Success Story: DaShonna’s Journey
DaShonna Thomas was one of the program’s first graduates. Formerly a nurse’s aide earning barely above minimum wage, she struggled to support her family of four. Her dream of becoming a nurse practitioner seemed out of reach—balancing a full-time job, full-time school, and parenting was impossible.
While she was pursuing her LPN, Thomas was able to receive help getting her and her four children into Section 8 housing. When she had to quit her job as an STNA mid-way through her schooling to focus on her family and her studies, Home for Families was able to help pay rent and utility bills and provide personal hygiene items and other material goods.
Thomas, who plans to start working as an LPN and continue her healthcare education, said the program was worth it because it removed stress associated with paying bills.
“I’ve been telling people about it, because I know it helped me,” she said.
Investing in People, Strengthening the Economy
“If all it takes to help someone secure a good-paying job is a few months of rental support, that’s not just life-changing for their family—it strengthens our entire economy,” said Melissa Humbert Washington, Vice President of Programs and Services at Home for Families.
The report detailing program results 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.
Of the 50 program participants, 78.1% completed a workforce training program, while 10.9% were still enrolled in workforce training when data for the study was collected.
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.
How to Enroll in Resiliency Bridge
To enroll, students must first partner with a workforce training organization—such as IMPACT Community Action or Jewish Family Services—to select a no-cost career pathway. Eligible industries include:
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Driving & Logistics
- Construction
- Manufacturing & Engineering Technology
- Criminal Justice
Phase 2 of the program is already in progress, with support from Franklin County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program and voucher commitments from CMHA. At least 100 additional participants are expected as a result, and some additional fundraising to support case management costs not covered by housing funds remains ongoing.
