Focus on Seniors: Hey, you want a job?

Holly Glen Gearhart

AARP has joined with local YWCA and WorkSource offices to offer employment services for those of us over 55 years of age. To qualify you must be over the age of 55 and your income has to have been no more than $13,000 in the past 12 months.

The program provides job coaching, resume-writing assistance and job interview skills, along with an extensive database of companies who are hiring—and also provides for the participants a small stipend to help them meet everyday expenses. It could mean $163 cash in your pocket a week!

The program is known as “The Title V Senior Community Service Employment Program” and is funded by the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services.

Applicants must meet four primary requirements:

• • Live in or be able to easily travel to Renton, Seattle or Everett.
• • Age 55 or older.
• • Currently unemployed.
• • Qualify as low income, per federal guidelines.

According to their website, “Title V participants work in nonprofit or public service host agency positions an average of 16 hours per week and receive a stipend for job training and on-site supervision. During this period of temporary on-the-job training, participants learn current job skills. The YWCA Title V employment specialist will help participants find permanent employment while they work their temporary position.”

You can read more at, https://www.ywcaworks.org/Page.aspx?pid=958

The Title V program is designed to get you back to work part time by updating your skills. The special bonus is the extra cash in your pocket to help with your bills. The program is a win-win because you help out the community during your job search while you learn more skills. They ask for about 18 hours of volunteer or minimum wage work a week at a charity and a commitment that you will spend at least 10 hours a week looking for and preparing for a job. The details of your involvement will be discussed and arranged on a personal level.

Make a quick call to Shirley Bryant in the Everett Worksource center at (425) 258-6379 and start your application today.