How do you get a job if you don't have any skills?
That's the question the Downtown Mission is hoping to answer with the launch of a new program aimed at helping people in poverty gain some job training skills.
With a $75,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the mission has launched the new Enterprise Program.
Under the program, it started "Chari-Tee's" which is a 40-day program to teach people how to produce custom-made products like T-shirts.
Mission Executive Director Ron Dunn says people will learn about graphic design and marketing which are transferable skills in getting a job.
"We first have to get our folks in the community to think of themselves as worthy for a program like this," says Dunn. "Psychologically that can be the biggest barrier they have to overcome. We are working with other agencies to fill the seats as quickly as possible with the right candidates."
"We know that if we want to move the needle on poverty, you have to have a job!"
The money was used to purchase a high-tech printer and heat presses.
Windsor-West MPP Lisa Gretzky attended Thursday's announcement and praised the program.
"They are called guests here at the Downtown Mission," she says. "People are treated with dignity and respect in hopes they will go out and succeed."
Eight people were in the program which started this past Monday and Dunn says there was a "wonderful sense of optimism" in the class.