People with Personal Challenges to Work

Who are they? People with personal challenges to work have circumstances that make it difficult to complete training or find and retain a job. People experiencing such challenges can benefit from supportive services or specialized employment and training programs. People experiencing personal challenges to work may face the following:

• difficulty accessing affordable and safe child care
• severe economic hardship
• housing insecurity or homelessness
• mental health or substance abuse issues
• past involvement with the criminal justice system
• physical disabilities
• cultural or language barriers

How do they use local workforce systems? Organizations in local workforce systems, such as community-based organizations, community and technical colleges, and public social services agencies, provide employment and training programs and supportive services for people with personal challenges to work.

Federally-funded workforce programs that support people with personal barriers to work include Vocational Rehabilitation and Ticket to Work, both of which target people with physical or mental impairment.