Programs by A.C.E.

Project Comeback

Our four month vocational training program offers recovering homeless men and women the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills needed to obtain full time employment and economic independence.

Work: Participants perform community maintenance for neighborhood initiatives, the SoHo and TriBeCa Partnerships; and working 20-24 hours a week on structured service crews. Duties include street sweeping, emptying garbage cans, snow removal and tree care. Crew supervisors monitor performance, instill an understanding of employee responsibility, reliability and teamwork.

Education: A vocational specialist facilitates weekly job readiness workshops. Lessons focus on personal hygiene and attire, job search techniques, interviewing skills, conflict resolution and independent living skills such as money management and budgeting techniques.

Graduate: This happens only after they have successfully completed our curriculum and have secured employment. Graduates receive a check upon completion of the program representing $.85 for every hour they have worked on community maintenance crews. This acts as an incentive to complete the program and to build financial stability.

Scholarships

Project Comeback understands the importance of education and how it relates to continued vocational success and growth. In an effort to support Project Comeback graduates towards this goal a scholarship has been set up in the name of our founder, Henry Buhl, at The Metropolitan College of New York.

The Henry Buhl Scholarship provides a full scholarship to two of our graduates every year giving them the opportunity to obtain a degree in the Human Service field.

Project Stay

Graduates are offered individual counseling and a monthly support group to help ease the transition to full time employment. There are several monthly events including group sessions and social activities for graduates to establish a positive social network. As an incentive to remain employed, Project Stay offers graduates $250 for maintaining employment for significant milestones. We continue to offer this network for as long as needed throughout our participants’ lives.

Both programs are unique in their approach and are a proven alternative to government funded welfare to work programs. Our excellent track record of success is much higher than what similar programs achieve.