Graduates from Women’s Empowerment’s latest job readiness session gather after their ceremony in September. Photo courtesy of Kristin Thebaud Communications

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Women’s Empowerment has received a $60,000 contribution from U.S. Bank to provide Sacramento women experiencing homelessness with job-readiness programs, paid job training and transitional workforce housing so they can secure employment with upward mobility as they work toward affording permanent housing.

“U.S. Bank continues to be an important partner in our work,” said Lisa Culp, executive director, Women’s Empowerment. “We are grateful for this contribution to support unhoused women as they search for permanent homes during the ongoing housing crisis.”

Each woman in Women’s Empowerment’s initial two-month employment-readiness and empowerment program receives free transportation assistance and childcare for children up to age 5 in the group’s onsite child development center. She works one on one with a social worker, housing specialist, employment specialist and volunteer career mentor, and attends a range of classes on job-readiness, empowerment and more.

Graduates of the two-month program can enroll in Women’s Empowerment’s paid job training programs in manufacturing, property management, mobility, solar energy, medical assisting and more. Women’s Empowerment also offers its Trellis Gardens transitional workforce housing program for graduates who have secured employment, but still cannot afford market-rate housing for their families. At Trellis Gardens, they can live in cottages for 12 to 18 months as they work to increase income, savings and credit scores and prepare to move into permanent housing.

“Supporting the development of a dynamic workforce is an investment in today and our future,” said Ashley Bocek, community affairs manager, U.S. Bank. “We’re proud to work with organizations like Women’s Empowerment to help people succeed in their careers, gain greater financial literacy and build thriving communities.”

In 2023, 165 jobs were secured by Women’s Empowerment graduates, and 189 graduates secured or maintained housing. Since 2001, 1,903 women have graduated from the program with more than 4,000 children. Women’s Empowerment is funded through private donations from the community and grants. To make a donation: Womens-Empowerment.org.

U.S. Bancorp, with more than 70,000 employees and $686 billion in assets as of Sept. 30, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses including consumer banking, business banking, commercial banking, institutional banking, payments and wealth management. U.S. Bancorp has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, community partnerships and customer service, including being named one of the 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies and Fortune’s most admired superregional bank. Learn more at usbank.com/about.