Job Development Program

Income inequality

San Gabriel Valley

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Foothill Unity Center recognizes meaningful employment is a critical pathway out of poverty for individuals. Despite the region’s overall median household income of $95,172, approximately 12.6% of residents in the San Gabriel Valley live below the poverty line. Many individuals face challenges such as limited job history, lack of formal education, language barriers, housing instability, or justice system involvement. Addressing these issues is essential to fostering long-term self-sufficiency and economic stability in the community.

We provide personalized, hands-on support to help low-income individuals—100% of whom live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line—who are unemployed or underemployed and face significant barriers to entering or re-entering the workforce. Based on client data, 60% spend over half their income on rent, 14% are homeless or in transition, 15% lack health insurance, and 26% face barriers to accessing healthcare.

Foothill Unity Center will pilot a formal Job Development Program to support unemployed/underemployed individuals, including at-risk youth, transitional-age young adults, adults with systemic employment challenges, and seniors re-entering the workforce. Our previous Job Development efforts were provided via collaborations, with direct service provided by staff at our partner organizations.

Our new, in-house, Job Development Program will tailor services to individual needs, creating inclusive pathways to employment that promote lasting stability. Core services include:
· Clinics & Workshops: On-site job readiness training, resume assistance, academic/vocational counseling, mentoring, certification opportunities, and financial literacy.
· Job Search, Training & Placement: Support in job searching, employer engagement, employment placement, and referrals for additional training.
· Free Tax Preparation: IRS-certified volunteers assist with free tax filing through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

More than job placement, our approach is comprehensive. What sets our program apart is its integration with Foothill Unity Center’s broader network of services. Participants gain access to an internal safety net that includes food assistance, housing and rental support, healthcare services, case management, and emergency aid. This wraparound approach ensures clients are not only ready for employment but supported in all aspects of their journey toward stability.

The community impact is far-reaching across the entire San Gabriel Valley Foothill community. As individuals secure employment, their financial and emotional well-being improves, benefiting entire families. Children gain more stable home lives, and communities reduce their reliance on public support systems. Many participants become role models, breaking generational cycles of poverty and inspiring future progress.

Ultimately, the Job Development Program is about transformation. Helping individuals gain meaningful employment will reduce poverty and homelessness in our community, as well as reliance on public assistance, while increasing economic mobility and well-being. By combining compassionate, targeted support with practical employment tools, Foothill Unity Center is building a more resilient, self-sufficient community—one job at a time.