Homeless Economic Development

This site sponsored by The Roberts Foundation.

Take a look at the list below. Which business do you think would be the most likely to hire a formerly homeless person?

A trendy ice cream store in San Francisco.
A travel agency in New York City.
A large suburban hotel.
A Washington, DC restaurant.

The answer, of course, is all of them. These businesses all employ homeless individuals, and all are dedicated to solving the problem of homelessness through a strategy known as "Homeless Economic Development."

Homeless Economic Development (HED) expands economic opportunity for homeless individuals through a variety of strategies, from job training and placement to job creation to self-employment. Together with housing and support services, HED is the critical third leg of a stool upon which any effort to confront homelessness must rest.

HED Main Menu

Find out more about Homeless Economic Development (HED)

How does HED work?

Examples of how HED works

Ashbury Images, a company that prints custom T-shirts for businesses, clubs and organizations.
Larkin Business Ventures, runs a Ben and Jerry's that employs formerly homeless youth.
Rubicon Programs, in Richmond, California, employs 70 people in a landscaping business and pastry bakery.
Hospitality House makes and sells greeting cards nationwide.
Pioneer Human Services, a nonprofit in Seattle, runs businesses ranging from food service to metal working that train and employ hundreds of formerly homeless people.
ORRI in Denver employs 25 full-time workers in computerized production management, customized shipping, receiving and inventory control, advanced assembly production and industrial painting.

How can you get involved?