Clean & Safe - SEEDS Program

Have you heard about our SEEDS workforce readiness program?

DCA launched SEEDS in 2012 with the mission to support the unsheltered community by teaching participants professional skills to aid them in securing long-term employment and permanent housing. In addition to the goal of integrating participants back into the workforce, we also look to SEEDS participants to help us change the narrative of the unsheltered population by speaking about their individual experiences. Every story is unique and provides insight into the challenges facing this demographic.

SEEDS works in collaboration with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries (LMM) to recruit individuals from the 2100 Lakeside Emergency Men’s Homeless Shelter to re-enter the workforce. The operations manager of the SEEDS program interviews and hires the candidates.

The SEEDS program trains participants in gardening, urban landscaping, and hospitality. The skills are then applied to the beatification efforts of Downtown Cleveland, servicing 12 projects throughout downtown in addition to work orders from property owners. Outside of the job, they receive personalized assistance with job seeking, self-management skills, savings management, interview skills, workplace protocols, and more through LMM services.

The Operational Supervisor for The SEEDS Program, Kevin Mahoney, says that this program “is an excellent opportunity for these men to get back on their feet and into society.” He also explained that “many places will not give them an opportunity right away because of their background.”

The success of the program is measured by monitoring the employment and housing outcome of the SEEDS participants. Every year we have members transition into full-time employment, many of whom become full-time team members of the DCA as a Clean and Safe Ambassador. 12-15 individuals chosen by LMM to participate in the program each season. To continue to maintain a sustainable program, once a SEEDs participant is hired into a permanent position, a new person from the shelter will begin training. This creates a continuous cycle of new participants and room for more to join.

We interviewed SEEDS participants for their take on the program, one participant said that he thinks this is a well-conducted program that helps make people feel more comfortable at jobs by giving its participants work experience, a chance to be productive, active, and part of a team. Another participant stated that he enjoys being part of the goal “dedicated to building a dynamic downtown,” he went on to explain he has learned that in order to achieve this goal there much be fairness, teamwork, and a healthy environment.

Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s SEEDS program is vital to the mission of the organization and is in the best interest of the Downtown community we serve. The SEEDS workforce readiness program provides impactful professional and personal skills to the participants and paves the way to receiving employment and housing.

For more information on The Clean and Safe Program's contribution to Downtown Cleveland check out The Clean and Safe blog articles.