Since 1974, Labor's Community Service Agency, Inc., a partnership program of Labor & United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, has reached out to support working families and their communities through a mix of health and human services, community events, advocacy, education, referral, grant programs, and collaborative efforts.
Supportive Service Programs
HELPING HANDS TEMPORARY HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE
TO LEARN ABOUT OUR OREGON & SW WASHINGTON CORONAVIRUS OUTREACH, PLEASE CLICK HERE
Helping Hands is our signature safety net program for working families unable to make ends meet due to temporary loss of income or hardship. Hundreds of qualified families receive help in paying rent or utilities during a layoff or company closure, medical emergency or other short-term hardship.
BOLI-ODOT APPRENTICE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Since 2016, LCSA has facilitated emergency assistance to Oregon’s heavy highway apprentices. This retainment program, funded by Bureau of Oregon Labor & Industry and Oregon Department of of Transportation, helps apprentices maintain stability during a hardship that threatens their ability to work or maintain their schooling. ODOT qualifying trades includes Painters, Cement Masons, Carpenters, Laborers, Operating Engineers, and Ironworkers.
BOLI-LCSA PRE-APPRENTICESHIP CHILDCARE INITIATIVE
Pre-apprenticeship is a life-changing, tuition-free pathway into the highly-skilled, high-paying construction industry. However, too often, potential candidates for pre-apprenticeship do not apply because the burden of childcare is too great.
The BOLI-LCSA Pre-apprenticeship Childcare Initiative (PACCI) was developed to remove the childcare barrier and encourage entry into the building trades workforce.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BOLI-LCSA CHILDCARE INITIATIVE
PRESENTS FROM PARTNERS TOY DRIVE & HOLIDAY GIVING PARTY
We call it a Labor of Love.
Originating in 1997 as a partnership of LCSA, the NW Oregon Labor Council, Saturn of Beaverton, and the Safehaven after school program for children at risk, PRESENTS FROM PARTNERS has grown and evolved to become one of the most appreciated December events in our community. The toy drive and Giving Party now help unemployed families throughout Greater Portland to enjoy the holidays in a grand way. With the help of hundreds of dedicated local union volunteers from across the labor spectrum and the support of labor and community partners, PRESENTS FROM PARTNERS decks the halls of the facility with festivities, food, and gifts galore. Over 400 children and their families were served in 2017 alone and thousands of toys and gifts were donated by generous Unionists.
RESOURCE NAVIGATOR TRAINING
Since 2011, LCSA has trained over 300 people in how to locate and share resources – from counseling to financial assistance, legal issues to social services and more – using active listening skills and 2-1-1 info. Trained Resource Navigators serve as a knowledgeable community resource contact for union members, offices or church groups, neighbors, friends, and family. Best of all, Resource Navigator Training is FREE!
If you would like more information on the program and how to set up training for your group, call us at 503-231-4962 or email programs@lcsaportland.org.
HOLIDAY DINNER PROGRAMS
Out-of-work families often go without the traditional holiday dinner celebrations that many of us take for granted in November and December. Through our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner programs, unemployed families enjoy a complete holiday meal shared at home around the dinner table. In the past two years, Labor’s Community helped over 128 unemployed families (515 people total) put a holiday meal on the table despite the financial strain of job loss.
Helpful Links
http://211info.org/