House of Refuge, a nonprofit organization in Mesa providing transitional housing and support services to Arizona’s homeless families, has been awarded a $90,000 grant over two years to fund its employment and education support program.

The grant will support the salary of House of Refuge’s workforce development specialist, a position that provides one-on-one assistance to adult residents. The specialist helps them overcome barriers to employment, improve job skills and work toward self-sufficiency, according to a release.

“This generous grant will have a transformative impact on the lives of homeless families in our community,” Kayla Kolar, president and CEO at House of Refuge, said in the release. “By funding our employment and education support program, we can continue to provide the vital resources and guidance needed to help our residents secure stable employment and transition successfully into permanent housing.”

“The House of Refuge not only offers resources and shelter to families on their worst day but also helps families transition into permanent housing later,” said Gene D’Adamo, president and CEO of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. “We are proud to support their work aiding families experiencing homelessness in our community.”

The employment and education program at House of Refuge offers a range of services, including:

• Career planning and goal setting
• Job search and application assistance
• Interview preparation
• Adult education classes
• Life skills workshops

In the next two years, the program is expected to serve more than 220 adult heads of household, with the goal of helping 85% or more of participating families successfully graduate from the transitional housing program into stable housing in the community.

House of Refuge has been serving homeless families in Mesa since 1996, using 88 two-bedroom, single-family homes on a 20-acre portion of the former Williams Air Force Base. The organization provides not just shelter, but comprehensive, onsite, wraparound support services to help families address the root causes of their homelessness and work toward long-term stability.

For information about House of Refuge and its programs, visit www.houseofrefuge.org or contact Kayla Kolar at kayla@houseofrefuge.org.

For information on the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, go to www.ninapulliamtrust.org.