Program areas at Resource
See schedule osince 1991 Resource has been empowering individuals and strengthening Vermont communities through workforce development, poverty relief, and environmental stewardship. Resource operates four reuse centers across the state that accept and redistribute household goods and building materials to vermonters: two in chittenden county, 339 pine street in burlington, and 329 harvest lane in williston; one in Washington county, 30 granite street, barre; and one in lamoille county, 590 east main street, hyde park. Through these reuse centers, Resource finds new homes for major appliances, computers, electronics, furniture, and building materials, diverting usable items from the landfill and into the homes of those in need. Resource has expanded its services and programming to offer more opportunities to at risk-youth and low-income individuals and families. All of Resource's training programs are designed to provide A symbiotic benefit in each of the organization's three mission areas; combining these elements provides important synergies and value that support the sustainability of programs.environmental stewardship: reuse programs keep over 1,000 tons of waste out of the landfill annually, while supporting low-and moderate-income vermonters. In addition to reuse programs, Resource provides other services such as weatherization and affordable housing construction through its job training programs that result in well insulated homes that reduce heating and cooling costs for low income beneficiaries and have lower carbon emissions and fewer other environmental impacts.poverty relief: in addition to the affordable housing construction and weatherization services identified above, Resource also provides skill training to disadvantaged individuals and distributes essential goods to low income families and victims of disaster. Over 85% of workforce development trainees that graduate from Resource's programs are placed into employment within 3-months of completing program. Resource's essential goods program supports over 30-nonprofit partner agencies and alleviates poverty by distributing household appliances, cooking equipment, beds, other furniture, and building materials to those with the lowest income.training: Resource has three categories of job skill training.work experience: individuals who aren't ready to work but are looking to gain experience may do so in A safe and supportive environment as A step toward becoming work ready. Workforce development: individuals with barriers to employment learn soft and technical skills and earn credentials needed to be placed in employment in their desired career. Workforce advancement: through twelve month construction apprenticeship laborers employed by area construction contractors are provided carpentry skill training that allows them to become certified carpenters through registered apprenticeship. Resource also offers embedded trainings exploring career opportunities with local businesses, and custom skilled-based trainings, certifications, and refreshers for incumbent workers supporting those who are under-employed. Training outcomes: each year, Resource trains over 300 individuals. By providing training customized to each individual's needs as well as providing certifications and basic soft-skills training needed to lay the groundwork for future employment, trainees develop the personal and professional skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.in 2022, Resource achieved the following impacts within each mission area:environmental stewardship:*kept 745 tons of goods (translating to 773,694reusable items) out of Vermont's only landfill*10 units of affordable housing rehabbed as well as 34 public service projects completed by workforce development traineespoverty relief:*$60,751 in essential goods vouchers were provided to 989 vermonters in need*26 essential goods partner agencies assisted in relieving poverty in our communitiestraining:*250 trainees gained professional skills through our training programs*83% overall program graduation rate*94% of trainees earned industry certifications*$18.30 was the average starting wage for workforce development graduates