Support that rebuilds confidence
Rich had spent much of his working life in facilities maintenance, including roles connected to major downtown development firms. When the pandemic disrupted that sector, however, the work he knew became difficult to find. For the first time in his life, he was without a job. Isolation, depression, and the pressure of trying to stay safe during a public-health crisis compounded the loss of employment.
When stability unravels
Eventually, Rich lost his home and entered a shelter. He describes the experience as deeply challenging: shared living conditions, strict rules, and limited privacy made the practical work of rebuilding a career more difficult. Yet it was also through the shelter that he learned about Cara Collective.
His first experiences with Cara were not limited to applications and interviews. He received free access to counseling, support from a career coach, and a community where he could speak openly about the challenges he was facing. Cara also offered transit passes, which helped him attend training, look for work, and reconnect with people in his life. These details illustrate why workforce support must address the realities that can stand between a person and a job opportunity.
Work, connection, and housing
Rich first joined Cara’s facilities team, where work helped him regain a sense of confidence and purpose. He found value in contributing to the organization’s daily operations and in reconnecting socially after a long period of isolation. A colleague also helped introduce him to a landlord, leading to permanent housing.
With continued support from Cara’s Employment Services team, Rich pursued environmental-services positions at local hospitals. He ultimately accepted a role at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital, where he now helps train new associates and is working toward advancement. The change was not instant, but it was built through a series of practical supports: mental-health care, coaching, job training, transportation, community, housing connection, and employment opportunity.
A whole-person approach
Rich’s story offers a powerful reminder that career success is connected to the whole of a person’s life. Employment can be a source of income, but it can also restore confidence, relationships, and a sense of belonging. We are grateful for Cara Collective’s comprehensive approach and for the determination of people like Rich, whose journey shows how support and opportunity can work together to create lasting change.
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