PIC Programs

Through our Community Jobs Program PIC provides contract services to the State of Washington. We work with hundreds of people on public assistance to gain the training and work experience needed to help them move on to full-time employment and economic self-sufficiency.

PIC also works with Refugees dealing with multiple barriers to employment. Here at PIC, Clark College provides on-site English classes to help people become more proficient in English. We also coordinate with Lutheran Family Services to encourage clients to take citizenship classes.

Through our Senior Program we work with low-income seniors to find part-time employment in local non-profit organizations. This program is coordinated by one of our program-eligible seniors who understands the issues facing seniors.

The Veteran Women Program provides mentorship and advocacy through people who understand the needs and challenges facing our returning women veterans.

Women in the program receive information and referrals about services and job opportunities. The program works closely with existing veterans programs to ensure duplication does not occur. Perhaps most importantly, women in the program have a place to come and receive information and support in a hub focused on them and their unique needs.

Women in the VWP program have an advocate at PIC and with Academy Women that understands their needs and fights for them just as many of them fought courageously for us.

"Veterans are often reluctant to call attention to their service, and they are reluctant to ask for help...it’s up to us to guarantee they get the services and support they deserve.” - Senator Patty Murray

Partners in Careers and the Veteran Womens Program are excited to launch Homeward Bound, a new federally funded program that will serve our homeless women veterans and our homeless veterans with children. This program will help veterans in Clark County, Cowlitz County, and Wahkiakum County in Washington State.

It is geared to help those veterans who do not have a fixed, regular nighttime residence and includes veterans who live in supervised public or private shelters. Homeward Bound will help veterans find safe permanent housing. It will provide veterans with:

• Job training and placement
• Housing
• Child Care
• Counseling
• Help with Basic Needs

Dedicated staff members of PIC and the Veteran Women Program will be traveling throughout Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties and actively seeking veterans who qualify for the Homeward Bound Program. Qualifying Veterans are:

• Homeless Veteran Women with Children
• Homeless Veteran Women without Children
• Homeless Veteran Men with Children

All that a veteran needs in order to qualify are documents that show he or she have served in the active military, naval, or air service and have been discharged as Honorable, Medical, and Other than Honorable. (They do not qualify if their discharge was dishonorable or a result of bad conduct charges.) Qualifying Veterans should call Veteran Women Program Coordinator Emily Stoutsenberger at 360-696-8417 or email her at emily@swwpic.org.

Homeward Bound is actively combating our country’s rising percentage of homeless veteran women and homeless veterans with children. Female veterans are now between two and four more times more likely to end up homeless than civilian women. A major reason for this is the fact that many of these women suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and the current support network for homeless veterans has traditionally been geared toward men. Women veterans and veterans with children need specialized services that have not been available to them until today. The Homeward Bound Program is the first step in helping our female veterans and veterans with children get the specialized help they deserve and need.

If you are a veteran woman or A veteran with children, or if you know of a qualifying veteran, please contact us. You’ve proudly served our country, and we’re proud to serve you. Note: If you are a veteran but do not meet our program guidelines, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are honored to help you find help!

Photos: ©istockphoto.com/john Prescott | ©istockphoto.com/bobbieo