We all remember the terror of getting your first job. The endless applications, CV re-writes, interviews, the rejections!  Imagine if you didn’t have anyone to help coach you through all that, to help you nail your first interview, to help you get there on-time, or just generally support you through the challenging process. Or perhaps you had a family friend who knew a guy, who knew a guy, to get you your first job (lucky you!).

When we started HoMie in 2015, approximately 17% of those experiencing homelessness in Melbourne were young people aged 19-24. These were young people looking for work, but who were being turned away as they lacked the adequate skills, CV writing, work experiences or networks to simply: ‘get a job’.

At HoMie, we believe in young people. We understand that homelessness is a situation you can  move out of with the right opportunity and support. That’s why we developed the HoMie Pathway Alliance program.

The HoMie Pathway Alliance is HoMie’s own accredited retail training and education paid internship for young people, aged 16-25, affected by homelessness or hardship.

In February each year, young people who are up to the challenge, apply through a partnered Community Support Services to participate in an eight-month paid retail internship at the HoMie Street Store or a HoMie Pathway Alliance trained business.

For HoMie’s Pathway Alliance program, HoMie partners with community support services and retail businesses to provide wrap-around support for each intern. This ensures each young person is fully supported to follow this path to kickstart their working life - as seen below: