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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Job Program Puts Seniors Back To Work

Frank Bartel The Spokesman-Revie

It’s not often that Steve Reiter has more job openings for older workers than he has seniors looking for employment.

Right now he needs at least 15 low-income persons 55 and older for jobs that are going unfilled in Spokane.

That’s the most openings ever in his six years as local head of the Senior Community Service Employment Program. The program is funded by the federal government under Title V of the Older Americans Act, with the American Association of Retired Persons Foundation as the sponsor or custodian.

“Our primary goal is to help low-income seniors find employment,” says Reiter, a former butcher and real estate salesman from Billings. “Another big part of our program is community service.”

Program participants work 20 hours a week at local nonprofit institutions such as Holy Family Hospital, the Department of Social & Health Services, the Cancer Patient Thrift Center, the Salvation Army, the U.S. Court House, the Social Security Office, Gonzaga University - a total of 35 different agencies.

These institutions get the workers free. The program pays the workers $4.90 an hour - minimum wage.

“We find that if we pay only the minimum wage,” explains Reiter, “our people are less apt to become too attached. The goal is to wean them off the program into better-paying jobs in the real work world at the first opportunity.

“I tell every one of our workers, don’t you dare be satisfied with $4.90 an hour. You are worth far more than that.”

That’s not something most are accustomed to hearing. By the time they get to him, their self image is shattered, says Reiter. A very large percentage are terribly beaten down by one calamity after another. Divorce. Death of a spouse. Defeat followed by rejection.

Of about 40 women in the program currently, only three or four are married.

“Most people who come to us are no longer able to compete for jobs in the open marketplace,” Reiter says. “They don’t have the work skills, social skills, and interviewing skills. The longer and the harder they try, the worse off they become.

“The self esteem of those who walk in here gives new meaning to the word low.

“Countless studies have shown that in our country your job is your ego,” says Reiter. “After you get turned down 50 times, you start looking in the mirror and asking what’s wrong with you. You walk down the street and you actually do believe people are whispering about you.

“We are the employer of last resort. And we have to turn that around.

“We become the stepping stone to permanent employment.”

In addition to part-time temporary employment, participants in the program receive continuing training in essential job search skills.

Also, they are linked with the resources that can help turn their lives around and make them productive members of work force again - food, clothing, health care.

“We get them stabilized, productive in society, and functioning at a level where they feel useful again,” says Reiter. “Their self esteem returns. They feel competent and confident holding down a part-time job. Then, using job search techniques and referrals, we transfer those who can make the grade back into permanent jobs.”

The program has a 70 percent placement record, Reiter reports. Average wage upon re-entering the regular work force is $6.70 an hour. “We won’t place our clients in jobs for less than $5.50,” says Reiter. “If you want to pay them less, I’m sorry, we won’t give you anybody.”

Average length of stay in the program before placement in a permanent job is seven months.

“We are a significant employer,” says Reiter. “Last year our program infused $340,000 in payroll into the Spokane economy, not counting worker’s compensation or the Social Security match.”

The Senior Community Service Employment Program is located in the YMCA Building in Riverfront Park. All it takes to get into the program is a phone call. The number is 624-4232.

, DataTimes MEMO: Associate Editor Frank Bartel writes on retirement issues each Sunday. He can be reached with ideas for future columns at 459-5467 or fax 459-5482.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Frank Bartel The Spokesman-Review

Associate Editor Frank Bartel writes on retirement issues each Sunday. He can be reached with ideas for future columns at 459-5467 or fax 459-5482.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Frank Bartel The Spokesman-Review