Hire Houston Youth Program Cuts
Hire Houston Youth Scales Back from 20,000 Jobs to 375
According to EYEWITNESS NEWS, in Houston the summer months are crucial for students like Luis Moreno. He vividly remembers how the Hire Houston Youth program provided him with invaluable on-the-job training eight years ago taking him from the University of Houston to city hall. This initiative created by former Mayor Sylvester Turner started small but grew significantly helping more than 20,000 young Americans find jobs last year with over 600 employers participating. However under new Mayor John Whitmire the Hire Houston Youth program has seen noticeable changes. Workforce Solutions an agency that hosted job fairs connecting thousands of young Americans with employers did not hold these events this year. Juliet Stipeche the executive director highlighted that the absence of these fairs makes it harder for first-time job seekers to find and understand job postings online.
Mayor Whitmire’s office has not provided a clear explanation for these changes. Instead this year’s focus shifted to filling 500 city internships. Yet Whitmire’s proposed budget plans to cut these internships from 500 to 375 a reduction that concerns many including Council Member Tiffany Thomas. She stressed that while each new administration brings its vision public safety remains a top priority and providing jobs for young Americans is a key part of that. Thomas believes that reducing these opportunities could lead to higher crime rates as many students from Houston Independent School District (HISD) Alief and other districts rely on these Hire Houston Youth program to stay engaged and out of trouble during the summer. For those still seeking work the city’s internships are no longer accepting applications. Nevertheless, opportunities remain through the Hire Houston Youth website. Additionally, Workforce Solutions received an $8 million grant for paid internships for young Americans aged 16 to 24. Latoya Casimere the youth services manager emphasized that these internships provide a chance to earn money while gaining valuable skills.
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Hire Houston Youth Program Scales Back – Workforce Solutions Offers New Opportunities
Furthermore, the Hire Houston Youth program once a robust initiative helping thousands of young Houstonians faces a scaled-back version under the new administration. Despite the cutbacks other avenues like Workforce Solutions still offer vital opportunities for young Americans to gain work experience and stay productive during the summer.