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Project Description

Bridges to Work (BtW) is an empowerment research demonstration program that operates for four years in each of its five study sites. BtW is administered jointly by Public/Private Ventures, Inc. (a Philadelphia-based nonprofit research and program development organization) and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This initiative, which connects inner-city residents with suburban employment opportunities, brings local partners together to provide job placement, transportation, and support services to assist lower income, inner-city residents in becoming self-sufficient and working toward strengthening regional economies.
Program benefits: BtW was designed to be a “win-win” initiative, in which both inner-city job seekers and suburban employers gain benefits. BtW participants will receive coordinated and enhanced job placement and retention services, transportation assistance, and necessary supportive services (such as child care and counseling) to attain and retain productive suburban jobs. Higher wages will help these inner-city residents work toward self-sufficiency. Employers who are in need of workers due to suburban labor shortages will gain access to a work-ready labor force.

Project duration: Sep 1996 - Dec 2000

Sites studied include Baltimore, Maryland
Chicago, Illinois
Denver, Colorado
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
St. Louis, Missouri

Sample Characteristics and Sites Studied

Random assignment of 3100 participants (800 at each site except Chicago) into treatment groups (400 at each site except Chicago) which will receive BtW enhanced services and control groups (400 at each site except Chicago) which will rely on existing services.

NOTE: Chicago, the sole scale BtW site, will attempt to place 1,500 workers without random assignment and will document issues and challenges involved in attempting to place as many persons as possible using enhanced BtW strategies.

Recent Findings in Brief

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