With the North Texas multifamily housing industry struggling to attract talent, one organization is working to fill the gap while helping individuals at risk of experiencing homelessness.
In partnership with the local real estate industry, the national nonprofit Entryway provides career training, employment, and housing opportunities to at-risk individuals and their families. The mutually beneficial arrangement will help address the lack of qualified workers for the thousands of apartment units being built in the Metroplex.
“Entryway is a national 501(c)3 organization that transitions individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness to economic self-sufficiency by providing career training, full-time employment and housing opportunities in partnership with the real estate industry,” reads a description on the organization’s website.
Entryway began working in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2022 and works with local nonprofits like Austin Street Center and Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas. The group looks for individuals who have work experience but have endured severe hardship, like domestic violence or job loss. Participants are given job training, mentoring, and other services before being connected with open positions in the multifamily industry.
According to their website, helping prevent just one individual from homelessness can save a community over $36,000. The organization also says the average Entryway family receives a more than $50,000 increase in income, benefits, housing discounts, and services through the program.
“This is a new beginning as I look to start my future,” said Murad, 22, who moved to Texas from Sudan at 15 and benefited from the Entryway program.
After completing a nine-month course for building maintenance at Centers for Employment Training, a partner of Shelters to Shutters in Washington, DC, Murad began working as a full-time maintenance tech with apartment operator IMT Residential.
“I’m a dreamer, and this opportunity for a new beginning is a dream come true,” said another recipient, U.S. Navy veteran Tracy Burr, per D Magazine.
Burr was connected to Entryway through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration program of Volunteers of America-Texas. After some initial support from the organization, like interview preparation, Burr ultimately landed a job as a maintenance technician at the Overture River District community in Fort Worth.
Those working with Entryway are also provided discounted housing at the multifamily complexes where they work. National furniture rental company CORT then furnishes the participant’s homes free of charge.
To date, the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas has contributed more than $100,000 to support Entryway in North Texas.
