Five years ago, Amber Lucky was 28 years old, pregnant with her first daughter and homeless. Today, Lucky lives with her two daughters in a townhome and has
How does someone not only survive such a daunting situation, but eventually thrive? It takes a village's worth of resources — in Lucky's case, the support of
"I had to put in the work, and I did work really hard, but the resources I had made it possible," says Lucky. "It's amazing the doors it opens. It's like a movie. I never thought I would be a property manager, and now I can provide a beautiful home for my children."
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Lucky was six months pregnant with her first child when she and her husband found Father Joe's. Gaining housing and prenatal care, Lucky was able to safely give birth and even take parenting classes. But it wasn't until the last few years that she felt she was in the right headspace to pursue her career.
Lucky joined Father Joe's STEPs (skills and training enhancement program), which offers training for in-demand industries, skill certifications and mentorship. After just one month of study, Lucky scored 100% on her final exam. She then used her networking skills and education to land herself a job at the start of this year.
While local businesses do work with programs like STEPs to connect with talent, Lucky notes that organizations like Father Joe's are not typically the first place job
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"People who have experienced homelessness are some of the most resilient people you will ever meet," he says. "They have overcome many insurmountable obstacles and thrived, making them excellent candidates. They have demonstrated hard work to change their circumstances, and that tenacity is easily transferable to the workplace."
More employers are moving away from certain job requirements that point to privilege more so than experience and skill, such as four-year college degrees. While an important step in opening the door to traditionally overlooked talent, employers should continue to redefine their recruiting networks beyond big-name universities and their immediate contacts to include employment programs like the ones at Father Joe's, says Vargas.
The journey Lucky took was not easy, but proves just how capable and resilient a candidate with this kind of background can be. For example, Lucky knows firsthand how to break unhealthy patterns and the dedication it takes to accomplish long-term change. After her husband passed away from cancer in 2021, Lucky shared that she overdosed on fentanyl, leading to child protective services taking her children away for 18 months. Through Father Joe's, she was able to access addiction management support and mental health care; she will be three years sober in August. At just five and three years old, both her daughters have access to pediatric mental health providers to help guide them too, furthering their progress as a family, notes Lucky.
"I was noticing some behavioral issues with my youngest kid, and I was able to take her to a child psychologist," she recalls. "We were able to find out that she could remember my late husband and was having a hard time seeing other kids with their dad. That helped me open a dialogue with my daughter, and now she's excelling."
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Vargas advises employers to see candidates for what they have overcome rather than punishing them for leading a life with so many obstacles. Employers have the opportunity to not only gain great talent but also make an impact that lasts generations.
"We provide services not only for the individual but for future generations because we know they will use their self-sufficiency and pass it on to their children and their children's children," says Vargas. "Not only is hiring hard workers a smart business tactic, but businesses have a duty to improve the circumstances of the community they reside in."
Lucky didn't have the same opportunities many others might have had in her industry, but with the right support, she's earned her place. Lucky is proud of how far she's come and shares that her family is currently settling into their new home (which her girls are excited to report has two bathrooms).
"The key is not just providing a bed or even an apartment but comprehensive services that help a person retain housing long-term," says Vargas. "It takes both nonprofits and businesses working together to end homelessness."
