Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The Barriers Women Face: Survey Results
Three quarters of the Pre-LMDA Survey respondents offer program supports – predominantly transportation (89%) and childcare (53%) - in an effort to help women overcome barriers to employment. Seventy percent not offering supports also do not offer any women-specific programs or services.
Of those offering supports, more than half report that government funding is not adequate for the supports their clients require. These organizations cobble together supports through fundraising, volunteers and donations. If they could offer more to clients, it would be for training dollars for short-term courses, funds for employment supports (workboots, haircuts), childcare, and emergency funds.
Access to childcare, lack of transportation, poverty, and immigration-related issues, such as recognition of accreditation, ESL and discrimination, are reported as the most common challenges women face. Other barriers included eligibility for government-funded programs and services, violence against women and related trauma and family disruption, health issues, lack of training opportunities, and underemployment.
Half of all respondents report that government-imposed eligibility criteria limit women’s access to services, while one third feel eligibility is not a problem in their community. However, eligibility is seen as a greater issue for organizations serving women only: 60% agree that it is a problem (more than two thirds of these agree strongly), compared to 22% who did not.
Of those offering supports, more than half report that government funding is not adequate for the supports their clients require. These organizations cobble together supports through fundraising, volunteers and donations. If they could offer more to clients, it would be for training dollars for short-term courses, funds for employment supports (workboots, haircuts), childcare, and emergency funds.
Access to childcare, lack of transportation, poverty, and immigration-related issues, such as recognition of accreditation, ESL and discrimination, are reported as the most common challenges women face. Other barriers included eligibility for government-funded programs and services, violence against women and related trauma and family disruption, health issues, lack of training opportunities, and underemployment.
Half of all respondents report that government-imposed eligibility criteria limit women’s access to services, while one third feel eligibility is not a problem in their community. However, eligibility is seen as a greater issue for organizations serving women only: 60% agree that it is a problem (more than two thirds of these agree strongly), compared to 22% who did not.
Labels: Issues_and_Trends, Resources_and_Research
