Part of Sonya Surita’s job as a case manager is to administer a 160-question psychology test. The test determines the mental state of an applicant and is very important.
“If we’re going to spend $5,000 to retrain them we would like to know a little bit about them,” she said.
This is the first of many tests applicants from the Escondido-based Interfaith Community Service must pass. Interfaith is a non-government affiliated organization that arranges work-retraining programs for military veterans. It’s open to applicants who received anything other than a dishonorable discharge from the service. Veterans qualify if they were discharged in the last 48 months or can prove unemployment for the last 24 months.
Applicants who overcome the hurdles can choose any career to study and Interfaith will set up an interview between the applicant and school officials. If all goes well, Surita will negotiate a contract with the school.
Surita has placed veterans in truck driving schools, locksmith programs and human resource training classrooms. Upon course completion, Interfaith will help the applicant job hunt and, if needed, will offer a clothing allowance for interviews.
– Impressive
Job Results
Last year, the program put 168 veterans through the psychology test.
“We secured employment for 127 of those clients at an average wage of $12.95 per hour,” Surita said.
Mark Tan was discharged from the Navy in May 1999. He was in aviation electronics during his four-year tour. Tan found the job hunt wasn’t what he expected so he switched gears and enrolled in Interfaith’s program in December. He’ll finish his extended course this week.
“It opened more opportunities for me,” he said. “On top of some of the electronics experience and the minimal amount I had in the computer field, by going to the school it just enhanced it.”
Tan hopes to work for a large corporation as a network administrator after he graduates.
Some of Interfaith’s applicants are homeless, some have post-traumatic stress disorder, and some have substance abuse problems. Because of that Interfaith offers transitional housing for homeless veterans.
– Interfaith Offers
Temporary Housing
Interfaith owns two, four-unit buildings on N. Aster Street in Escondido. It fits four veterans to an apartment and rent is only $160 a month. Surita characterizes it as a final step to independent living.
“They focus on life skills and financial independence,” she said. “They have to be employed, they have to have a job, they have regular meetings on Wednesday nights and they get drug tested randomly. As long as they keep their nose clean they can stay.”
On site is a food kitchen and pantry. Every morning Interfaith hands out breakfast to homeless veterans before they look for a job. Across the parking lot is their thrift store that takes in donations and then sells everything from kitchen knives to automobiles.
Recent lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill resulted in an increased grant from the government. Although Interfaith doesn’t know when the funds will arrive or even how much more it will get, plans for the funds are already in the mix.
“We would like to get two other apartment complexes,” Surita said. “One for veterans with families and one for women.”
