For behavioral health and other support services - color me back (CMB) is a "same day work and pay" program designed to reduce barriers to employment for individuals experiencing homelessness, housing…

For behavioral health and other support services - color me back (CMB) is a "same day work and pay" program designed to reduce barriers to employment for individuals experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and/or acute economic insecurity. These individuals earn wages within a trauma-informed environment while contributing to significant public beautification projects. Color me back provides a supportive environment where participants connect to mental health, behavioral health, and employment supports, serving over 250 people annually. In 2022, the color me back program made 2,291 payments totaling $114,550. CMB currently operates at two sites in the city of philadelphia: suburban station, a major transit hub in center city (16TH ST. & JFK blvd., philadelphia, PA 19103) and kensington, a section of philadelphia where poverty rates exceed 40 percent and trauma is widespread. At suburban station, 164 unique individuals participated in 2022. In kensington, 116 unique individuals participated in 2022. Differing from other workforce programs in philadelphia, CMB participants are accepted without conditions to ensure the lowest possible barriers to employment. They are supported by staff and certified peer support specialists who connect with each individual, are available to talk with them about their needs, help remove obstacles to longer-term employment and make connections to services, benefits, housing, and more. Color me back has been widely celebrated as the nation's first "same day work and pay" program with a public art focus. Its low-barrier, trauma-informed model is an effective solution to supporting workforce inclusion for people experiencing poverty, housing instability, and behavioral health challenges.