Most of the kids that come to us have little, if any, workplace experience. They are not only lacke a résumé, they lack important interpersonal and organizational skills to succeed in the workplace.

Dans la rue offers two employment programs. The MISE work program offers kids longer term part-time and full-time work experience and the MAIN MISE pay-by-the-day work program provides a shorter term alternative.

Work programs (MISE):

The MISE program offers a number of positions at Dans la rue facilities, including the depot, the Bunker, the pick-up donation truck and the kitchen. Some positions are 35-hour-a-week and some are 20-hour positions. The program is administered in conjunction with Emploi-Québec and the Centre des ressources éducatives et pédagogiques (CREP). The programs run between six and nine months.

These integration programs allow youths to gain experience, discover new interests and develop skills that will help them to integrate into the workforce or look at furthering their training in line with their career goals. At the end of their programs, youths receive a diploma in recognition of their work from the Commission scolaire de Montréal.

Our kids also have the opportunity to participate in work experience sessions with other organizations or companies, and throughout the year, employment program workers arrange visits and meetings related to their work, training and/or educational interests.

Daily job program (MAIN-MISE):

MAIN-MISE is a program that offers shorter-term commitments for kids who are not ready to enrol in a regular work program. Participants are required to work a minimum of one day a week. Because of the lower time requirements this program appeals to a much higher number of kids.

The MAIN-MISE program has been custom-developed to help youths overcome the challenge of holding down a regular job. It also provides a viable alternative to begging, squeegeeing, prostitution and other monetary "quick fixes." One of the components of this program is a gardening project run in conjunction with the residents of a low-cost housing project near the Day Centre.

Based on the success of the gardening initiative, we've organized other activities during the winter season, including snow removal and cleaning services at the Day Centre, to ensure youths have an opportunity to work year-round.