NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A new program designed to tackle joblessness and economic hardship in Nashville launched this month, offering hands-on support to residents seeking employment.
The pilot initiative, “MSS Workforce Readiness,” was created by Metro Social Services Executive Director Renée Pratt and a specialized team with more than a decade of experience in workforce development. Unlike past efforts, which primarily involved referring clients to potential employers, the new approach offers comprehensive, start-to-finish assistance.
Services include résumé writing, interview coaching, elevator pitch development, access to professional attire through the “Dress to Impress” program, job placement and follow-up support for months after employment begins.
“We’re seeing an influx in clients and an increased need for help with rent and food, especially as we enter the summer,” said Pratt. “At the core of these needs is a lack of employment. This new complete approach will get individuals and families where they need to be.”
According to a recent Community Needs Evaluation conducted by MSS, more than 200,000 workers in Davidson County earn less than a living wage. Additionally, 32% of MSS clients were unemployed between Jan. 1 and June 11 of this year — despite the county’s overall unemployment rate of just 2.8%, per the Tennessee Department of Labor & Statistics.
Brandy Dix, co-coordinator of the program, emphasized the personalized support.
“We’ve worked for months building this program,” said Dix. “We’re a one-stop shop for employment needs and will hold their hand from start to finish.”
The need is clear: More than a quarter of Nashville adults have debt in collections, over half of renter households spend more than 30% of their income on rent, and nearly 1 in 5 children in the city don’t have enough to eat, according to MSS data and the Community Needs Evaluation.
The MSS Workforce Readiness program hopes to close that gap—and open new doors for the city’s most vulnerable residents.
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