Teaching Basic Computer Skills to Chicagos Homeless Population

Teaching Basic Computer Skills to Chicago’s Homeless Population

Some Facts on Homelessness l Over the course of a year, between 2. 3 and 3. 5 million people experience homelessness in the U. S. l In the Chicago Metropolitan area, an average of 166, 000 people experience homelessness in the course of 1 any given year

Homelessness affects: l Single men and women l Families 2 l Unaccompanied Youth

Racial Demographics Chicago’s General Population Chicago’s Homeless Population 3

Major Causes of Homelessness o Lack of Affordable Housing o Lack of Healthcare and Supportive Services o Lack of Living-Wage Jobs

Lack of Affordable Housing l In the US, nearly 1/3 of all households spend 30% or more of their income on housing and 13% 4 spend 50% or more. l There is not a single jurisdiction in the US where a person working full time earning the prevailing minimum wage can afford a two 5 bedroom rental apartment. l In Chicago, only 10% of affordable 6 housing needs are met.

Lack of Healthcare and Supportive Services l Healthcare l l Mental Health l l l 19. 2% Uninsured in US 80% of those without health coverage are working families 1, 668, 000 people in Illinois are without health insurance 4% of US population has serious mental illness 20 -25% of homeless population has serious mental illness Substance Abuse l l Less than 1/2 of adults w/mental illness and substance abuse issues have access to treatment Substance abusers account for an estimated 30% of homeless people 7

Lack of Living-Wage Jobs § Low Wages § § § Illinois minimum wage is $6. 50/hr The “housing wage” in Chicago is $17. 42/hr. This is the wage a household working full time must earn to afford the local fair market rent on a two-bedroom apartment - or two and one half times the minimum wage. 8 Unemployment/Underemployment § § 11. 4% of the US labor force is unemployed or underemployed In Illinois, 80, 000 people have been 9 unemployed for at least six months

Lack of Living-Wage Jobs (cont. ) Ø Wage Disparity Ø Women make 76 cents for every dollar that men earn while Ø African American women earn 65%, and Ø Latina women earn 55% of what their male counterparts earn Ø Lack of Jobs Ø In Illinois, 64, 500 jobs were lost in 2002 Ø Illinois led the nation in job losses Ø Educational Barriers Ø In Illinois, 14. 1% of pop over the age of 25 does not have a high-school dip Ø Only 28. 1% have a college degree Ø Of 34, 491 formerly incarcerated individuals released into Illinois communities, 45% read below the 6 th grade level and 60% read 10 below the 8 th grade level

What does Homelessness have to do with Computers? l Most companies now advertise open positions on the Internet, either through a site like Career Builder or on their own website. l Many companies accept only online applications or applications via e-mail. l Nowadays, even most entrylevel positions require basic knowledge of computers.

A Small Part of the Solution l At a local non-profit organization that helps homeless people find jobs, volunteers teach basic computer skills to the participants. l While a few volunteers cannot solve the whole problem of homelessness, they can help one person at a time to gain the computer skills needed to seek and apply for jobs -- and possibly -- end the cycle of homelessness for a few. l Outlined on the pages that follow, are some of the basics we teach in six weekly two-hour sessions.

TABLE of CONTENTS 1. Getting to Know the Computer Hardware Software Getting Started The Desktop 1 2. Using the Mouse Launch and Exit Programs Practice with Solitaire Double Clicking 7 3. Windows Learning about Windows Arranging Windows Screen Vocabulary 10 4. Working with Documents and Files Creating Documents Saving Documents Retrieving Documents Managing Files 15 5. Editing and Formatting Documents Editing Text Formatting Text Moving Text 20 6. E-Mail and the Internet Navigating the Internet Signing up for an E-Mail Account Reading, Composing, and Sending E-Mail Searching for Jobs 28

Computer Hardware Monitor Processor Mouse Keyboard Scanner Printer What do each of the computer’s components do? • Processor: This the computer’s “brain. ” It “processes” information. • Keyboard, Mouse, and Scanner: These are called “input” devices. They allow the user (you) to tell the processor what to do. With a keyboard, you type in information; with the mouse, you “point, ” “click, ” and “drag” in specific ways that tell the computer what you want it to do; with the scanner, you can copy pictures and documents that you can then use on your computer. • Monitor and Printer: These are “output” devices. The monitor allows you to see the information you are inputting and the printer allows you to obtain a “hard copy” of that information.

Computer Hardware Desktop Tower Left Mouse Button Right Mouse Button You will notice that the mouse has two buttons. One is called the “left” button. The other is the “right” button. If you are instructed to “left click, ” that means to click the left mouse button. “Right click” means to click the right button. You will use the “left” button much more than you will use the right button. The “right” button is generally used only to bring up particular menus. We will talk more about the mouse a little later.

Software Compact Disc Place in “E” Drive (or “D” Drive depending on computer) Floppy Disks Place in “A” Drive

Practicing Mouse Skills with Solitaire is a great tool for participants to practice clicking, double clicking, and clicking and dragging.

An Exercise to Practice Double Clicking on the Object Brings Up a New Object If you do not double click at the right speed or if you move the mouse while clicking, the object will never change And the goal is 50 double clicks!

Learning About Windows The Desktop The Taskbar - Switching Between Programs

Quiz on the Desktop and Components of a Typical Window

Skill 080 – Edit Keys, Cursors, and Highlighting DO THIS PART OF THE EXERCISE USING THE MOUSE Delete the word VERY in the following sentence with the backspace key: “It is very cold outside” Delete the word REALLY in the following sentence with the delete key: “It is really hot outside” Delete the sentence I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SUMMER by click-drag highlighting, and then use the delete key. “Hi Pat. I am looking forward to summer. I want to be on the swim team. ” Highlight the following sentence by moving the cursor to the left of the sentence. The cursor will turn into an arrow. Once the arrow appears, click once. The sentence will highlight. Then, use the delete key to delete the sentence. “When will we be able to swim? ”

Resume Template

Signing up for E-mail

Chicago Reader Job Site

Career Builder Job Site