Rockland center takes on veteran, disabled unemployment
Sparkill resident Patrick Hennessy struggled to find work for more than a year before landing a job at the Connections Contact Center in Chestnut Ridge. The center is dedicated to hiring veterans and the disabled, like Hennessy, whose ability to walk is hampered by a form of cerebral palsy.
Sparkill resident Patrick Hennessy knows first hand the challenges posed by having a disability while looking for a job.
Having spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, Hennessy said he has experienced periods of underemployment and unemployment throughout his working life.
- Sparkill resident Patrick Hennessy struggled to find work for more than a year before landing a job at the Connections Contact Center in Chestnut Ridge. The center is dedicated to hiring veterans and the disabled, like Hennessy, whose ability to walk is hampered by a form of cerebral palsy.
His disability affects his motor skills, especially in his legs ”” he is not able to stand for long periods of time or lift substantial weights, but he is able to walk short distances with the help of a cane.
“The disability definitely does prevent me from getting certain jobs,” he said. “There are certain jobs when I look at I don”™t even bother,” he said.
Despite having an associate degree in business administration from Rockland Community College, finding work ”” even for jobs he”™s qualified for ”” can be a challenge.
“The interview process is very difficult by itself, but when you have a disability, you have that obstacle that you have to overcome as well ”” and it is very difficult to do when you are already under enough stress,” he said. “My thing is to not give them that opportunity (to discriminate). I have always needed a cane, but I didn”™t always bring it. If I felt like I could go from the parking lot to the front door I would do that. I guess on a certain level I thought if they didn”™t see that they would consider me.”
To help those who share Hennessy”™s challenges, the Rockland Independent Living Center recently launched a subsidiary in Chestnut Ridge. The Connections Contact Center is designed to put people with disabilities and veterans back to work while providing valuable call center and other related services to businesses throughout Rockland County.
“It is a proven model,” said George Hoehmann, CEO and executive director of the independent living center. “Call centers are run by not-for-profits all over, and we thought this was an opportunity that we could start up and be scalable, ultimately to employ up to 300 call center agents.”
A total $350,000 in grant money, which will help the center run through the year, was secured by state Sen. David Carlucci.
“It is important that we think outside the box towards lowering the unemployment rate for veterans and people with disabilities,” Carlucci said. “By securing funding for this exciting program, we are creating self-sustaining employment and business solutions in our county.”
Up and running since May 1, the center has recruited four employees with several more to be added in the coming months. Hoemann said the center hopes to have 10 full-time employees by the end of the year.
Employees are paid above minimum wage, between $12 and $14 per hour, and receive benefits as well as annual raises for certain positions. But more than a paycheck, Hoemann said, the call center offers hope and a means for advancement for veterans and those struggling with disabilities.
“These people were struggling to find work or otherwise not able to,” he said of the current staff.
He noted that the national unemployment rate for veterans and the disabled far outpaces the overall unemployment rate.
Hennessy had been out of work for nearly a year after working at a call center for four years until 2012 and finding only temporary work in the interim.
“There were times it kind of felt like there was nothing out there for me,” he said. “Luckily I got the job; it is a great opportunity. Essentially the most important thing is to just be productive again ”” there is something to do, somewhere to go where somebody wants you to work.”
As the call center grows and gains employees, Hennessy said he hopes to rise in the ranks, possibly becoming a team leader.
“I would like to help people,” he said.
For the veterans and disabled struggling to find work, he has a message: “There is someplace to go; there are people out there who can help them ”” RILC, that”™s what they do.”
The RILC is in the process of interviewing prospective call center agents. Hoehmann urged interested applicants to get in contact.