This Coffee Cart Helps People Transitioning From Homelessness
Alyson Wyers — December 30, 2015 — Social Good
References: kartma & magazine.good.is
This coffee cart in Silicon Valley is helping the Bay Area's homeless population help themselves. Kartma Street Cafe -- #TheKartWithHeart -- helps those transitioning from homelessness by training and employing them to serve coffee.
The social enterprise has a goal of ending homelessness "through the dignity of work" by giving these people marketable skills and investing in their personal development. They also provide a living wage ($15 an hour) to their employees to ensure workers can also afford shelter if they aren't eligible for housing vouchers.
This coffee cart business is able to differentiate itself among other specialty coffee shops with their mission to bridge class disparities and provide effective and sustainable solutions to this pressing social problem.
The social enterprise has a goal of ending homelessness "through the dignity of work" by giving these people marketable skills and investing in their personal development. They also provide a living wage ($15 an hour) to their employees to ensure workers can also afford shelter if they aren't eligible for housing vouchers.
This coffee cart business is able to differentiate itself among other specialty coffee shops with their mission to bridge class disparities and provide effective and sustainable solutions to this pressing social problem.
Trend Themes
1. Homelessness Employment Solutions - The rise of social enterprises like Kartma Street Cafe highlights the trend of using employment as a means to help people transition from homelessness.
2. Market-based Social Impact - The success of Kartma Street Cafe demonstrates the trend of social enterprises integrating market-driven strategies to create sustainable solutions for social problems.
3. Dignity of Work - The emphasis on providing marketable skills and a living wage for homeless individuals shows the trend of recognizing the importance of dignity and empowerment through work.
Industry Implications
1. Coffee and Specialty Drinks - The coffee cart industry can explore partnerships and collaborations with social enterprises like Kartma Street Cafe to support employment initiatives and contribute to social impact.
2. Social Enterprises - Various industries can learn from the success of Kartma Street Cafe in integrating social impact into business models, leading to opportunities for disruptive innovation in diverse sectors.
3. Workforce Development - The workforce development industry can leverage the model of Kartma Street Cafe to create similar programs that address unemployment and homelessness while providing marketable skills.
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