When the company where Antonio had worked for several years closed its doors, he found himself at risk of homelessness without a consistent source of income.
He struggled to find employment that covered basic expenses and recognized that a different skill set would better serve him and his family long-term. Eventually, he discovered the LA:RISE program through the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity. Antonio began meeting with an LA RISE case manager who helped him set attainable employment goals and develop a plan to achieve them. With support from his case manager, Antonio set a goal to become a truck driver and obtain his Class A Commercial Driver’s License.
In October 2023, Antonio completed the required driver’s training, overcoming significant financial and personal hardship to do so. LA:RISE provided him with transportation support to travel to and from the training site and ongoing job search support after he completed his training. As a newly trained driver, it was challenging for Antonio to find an employer willing to accommodate the necessary years of driving experience he would need to secure most professional driving jobs. After months of perseverant searching, he was offered a position as a trash collector with the City of Burbank, a role that put his new driving skills to use and served as a stepping stone on his path to financial stability for himself and his family.