Te-Erika Patterson, 31, who became homeless on purpose on April 11 to promote the fair, said it will now take place at 11 a.m. June 6, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 2400 Charleston St., Hollywood.
Patterson, who said she became homeless also “as an empowerment outreach to teach women how to overcome failure,” organized the fair and pledged to remain homeless until 30 businesses in Miami-Dade and Broward counties signed up for the event scheduled for May 9.
By then only three businesses pledged their participation but they have since canceled “due to unforeseen circumstances,” Patterson said in a statement.
“I had no idea that it would take this long to get 30 businesses [to sign up],” Patterson said. “I am frustrated and disappointed in myself mostly. I have been living the homeless lifestyle for a month and I have learned so much. I know that our community cares. I’ve received help from so many people, from the cars on the street to caring women and men who drop food off to the shelter where I sleep.
“I know we can have 30 businesses at the job fair. I just need a chance to reach them. It must be something I’m missing in organizing this.”
Patterson said she is now profiling 30 employable homeless women on her website MySavvySisters.com and will send the profiles to business owners “to show them that homeless women are willing to re-enter the workforce and need a chance to learn and grow as valuable employees.”
She is also documenting her homelessness journey in video on her youtube channel, Embrace Your Fantasy, and in writing on her website.
The job fair will be for homeless women affiliated with a shelter or an agency that serves women in need.
Prospective participants are asked to call 954-586-7173 and leave their names and the names of the agencies that referred them.
According to Patterson, registration would make participants eligible to win a grant aimed at helping one homeless woman get off the streets by covering her rent and living expenses for three months.
Businesses interested in taking part in the job fair should visit www.mysavvysisters.com/p/rebuild-your-life-project.html and write to RebuildYourLife@MySavvySisters.com.
Donations to help make the grant possible may be sent to Cosac Foundation Inc., The Rebuild Your Life Project, P.O. Box 221736, Hollywood, FL 33022. Checks should be made out to Cosac Foundation Inc.
Donations may also be made by Paypal to MySavvySisters@Gmail.com.
For more information, call 678-590-1487.
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