Hope through Housing’s CORE Academy workforce training program has expanded to include Orange County – our third program expansion in less than a year – offering free hands-on training in high-demand fields for residents of low-income households.
On March 4, 16 graduates received certification in property management, preparing them for stable, family-sustaining careers. The program, which previously expanded to Los Angeles and San Diego counties, also offers a property maintenance track and internships in social media marketing and podcast production.
“We have growing demand from residents across the region who are looking for stable career opportunities,” said Rebecca Glidden, a career training specialist for Hope through Housing. “Our Orange County program saw instant success, and we can’t wait to start our next cohort.”
Hosted at Legacy Square, the graduation ceremony connected graduates to recruiters from National CORE and several temp agencies to explore their new career options.
Cohort graduate Kylianna, 28, said the program is offering her a fresh start. A former nurse, she began looking for a new career after her daughter was diagnosed with cancer in March 2025. She stepped away from the job to support her daughter through the demanding rounds of medical appointments and surgeries.
“I got to a point where I felt like I had finished my purpose in nursing,” she said. “That chapter had closed, and it was time for a new purpose and a new light.”
Her dream now is to work for National CORE.
“This program has been very insightful and informative,” Kylianna said. “There was so much I didn’t know about leasing, property management and the corporate side of housing. It opened my eyes to a whole new career path, and I feel like I’ve gained the confidence and empathy to work in this field.”