Jobs-Plus Coney Island Opens Employment Door for Local Resident 

Just steps away from her home at Coney Island Houses, Tanniesha Gilliam found a welcome path to employment thanks to Jobs-Plus. 

At the time, Ms. Gilliam was out of work and on the lookout for prospective jobs, but few promising opportunities had developed until she learned of one of the newest Jobs-Plus sites serving NYCHA residents. A resident of Coney Island Houses for more than 20 years, Ms. Gilliam found out about the Jobs-Plus program from a neighbor, who encouraged her to take advantage of the various services available right in their neighborhood.  

With sites across NYCHA, the Jobs-Plus program provides residents ages 18 and older with free employment services, financial education, and other support through one-on-one case management, information sessions, and partner events. Operated by NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES), Jobs-Plus Coney Island officially opened in February 2025 to serve residents of Coney Island Houses, Surfside Gardens, and Coney Island I (Sites 4 and 5) in a dedicated space on the Coney Island Houses campus at 3026 Surf Avenue. NYCHA was awarded a $3.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to launch the latest program, bringing the total to 11 Jobs-Plus sites serving 46 developments citywide.  

Ms. Gilliam first stopped by her local Jobs-Plus location last summer hoping to get help with her job search, but was pleasantly surprised to discover a plethora of resources offered to community members. She had recently graduated with an associate’s degree in business administration and believed that other supportive services, including credit building and financial management, would also come in handy.  

“I saw that they had so much more to offer,” recalled Ms. Gilliam, who grew up at Brevoort Houses and Tompkins Houses in Brooklyn. “Once I went in there and they explained all the services to me, I was really interested that they had those resources for us. One of my main things was learning how to fix my credit and save my money.” 

Upon enrolling in the program, job-seeking clients receive a range of employment-related services on-site, including assistance with resume writing, the building of interview skills and job readiness, as well as career counseling. Program members can also meet with REES staff for educational advancement assistance, financial and budget counseling, tax prep assistance, debt reduction tips, and supportive services such as childcare resources and community partner referrals. To date, more than 250 NYCHA residents have enrolled in Jobs-Plus Coney Island. 

“We have seen firsthand how this program can help people get jobs, grow in their careers, save on rent, and receive a wide range of services, resources, and meaningful community connections that can help them and their families achieve economic growth and financial stability,” REES Senior Director Michelle Raymie said.  

Jobs-Plus Coney Island provides free employment services, financial education, and other support through information sessions, one-on-one case management, and partner events.

Monet Dorsainville of REES, who works as an on-site career counselor, noted that many of the employees have “direct personal relationships with Coney Island” and are eager to help local residents who are motivated to do what it takes to advance their careers. Staff worked closely with Ms. Gilliam through workshops and one-on-one career counseling, including providing tips on how to improve interviewing skills.   

“Being able to work with people who are from such a vibrant neighborhood means the world to me,” Ms. Dorsainville noted. “Beyond the typical job placement assistance, I worked with Tanniesha to prep for her interviews, making sure she was able to project confidence and speak about what made her a good fit for the role.”  

After losing her administrative job during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Gilliam decided to go back to school to earn her associate’s degree and expand her qualifications. Thanks to the Jobs-Plus program and encouragement by staff to stand by her goals, she was able to build her confidence to return to work life.  

“The program helped me a lot; it helped me with my self-esteem, and it gave me a sense of hope,” she said. “I liked the people who were working there; it was a good experience.” 

In October last year, Ms. Gilliam finally got the call offering her a new job as an MTA transit cleaner in Brooklyn. 

“It was overwhelming and I was so happy; at the same time, I was a little nervous, since I hadn’t been to work in years and the job was all new to me,” she said.   

Ms. Gilliam is thriving only months into the job, and she recently passed an exam to apply for a supervisor role at MTA, which she hopes can eventually lead to a long-term career. Beyond laying the foundation for restarting her career, Jobs-Plus helped provide the money management tools to better plan for her future.  

“It made a really big difference; it definitely helped with improving my finances and by enabling me to actually end up with a job,” she said. “It also helped me to be able to move forward.”  

For more information about Jobs-Plus, visit https://opportunitynycha.org/workforce-development/jobs-plus/