Working Wardrobes For A New Start

We help people overcome barriers to gainful employment.

Working Wardrobes began in 1990 when CEO/Founder Jerri Rosen and five friends hosted a single “Day of Self-Esteem” for 67 women residing in six domestic violence shelters in Orange County, Calif.  Ms. Rosen and her dedicated volunteers knew that these women were transitioning into a world where they needed assistance to find employment and achieve self-sufficiency, and this initial event became the foundation for the agency.  What began as a one-day event became an annual event that lead to a year-round program of career development services for all populations in need of our assistance. Today, Working Wardrobes offers a broad range of career development activities directed to low-income individuals who are underemployed in low-wage jobs or have experienced obstacles such as homelessness, incarceration, substance abuse, catastrophic illness, domestic violence, military-to-civilian transition, and long-term unemployment and are most in need of help to find and maintain living wage employment and build lasting economic stability for themselves and their families.

Working Wardrobes was founded in 1990 since then we have provided career development, job training, job placement assistance, and wardrobe services to over 125,000 individuals through an innovative and comprehensive range of programs and services that help people who have overcome difficult challenges (including COVID-19 job losses, military-to-civilian transition, homelessness, incarceration, substance abuse, domestic violence, chronic illness, and long-term unemployment) and are eager to enter the workforce, as well as the underemployed seeking career advancement and higher wages. Our mission statement is: At Working Wardrobes, we do everything in our power to help men, women, young adults, and veterans overcome difficult challenges so they can achieve the dignity of work. Our Career Success Center is located in Santa Ana and we serve all of Orange County and the surrounding regions of southern California. In 2021, Working Wardrobes provided assistance to a total of 3,789 clients receiving 14,175 units of service through our activities including our core Rebuilding Careers program, the VetNet - A Safety Net for Veterans initiative meeting the unique needs and challenges of vets and veteran spouses, the Re-entry to Success program for incarcerated individuals preparing to reintegrate into mainstream society, the Senior Community Service Employment Program providing subsidized job opportunities for low-income seniors, and the Veteran Behavioral Health Peer Support Services collaborative linking vets to behavioral health and housing placement resources.

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic began 100,000+ jobs have been lost in our community and this is a 246.8% increase in just the last 12 months. In Orange County it takes 2-3 jobs to afford basic living expenses and avoid homelessness. Employment sectors which have been most greatly impacted, include healthcare, hospitality, travel, food service, retail and entertainment. Within our community over 140,000 veterans reside (2018 Census) and 98,000 (70%) do not have a job when they transition to civilian life. This startling data underscores the vital need for services that specifically address the needs of people who are seeking to move out of poverty and secure living wage employment. In order to meet these challenges, Working Wardrobes is in continual need of community support to augment our efforts. In 2021 alone, 2,204 generous volunteers and our incredible corporate partners contributed over 24,428 hours of service and amazing financial support to tackle the challenges of returning our clients to a life with purpose. How can we do more? We need more companies and individuals in the community to raise money, host clothing drives, volunteer at our events, advocate on our behalf of the dignity of work. With your help we can reach the end result: to enlarge the circle of opportunity and hope to families in our community.

Working Wardrobes serves all of Orange County and the surrounding regions of southern California.

Since 1990, Working Wardrobes has made an indelible mark in the community and especially in the lives of over 132,000 clients. We do everything in our power to help men, women, young adults and Veterans overcome difficult challenges so they can achieve the dignity of work, and The Power of a Paycheck™. We provide workforce readiness services in an atmosphere of dignity that enhances lives and thus our community. With integrity, we are achieving sustainability that is: self-sufficiency and empowerment for the individuals receiving our workforce development services; helping the environment by reusing over 500,000 donated clothing items annually (those items ultimately help clients instead of filling up a landfill). We don’t do this work alone. By partnering with corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, public officials, educational programs, volunteers, donors and staff, we harness our power and efficiency to improve our community and world - one person at a time. TOGETHER, we positively impact our collective way of life economically, emotionally, and environmentally.

For 35 years, Working Wardrobes has been transforming lives through the power of employment, and this milestone is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers, donors, and community partners. As we celebrate our legacy and look ahead to the future, we remain committed to empowering individuals with the resources, confidence, and support they need to achieve meaningful employment. This anniversary is not just about looking back—it’s about moving forward with even greater impact.