They Cut Job Corps—And They Cut Hope With It (I need to vent!)
Let’s talk about what’s happening right now in this country. Not the Instagram headline stuff, but the deep, gut-wrenching reality: services are being stripped away like loose wallpaper, peeling back to reveal a system that was never built with marginalized folks in mind.
They cut Job Corps. That may not mean much to folks who’ve never needed it—but for thousands of young people across the country, this program was a lifeline. A roof over their heads. A meal every day. A trade to build a life on. A shot at something better.
And now… gone.
A Personal Stake in the Fight
This isn’t theoretical for me.
I’ve worked with displaced, unhoused youth FOR YEARS. In fact, I was once one of them! I’ve seen the fire in their eyes as they clawed their way toward stability, purpose, and dignity. I’ve seen what it looks like when someone reintegrates with community—starts believing they deserve to be here. That they matter. That their life has meaning.
Job Corps played a huge part in that for so many.
I’ve had family members go through the program. I’ve walked side by side with youth I supported, helping them transition into Job Corps with nothing but hope and a trash bag full of belongings. And still—they went. They believed. Because someone told them: This program can change your life.
And it could. Until the Department of Labor yanked the funding like it was just another line item on a spreadsheet.
What Job Corps Was
Job Corps was a federally funded program for youth ages 16 to 24—many of whom were aged-out foster youth, formerly incarcerated, unhoused, or lacking any kind of family support. It wasn’t perfect. It was outdated in many ways. But it gave young people:
Housing
Meals
Vocational training
GED prep
Support finding employment
Help securing childcare and transportation
It wasn’t just about jobs. It was about hope. And now 40,000 young people—many of whom had nowhere else to go—are suddenly left in the wind. Many are now homeless, again.
Let’s Talk About Hope (Psychologically Speaking)
Losing hope is not just a sad emotional state—it has measurable psychological effects. It's been linked to depression, suicidality, increased stress, and even physical health issues.
When a person no longer sees a path forward, they begin to shut down mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Hope = Vision + Path + Motivation.
When you remove access to education, job training, healthcare, and food—you don’t just cut services. You cut vision. You cut the path. You eliminate the motivation because what is there left to work for?
That’s why Job Corps mattered. It gave people something to believe in again. A foundation to rebuild a future. And you want to talk about budget? The cost of mass homelessness, incarceration, and hospitalization is far greater than simply supporting programs like this.
A Country That Keeps Choosing Apathy
This isn’t just about Job Corps. Look at the pattern:
Medicaid cuts
Food stamp restrictions
Barriers to mental health services
Targeting of trans youth and LGBTQ+ rights
Book bans and censorship in schools
Guttings of DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) programs
Increased military recruiting efforts toward low-income youth
We’re watching a systemic shift that prioritizes people with the most access and continues to leave the most vulnerable behind. Not just in America—but everywhere. We're being forced to watch displaced folks, immigrants, BIPOC youth, and disabled communities suffer while being told there's no money.
And yet… war budgets are booming.
Let’s Be Honest About The Military Pipeline
I know this may sound like a conspiracy theory, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When you strip people of all other options, you push them into one—the military.
I’m not knocking those who serve. I’m knocking a system that forces our youth to risk death for a shot at healthcare or a college education.
If someone joins the military because it’s their passion? Amazing. But if they join because they’re broke, homeless, and can’t afford to eat? That’s not choice. That’s coercion.
The Emotional Toll of Watching This All Unfold
Many of us are experiencing compassion fatigue. The constant cycle of trauma, news, violence, and loss is overwhelming. It’s easy to feel powerless. But I want to say this:
You’re not numb—you’re exhausted. That’s different.
You still care, even if you don’t know what to do. That matters.
So What Can We Do?
We don’t all have the energy to organize 24/7, and that’s okay. But we do need to stay awake. Here are a few things that are within reach:
Check on your people. Especially youth who might’ve been affected by this. Ask what they need.
Call your local reps. Tell them these cuts are unacceptable. Demand alternatives.
Donate to youth-focused nonprofits and mutual aid networks.
Volunteer. Even a few hours a month can make a difference.
Organize. When the time comes, be ready to show up.
If You’re Feeling Hopeless…
Please know that there is help, even if systems are failing us. If you or someone you know is struggling right now, here are some resources:
Crisis Support:
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1
CA Peer-Run Warm Line: 1-855-845-7415 (24/7 for non-crisis emotional support)
Bay Area & California Community Resources:
Larkin Street Youth Services – Support for unhoused youth (SF)
Covenant House California – Shelter and services for youth (Oakland & LA)
Alameda County Social Services – Help with food, healthcare, housing
California Youth Crisis Line – 1-800-843-5200 (Youth & family support)
Final Thoughts
I wrote this because this one hit close to home. I’m tired of watching people get tossed aside. I’m tired of the gaslighting. The lies about “budget” while entire communities crumble.
And I know I’m not the only one.
We may not be able to change the world overnight—but we can’t stay silent either. So if you’ve got breath in your body, speak up. If you’ve got a platform, use it. If you’ve got a dollar, donate it. And if all you’ve got right now is grief, know you are not alone in it.
Stay grounded. Stay soft. Stay furious.
We need you.
With love, fire, and a little bit of hope,
Nia
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