TCA addresses the needs of the poor and near-poor by providing direct assistance and the opportunity for people to better help themselves. Services to residents of New Orleans include early childhood development and comprehensive family support, workforce development, family strengthening, homeless prevention, free tax preparation assistance and financial counseling. Also, the agency offers financial assistance for utilities and home energy efficiency education. In order to promote economic recovery, TCA uses a goal-oriented intervention strategy that links soft-skills and life management training with job readiness, placement and retention services, supported by intense personal mentoring aimed at assisting clients in obtaining and maintaining employment. Our self-help strategy uses peer-to-peer support to increase the number of participants who successfully become employed, educated and on the journey of emotional and economic self-sufficiency. In addition we offer intense mentoring by a seasoned and tenured staff, expert in providing the support our service population needs to transcend their barriers; our guidance and counseling services ensure participants are linked with appropriate resources that also serve to remove or resolve barriers to employment and help clients change their lifestyles for the better.