Katrell Straus worked his way off the welfare rolls.
(Photo courtesy Easter Seals Work Resource Center)

Katrell Straus stands in the middle of a gutted former car dealership on Spring Grove Avenue in Northside. He has helped “deconstruct” the two-story building, salvaging materials for reuse and preparing the building for a new tenant, as a lead worker at Building Value, a non-profit subsidiary of Easter Seals Work Resource Center. 

Straus, 36, proudly shows a visitor his asbestos supervisor’s and lead abatement worker’s licenses. He explains how 30-hour OSHA training helped him learn safety rules and signs of potential danger. He talks about the City of Cincinnati Brownfield program that allowed him to secure mold remediation and hazardous waste certifications -- and learn first aid and CPR.

“I was blessed to still have this chance,” says Straus, noting that he had a criminal record. “For many, it’s too late.” 

Work experience assignment
Straus’ journey began in February 2008 during a work experience assignment in the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services' mailroom. The married father of six was receiving cash assistance, food stamps and Medicaid. 

Food Stamps Employment and Training (FSET) program worker Antoinette Smothers encouraged Straus to participate in the City of Cincinnati Brownfield Job Training program. Guest speaker LaVerne Mayfield of the city had recruited FSET clients for the program.

“Katrell Straus always had a positive, pleasant and polite attitude,” Smothers said. “He always expressed how important it was for him to get himself better for his wife and children whom he loves dearly. He was one of my favorite consumers due to his ability to get along with everyone and his willing ways to help anyone even when he was feeling down.” 

Straus completed the training over several months.  “It opened doors for me down the road,” he said. 

Advanced to Building Value
This spring, he started a job for Building Value, which trains individuals with economic and workplace disadvantages in the areas of construction and retail by salvaging materials from homes, businesses and warehouses. Trainees remove cabinets, walls and the like for resale at the Building Value retail outlet and buyers get a tax deduction for donating the items for resale. 

“I like it,” he said. “I’m always learning new things.” 

Straus feels grateful for those who helped him work his way off of welfare. 

“I’ve worked slowly but surely to get to where I am today,” he said. “This has helped build me as a man and helped my family.” 

Straus shares his story with inner-city youth in the hopes they will avoid some of the pitfalls he encountered. 

“I’ve actually been there and lived it,” he said. “If I save just one out of a hundred, I will sleep well because I know that I’ve done something good.”