The Adult Education program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College is teaming up with the Clark County Homeless Coalition to offer GED prep and job skill classes.

The program is open to everyone and will be every Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. for about eight weeks, Adult Education Learning Center Program Coordinator Jason Dailey said.

The classes will train students in job searching, resume building and interviewing techniques. Participants will also earn the Kentucky Essential Skills Certificate.

Dailey said the idea for the partnership came about after talking with Clark County Homeless Coalition Executive Director Terry Davidson.

Davidson said education is one of many factors that contribute to homelessness. Davidson said having a GED makes a huge difference when it comes to accessing permanent housing.

“Education is a significant piece,” Davidson said. “It’s far from the only piece, but it is a significant piece… without education, so often, (people who are homeless) are not going to be able to maintain employment at a level that will allow them to pay their own bills, pay for their own housing.”

The coalition serves just about 225 people a year whether it be providing shelter or providing additional services such as classes.

The goal of the partnership is to help tackle the barriers people with the coalition may have such as transportation or childcare. Dailey said this program is essential in Clark County where more than 3,000 people don’t have a high school diploma or high school equivalency.

“It’s necessary because people need their education,” Dailey said. “To me, the education is the number one aspect of getting a job. Landing that job allows you to be self-sufficient, self-supporting and allows you to have your own place to live, allows you the food you need and the transportation to get there. To me, education is the top priority.”

A person with a high school diploma or GED, on average, earns $9,400 more per year than someone without a high school diploma or equivalency, according to BCTC’s website. More than 95 percent of the jobs in Clark County require a high school diploma or equivalent, Dailey said.

BCTC’s adult education program offers free GED prep classes to anyone eligible, and they must be 18 and older.

Dailey said his hope for the program is to one day put himself out of a job.

“You want people to have their education,” he said.