Bloglander

After being out of work for about six months, Gretchen Smith has found a job.

Smith, one of five middle-class people we profiled last year in "Back to Work," was laid off last Halloween from the nonprofit Transitions. She started a position this week with the Spokane Housing Authority.

She'll be managing some low-income properties properties for the housing authority, and, she says, "it's right up my alley."

Smith credited Worksource for helping her with not only the job training and skills classes but also for also paying the house authority for the time she spends training in the new job.

"It really opened my eyes to what resources are available and changed my perceptions of the 'state employee,'" Smith says.