The Hawk Eye
Despite paying its employees no less than $15 an hour, Hope Haven Area Development Center is struggling to fill its job openings.
At full staffing, Hope Haven, which provides opportunities and services to people with disabilities in Des Moines, Henry, Lee and Louisa counties, employs about 300 people in the quad-county area.
According to its website, about 50 of those jobs, with starting pay ranging between $15 to $19 per hour, remain unfilled.
The requirements for the majority of its full- and part-time positions, which include direct support professional and job coach, Hope Haven Executive Director Bob Bartles said, are a high school diploma or equivalent, the ability to pass a drug test and background check, a valid driver s license, and the ability to be kind and caring.