To outsiders, it may seem like the road between someone seeking employment and securing a job is straightforward. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, as the saying goes. But for many of the jobseekers SOAR works with, that journey is fraught with barriers to meaningful employment.
Take Andrew Joseph from Leatherwood in Letcher County, for example.
“When I first met with Andrew, he was just down on his luck. He’d had a lot of hard situations,” says James “Rue” Hembree, Andrew’s peer mentor through SOAR’s EKY Runway Program.
From Down on His Luck to Moving on Up
It all started when Andrew experienced a house fire and lost everything, leading to bad rentals, evictions, and bouts of homelessness. When he finally landed in a new home, the bills piled up, and it wasn’t long before his power was shut off.
And the challenges didn’t stop there. While volunteering to drive his brother-in-law to Tennessee for an appointment, the brakes on Andrew’s car went out, leaving him with no reliable transportation for work.
By the time he’d discovered SOAR, Andrew had been unemployed for several months and without power for half a year. What he did have, though, was a desire to improve his situation.
Before beginning the work of matching Andrew with secure employment, we had to tackle his emergent needs: electricity and reliable transportation. SOAR’s wraparound services allowed him to pay off his outstanding electric bill and turn the lights back on. Next, we connected Andrew with LKLP Community Action, an agency serving residents in Leslie, Knott, Letcher, and Perry counties, to provide transportation to and from interviews—and subsequently, jobs—while his car was out of commission.
Support Every Step of the Way
With his immediate needs stabilized, Andrew looked ahead, taking interest in a hiring event with System One for Framatome, a nuclear energy company with growing opportunities in Eastern Kentucky. His background working in the coal industry and construction made him an ideal candidate, but he needed help preparing. From resume-building to mock interviews, SOAR’s support staff were with him every step of the way.
One example is when Andrew discovered he would need a Real ID driver’s license to complete the hiring process with Framatome, which would also require him to obtain a copy of his birth certificate. Rue quickly helped him figure out what documents he’d need and what forms to fill out, ensuring this task did not become a new barrier to his career goals.
In October 2025, after a three-month hiring process, Andrew received a job offer for a role as a fuel technician—but he wouldn’t start training until January 2026. To make ends meet in the meantime, Rue encouraged Andrew to look for part-time employment and shared job leads to support that goal. Within a week, Andrew started a job as a security guard just 10 minutes from home.
The short commute was crucial. Andrew’s car still didn’t have working brakes, but he was still driving it, and soon he’d need to travel to Lynchburg, Virginia, for training at Framatome. Not only that, Andrew also didn’t have car insurance. As the sole income earner for his household and at an $11 per hour wage, affording the repairs and insurance was out of the question. Again, SOAR’s wraparound services were able to remove barriers to Andrew’s employment by paying for his repairs and car insurance.
Meaningfully Employed & Deeply Grateful
Ahead of Andrew’s training with Framatome, SOAR coordinated with System One to ensure he had what he needed to be successful: lodging, gas cards, work boots, and scrubs. Everything else rested in Andrew’s capable hands.
He passed all the required tests and completed his training, looking toward future work travel opportunities and his new career with excitement.
“Andrew has put in incredible effort,” Rue says, “and I’ve gotten to see his life transform in a matter of months.”
Today, Andrew makes $27 per hour with an expected yearly salary of $56,000, doing a job he enjoys that allows him to travel around the country. He recently shared with SOAR that he’s working with a manager in Framatome on moving up the ladder as he continues to grow in his career.
When he’s not on the road with Framatome, Andrew still works as a security guard part-time, putting him further ahead and adding more financial stability for him and his family.
For others in similar situations, Andrew suggests giving SOAR a try.
“It’s well worth it,” he says. “It won’t hurt. You just have to put in the work.”
Take it from Andrew—he’s put in his.