LOUISVILLE, Ky. — October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Spectrum News 1 is sharing the stories of people working with a disability and their contributions to Kentucky’s workplaces.
About once or twice week, Greta Gloor cleans homes in Louisville. Gloor is a person with a disability and a participant of Harbor House in Louisville. The nonprofit serves more than 100 people and its mission is “empowering individuals with disabilities and their families to lead fulfilled and productive lives.”
Gloor earns a paycheck cleaning homes and businesses under Harbor House’s Home Sweet Home program.
When Spectrum News 1 met with Gloor, she was tidying up for Louisville resident, Charles Gravens. Gloor swept and mopped the floors, cleaned the kitchen and dusted around the home.
“I think it’s nice,” said Gravens. “They do a good job.”
Gloor was one of Home Sweet Home’s first employees, according to program manager Mary McGee. “She is just a joy,” she said. “Everyone loves to have Greta to come into their homes and their businesses. She has a business that she cleans also.”
Gloor has been a Harbor House participant for more than a decade and also works in the mailroom and she’s been a cleaning associate for several years. “I love it because it keeps me busy, and it gets me out of the house,” she told Spectrum News 1.
“It also gives our participants who have shown an interest in this and have gone through the supportive employment process to make sure that this is the type of job that they want and what they need,” said McGee.
Leaders said the company pays a competitive wage and many participants go on to work for other businesses in the community. They interact with homeowners, who might be physically unable to do housekeeping.
“It’s a win, win,” said McGee.
The program aims to provide not just on-the-job training, but a way for participants to build relationships in the community.
Home Sweet Home participants clean homes for about 40 clients, including homes and businesses.