Debt challenges, literacy gaps and navigating government benefits are daunting hurdles for anyone. But for workers skilled through alternative routes (STARs), these structural barriers can keep people stuck in survival mode, preventing them from focusing on career advancement. Navigating these hurdles often requires specialized knowledge and resources.
Also, considering the recent government shutdown that threatens the stability of safety net programs and creates confusion about what support is still available, it’s particularly important to help STARs address the challenges that stand in the way of their career journey. That's why SkillUp partners with organizations that build foundational capacity. From literacy support to financial coaching to navigating government benefits, these wraparound services create the stability workers need to move toward high-opportunity careers.
Why Capacity Building Matters
The path to economic mobility starts with having enough stability to think beyond survival mode. That means being able to read a job description fluently, understand how to manage money once it starts coming in, eliminate debt or access available government programs.
Without these foundational skills, even SkillUp’s deeply vetted and quality-aligned training and jobs catalogs will fall short. A worker struggling with literacy or English language fluency can't confidently apply to jobs that require written communication. Someone buried in debt may not be able to afford the upfront costs of training. Applying for government benefits without guidance feels like navigating a maze.
While our platform connects STARs to pathways that don't require a four-year degree, we recognize that access to opportunity requires more than visibility. It requires readiness.
Resources That Spark Solutions and Relief
In an ideal world, young people can set themselves up for long term success through healthy financial habits. In order to give these new workers the strongest start possible, New Era Academy provides financial literacy training that teaches budgeting, saving and long-term planning.
But for workers who were not taught those habits and who live in financial instability, taking the steps to climb out can feel like a never-ending hurdle. Overcoming debt can be the difference between staying stuck and taking the next step toward training or employment. To help people eliminate their debt burden, Upsolve offers free resources and support to explore the option of bankruptcy.
Even when debt is managed and strong financial habits are set, many people struggle to access government programs and benefits allocated for them. Tools like Work Money ensure people can access the resources they qualify for, even when the system feels chaotic. Work Money guides users through over 40 government programs, tax credits and benefits — from SNAP to utility assistance to grocery support.
Financial stability is critical, but so is the ability to communicate effectively. For those who struggle with reading or are learning English as a second language, navigating their career journey with confidence may feel like an impossible task. The Literacy Center of West Michigan offers literacy training and English language lessons to improve reading levels and help workers gain the confidence to build a career. When someone can read fluently and communicate clearly, a whole new landscape of opportunity opens up.
"Capacity-building partnerships are essential to how we think about serving STARs," said Erin Ravenscraft, Senior Operations Manager at SkillUp. "We can surface the best training programs and job opportunities in the country, but if someone doesn't have the literacy skills to navigate them or the financial stability to pursue them, we aren’t actually helping them achieve anything. These partners help us meet people in their unique situation of need and equip them with the skills and habits to obtain high-opportunity employment."
Looking Ahead
As we head into 2026, SkillUp continues to recruit partners that address the full spectrum of barriers STARs face. That includes deepening relationships with literacy and financial support organizations, ensuring that workers in more regions have access to locally relevant resources and building out navigation tools that make it easier for users to connect with the wraparound services they need.
In order to help STARs achieve long-term growth and economic mobility, we have to support people in building the stability and confidence required to pursue careers. When we invest in foundational capacity, we don’t only address immediate needs — we create the conditions that make opportunity actually accessible.
