Outhouse operates the Community Employment Scheme and Community Services Programme and employs eight employees through these. All vacancies on the programmes are advertised here.

Community Employment (CE)

The Community Employment (CE) programme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed (or otherwise disadvantaged) to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. Participants can take up other part-time work during their placement. After the placement, participants are encouraged to look for permanent jobs elsewhere based on the experience and new skills they have gained while on a Community Employment scheme.

The Community Employment programme is administered by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). The DSP gives financial support through allowances and funding to assist with the Community Employment programme, for example, participant wages, supervisor grants, materials grants and specific skills training grants. Community Employment sponsors are voluntary organisations or public bodies that manage CE schemes at a local level.

Community Services Programme (CSP)

The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports community businesses to provide local services and create employment opportunities for disadvantaged people. It gives financial support to community companies and co-operatives to help with the cost of hiring staff. The programme focuses on communities where public and private sector services are lacking, either through geographical or social isolation or because of low levels of demand.

The Community Services Programme is managed for the Department of Rural and Community Development by Pobal.