The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico has a new initiative placing panhandlers into day jobs. A driver picks up people who might otherwise spend the day panhandling and takes them to work sites. The jobs can be things like picking up litter and other beautification projects for the city’s public works department, and pays $9 per hour for an 8-hour day.
At the end of the day the van drops off the day’s workers at St. Martin's Hospitality Center, one of the non-profits working with the city as part of this pilot program. Once there, staff help connect the individuals with housing, employment, training programs, and mental health services.
Read the full version of this reportat Keystone Crossroads' website. Keystone Crossroads is a new statewide public media initiative reporting on the challenges facing Pennsylvania's cities. WPSU is a participating station.
