Homeless Could Soon Get Paid Minimum Wage For Picking Up Trash

Apr 05, 2019 by apost team

Homelessness is a major problem in the United States. Recent studies identify over half a million people as homeless in the country. Despite the upturn in the economy, homelessness has actually increased in the last two years by 0.7 percent, with the biggest increases among young adults and unaccompanied minors.

As the numbers of homeless grow, communities are looking for ways to help these people get back on their feet. 

City officials in Little Rock, Arkansas recently approved a new plan that is drawing national attention. Little Rock’s program, which is called “A Bridge to Work,” will see the city pay homeless people to perform municipal beautification work, such as planting trees and picking up trash.

The program, which Little Rock is undertaking with the help of Canvas Community Church, is expected to be launched later this month and will go for a period of six months.

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After the initial six months, municipal and church officials will evaluate the plan and decide if they want to make it a permanent program. Officials also provided the media with additional details on the program.

Canvas Community Church is prepared to help by driving participants to worksites across the city. The program will run for three days each week, with participants working for four hours each day.

Workers will be compensated with the city’s minimum wage, $9.25 an hour, at the end of each day. Additionally, so far only 8 to 10 homeless people are expected to participate in the program.

Paul Atkins, associate pastor at Canvas Community Church, said that he hopes the program will be expanded in the future.

Speaking with reporters from the THV11, Atkins says that the program’s short-term goal is to give homeless people the opportunity to work.

In the long-term, the program will enable homeless people to find permanent employment, along with housing and education.

Atkins continues that helping people out of homelessness is a complicated issue. While many might be critical of those experiencing homelessness, Atkins feels that it is important for those in positions of authority to form relationships with the homeless.

Elaborating, Atkins says that it is only through these relationships that one can understand the homeless and provide them with the tools and services to meet their individual needs.

Watch the whole story in the video below:

What do you think of Little Rock and Canvas Community Church’s idea to help the homeless? Does your local government have any special programs to solve homelessness? We'd love to hear about it! Show this article to your friends and family to find out what they think!