The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, used to ticket people for panhandling. Now they're trying something new — something that's got a lot of locals excited.
Participants in Albuquerque's "There's a Better Way" initiative working on a city beautification project. All photos provided by the city of Albuquerque, used with permission.
Two days a week, an employee of a local homeless services organization drives a van around the city and asks homeless people if they want to work for the day.
"If they say yes, they hop in the van. We've already got a lunch for them, ready to go," Will Cole, the van driver, told Upworthy.
The idea was hatched by Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry, who saw it as a way to help, not punish, people in need.
"I was driving one day ... and I see a gentleman standing there with a sign that says: 'Will work,'" Berry told Upworthy. "So we decided to take the program to the next level."
The program, called "There's a Better Way," was started by Berry's administration to connect homeless people with employment, substance abuse, mental health, and housing services, and it recently expanded to include a program to connect homeless residents with jobs for the day.
"As a mayor, you want to be effective, and you want to do it in a way that's compassionate. And you also want to do it in a way that really maybe helps people get out of the circumstances that they're in," Berry said.
Those who say "yes" to the job offer work five-and-a-half hour shifts for $9/hour.
"We want to give the dignity of work for a day," Berry said. "The dignity of a day's work for a day's pay is a very good thing. It helps people stabilize, it helps them with their self-confidence, and it helps them get back on their feet."
The work often includes pulling weeds, picking up trash, or engaging in other beautification projects around the city. According to Mayor Berry, out of every 12-14 people Cole asks, 10 say yes to the gig.
At the end of their day, Cole's van drops the workers off at St. Martin's Hospitality Center where they have access to food, shelter, and other services if they choose.
"This could be anyone of us," Vicky Palmer, Associate Executive Director of St. Martin's, told Upworthy. "There are so many people who are a paycheck away, and to stigmatize somebody because they're homeless without even knowing the reason why, that's why we're in the business we're in."
Although it's only been operational for about a month, the city is hoping to expand the program to five days a week, and hopefully, it will help a lot more people in the process.
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Berry credits the community for supporting "There's a Better Way," not only through donations but through taking initiative and reaching out. Since the city linked its homeless services to its 311 help line, over 3,000 people have called 311 offering help or asking to be helped.
The city's new 311 sign, urging homeless residents to seek help and community members to reach out.
According to Palmer, one of the biggest successes of the program has been humanizing a group of people who often don't get a fair shake.
"It's frustrating when you're sitting in your car and somebody's trying to get money from you, but they're human beings," Palmer said. "It's really hard for us to take that stance because that could be my mother. It could be my brother."
"I think we have to have that compassion and approach so that we can end homelessness."
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
I like this. It gives them a chance to gain some job experience and self respect. I hope this program can lead them to find jobs and to get out of their situation.
I like this. It gives them a chance to gain some job experience and self respect. I hope this program can lead them to find jobs and to get out of their situation.
I hope the funding doesn't dry up.
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
And I bet it saves the county money in the long run.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I like that idea. I hope it works long term. I think giving people confidence and a sense of pride in their work can do wonders on that person and hopefully, fuel them to do more.
LOVE this idea! We are helping the honest people, those that need a job but can't get hired anywhere else. Yeah probably due to bad choices, but they will work! I would so encourage this in our towns and cities.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
I've been thinking. It's probably stupid and I don't really know how to word it.
But how are these people being paid? A check with taxes and withholdings or cash?
What about workers comp? If someone gets hurt on the job, how is it handled?
I think this is a wonderful idea. But I'm curious about how it actually works.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Some people truly are bums. They have no desire to work. Some people just honestly need a hand up. This will separate the two. NY has a program like this. I saw it on tv. I think some guy started it. Not government related.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
I've been thinking. It's probably stupid and I don't really know how to word it.
But how are these people being paid? A check with taxes and withholdings or cash?
What about workers comp? If someone gets hurt on the job, how is it handled?
I think this is a wonderful idea. But I'm curious about how it actually works.
They probably have the job applications right there and sign people up. If part time, it isn't hard. And yeah the workers would need IDs and such.
There are usually state laws for "casual day labor" that don't require tax deductions, etc. One of the big companies I worked for would hire friends and family to help with inventory night and we paid them cash on the spot using this procedure.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
And then the government gets involved and you can pretty much guarantee that it's not going to work.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
So a bit off topic, but along the same lines; There was a news story on this morning about a large public housing complex in Boston, it houses about 350 families. The reason it was on the news is because residents were complaining about a program that was implemented years ago. Of the people who lived there, only about 20% were employed. Most didn't have a HS diploma. So the program was in exchange for the reduced rent ( rent based on income) people would enroll in a program to get their diploma and then go on to college and/do a work training program. Because of this program, about 65% of the adult residents have jobs. Well now some are complaining that housing shouldn't be hung over the heads as a way to get them to go to school and work. WTF????
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
This is the problem. People come up with a good solution and others have to nit-pick it and find the problems in it.
So having questions is a bad thing?
I was wondering how easy the town could be sued if on of those day workers got hurt while working or riding in the car or had an allergic reaction to the lunch provided.
I think asking questions is a good thing.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
So a bit off topic, but along the same lines; There was a news story on this morning about a large public housing complex in Boston, it houses about 350 families. The reason it was on the news is because residents were complaining about a program that was implemented years ago. Of the people who lived there, only about 20% were employed. Most didn't have a HS diploma. So the program was in exchange for the reduced rent ( rent based on income) people would enroll in a program to get their diploma and then go on to college and/do a work training program. Because of this program, about 65% of the adult residents have jobs. Well now some are complaining that housing shouldn't be hung over the heads as a way to get them to go to school and work. WTF????
That's a wonderful program.
And who is complaining? The ones benefiting from this or the liberal pansies?
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I think you're wilted no matter what you are flan.
__________________
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
So a bit off topic, but along the same lines; There was a news story on this morning about a large public housing complex in Boston, it houses about 350 families. The reason it was on the news is because residents were complaining about a program that was implemented years ago. Of the people who lived there, only about 20% were employed. Most didn't have a HS diploma. So the program was in exchange for the reduced rent ( rent based on income) people would enroll in a program to get their diploma and then go on to college and/do a work training program. Because of this program, about 65% of the adult residents have jobs. Well now some are complaining that housing shouldn't be hung over the heads as a way to get them to go to school and work. WTF????
That's a wonderful program.
And who is complaining? The ones benefiting from this or the liberal pansies?
The people living there are complaining. Although I am sure there is some politicking going on too.
__________________
Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
So a bit off topic, but along the same lines; There was a news story on this morning about a large public housing complex in Boston, it houses about 350 families. The reason it was on the news is because residents were complaining about a program that was implemented years ago. Of the people who lived there, only about 20% were employed. Most didn't have a HS diploma. So the program was in exchange for the reduced rent ( rent based on income) people would enroll in a program to get their diploma and then go on to college and/do a work training program. Because of this program, about 65% of the adult residents have jobs. Well now some are complaining that housing shouldn't be hung over the heads as a way to get them to go to school and work. WTF????
That's a wonderful program.
And who is complaining? The ones benefiting from this or the liberal pansies?
The people living there are complaining. Although I am sure there is some politicking going on too.
Someone in their ear telling them how oppressed and taken advantage of they are.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.