Pilot Program Hires the Homeless as Cleaners

The City of Amarillo, Texas has begun a pilot program helping homeless people reenter the workforce through jobs cleaning facilities in the city parks, KFDA- TV reports.

The pilot program, offered through the Peer Reintegration Employment Partnership (PREP) Academy, will choose clients from Amarillo’s Coming Home program, which provides housing for chronically homeless people. Program organizers say the next step in getting formerly homeless people back on their feet is helping them find steady employment.

Using funds from the federal American Rescue Plan, the program will temporarily hire participants as city employees working 15 to 20 hours a week to keep parks and their facilities clean and sanitized. The hope is some workers will go on to become full-time city employees, and others will receive references to help them gain permanent employment.

Amarillo National Bank will also provide a free savings account for each person in the program, as well as financial literacy training.