17-26 Resolution in Support of Putting Panhandlers to Work

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PrintFriendly.com: Print & PDF Page 4 of 9 . ry In September 2015,Will Scroth was among the first homeless people to be hired by an innovative program in Albuquerque to provide day jobs to panhandlers.Officials in Portland hope to replicate some of that New Mexico city's success here in Maine.Albuquerque Journal/Marla Brose "We know there are still going to be people standing on street corners," Jennings said. "But we're trying to help people who feel they have to do that and give them hope for a positive future." The proposal to create the "Portland Opportunity Crew," as it is being called, originallywas due to go before the City Council's Health and Human Services Committee on Feb. 14, but it was rescheduled to March 28 to allow staff more time to fine-tune the details. The goal is not only to reduce the number of panhandlers standing at intersections, but also to connect people with social services that could put them on a path to healthier and more productive, stable lives, officials said. "We want to make sure people have opportunities in the city and they aren't relegated to panhandling as their only way to make ends meet," said City Councilor Belinda Ray, who leads the Health and Human Services Committee. "It's an exciting idea to think we might be able to do something, but I need to see the details before I weigh in." According to a draft proposal, Portland's program would run two days a week from April to November. An employee in the city's Social Services Division would drive a city-owned van to popular panhandling intersections and offer people a day's worth of work cleaning city parks and public spaces and doing some light landscaping. The city would accept the first five people who agree to work each day. https://www.printfriendly.com/print?url_s=uGGC_%7E PdN_°/a7E PcS_%7E_PcSJJJmCE... 6/6/2017