A pilot program to provide day jobs to Tucson's homeless population will begin in December.
Six homeless people will be hired to clean up litter from streets and parks around town.
"Folks will be paid $9 an hour," said Tom Litwicki, CEO of Old Pueblo Community Services, one of the organizations running the program. "And they’ll be paid the same day they work, in cash."
The workers will make more than the minimum wage, which is currently $8.05 in Arizona.
Funding for the Tucson Homeless Work program is coming from the City of Tucson and Pima County for the first year. Cenpatico is providing a driver to take participants to work sites, and Assurance Health and Wellness is contributing a van. They'll get lunch from the Caridad Community Kitchen.
Many programs available to Tucson’s homeless population have long wait lists, meaning there's a delay in services, Litwicki said.
"One of the things that’s really important about this type of project is that it provides a solution today," said Litwicki.
The Tucson Homeless Work Program, which is modeled after one in Albuquerque, New Mexico, begins Dec. 1.
