NJ City hires homeless people through a unique program

A NJ city is trying to help its homeless population by giving them jobs

A select number of homeless residents have been chosen for the program

The city hopes to expand the program

ATLANTIC CITY – Some homeless individuals in the Atlantic County resort may soon have jobs, at least for a little while, announces the city.

Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach launched its Hope Work initiative this week. It’s a new program that provides temporary jobs to homeless people.

How does it work?

Through the program, 10 people the city’s Homeless Outreach Unit has met during daily Atlantic City Homeless Screenings are offered jobs with the Atlantic City Department of Public Works.

The 10 homeless people chosen will work 15-hour weeks, five hours a day, three days a week in the Public Works Beach and Boardwalk, Sanitation, and Building Maintenance divisions.

Earn $75 a day each. The money comes from Atlantic City’s opioid settlement funds at no cost to taxpayers, the city said.

“When we started our boardwalk improvement group, we also created an entire outreach team to help address homelessness in the greater city of Atlantic City, something that was a concern in Atlantic City long before we become mayor,” said Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small. Sr.

He hopes the Hope Work Initiative can be an impactful solution that will make a positive difference in the city’s homelessness situation.

Once the 10-week program is complete, officials will consider hiring Hope Work Initiative participants for permanent positions.

In the future, the city hopes to expand the program, eventually hiring more than 10 homeless people at a time.

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