In 2016, the city of Fort Worth in Texas implemented a noble and effective program that employs homeless people who want to work. It’s called the Clean Slate Program, and it has proven to be sustainable. It actually is NOT a government-run program, but rather a private business that is fully revenue-based. The city of Fort Worth is actually just one customer that contracts the workers from this program to help clean up the city. Through the Clean Slate pick-up litter services last year, the workers cleaned 3,856 tons of waste off of the streets.
Clean Slate employees are given various types of work from temporary tasks to actual 9-5 full time jobs. The organization hires its own employees, sets its own standards, and knows its employees and their needs well. Because of criminal records or lack of experience, some homeless people have a challenging time finding jobs. Clean Slate provides skills workshops, job training, shelter facilities and other services to people in need. Its employees are drawn from the homeless population around a local shelter called Presbyterian Night Shelter. Job candidates are not discriminated against because of their past.
This program has been effective even to the point of having several employees overcoming homelessness and some even transitioning away from Clean Slate and into other jobs. The program is revenue-based and adds to the economic health of the area, while providing the employees with the dignity of a good job.
The ultimate goal of the program is to help people rebuild their lives and give them a chance to work. The program has been implemented in other parts of the country as well. It is meeting a real demand by providing a great opportunity which in turn provides area businesses with quality services.