With previous direction to City staff to work on solutions to improve the homeless situation in Visalia, last night, the Council was presented with a proposal to leverage the current work assigned to the Solid Waste Enterprise. Inspired by the success seen in the City of Bakersfield, the Homeless Work Program would bring an expansion of services to address illegal trash dumping in the City rights-of-way, along Highway 198, and other public areas by employing homeless individuals.
Through a series of job assignments, the Homeless Work Program would allow an individual to gain work skills necessary to obtain full-time employment while addressing a community need: illegally dumped material. Through the program, an individual would progressively prepare themselves for gainful employment, while contributing to the goal of maintaining a clean Visalia.
Council's vote included the appropriation of $354,000 for the Program from the Solid Waste Fund, offset by a proposed $209,000 grant from the Workforce Investment Board and $50,000 from redirected Bottle Bill monies previously used by the Consolidated Waste Management Authority. Next steps include continued work with the Workforce Investment Board, Caltrans and community partners before the Program officially launches.
For more information on the Homeless Work Program, contact City of Visalia Deputy City Manager Eric Frost at (559) 713-4300.
