Woodbury letter: Homeless
People keep complaining about this situation, but I have yet to read or hear a solution.
Boise might try this.
A work program — First get the word out to all in the homeless community. Have a city van once or twice a week go to designated stops and pick up anyone who wants to work for $9/hour. Have a five or six hour work day with lunch provided. Use these people to pick up trash, pull weeds, maintain parks, shovel snow off city sidewalks, etc. One city personnel at work site would oversee the workers. City employees already do these jobs, but use those employees to work on other infrastructure projects.
A homeless worker could earn $45 — $54 per day. The van would take workers to a motel that has been set up through the city with room rates of $50 — $60 - but with two people per room, each would have $20 for a hot meal, and extras. This would provide them shelter with amenities. Most importantly they would be contributing to the community and getting paid for it.
Albuquerque has started such a program. At least it might be something to try rather than each side of the issue just talking about it and doing nothing.
Cherry Woodbury, Boise
This story was originally published January 3, 2016 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Woodbury letter: Homeless."