LA Looks To Hire Homeless To Pick Up Trash

LOS ANGELES, CA — The city of Los Angeles may soon have a job for its homeless population: picking up trash.

The city's Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee on Wednesday approved a motion requiring staff to draft recommendations on employing the homeless population to clean the streets.

The motion is an effort to help "vulnerable individuals" while reducing pollution in the city.

"As a police officer, I've seen poverty as its worst," said Councilman Joe Buscaino, who co-wrote the motion. "I can see that poverty leads to homeless."

The motion, co-written by Council members Bob Blumenfield and Nury Martinez, asks that the city outsource daily litter maintenance to "social justice organizations that have both the capacity to meet the City’s need and ability to assist vulnerable individuals."

The council members said the city "receives an average of 200 requests per day through 311 for illegal dumping, debris, and other trash-related nuisances and trash is consistently one of the top three reported issues."

They compared their idea to to how the city removes graffiti, which is "outsourced to contractors who hire transitional workers."

"It's about providing dignity of work to many folks who are homeless to give them a sense of pride in the city," Blumenfield said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the city was selected to be a part of a grant program created by the County and United Way of Greater Los Angeles' Home For Good Funders Collaborative to confront rising homelessness in their communities.

Watch Now: Consideration To Hire Homeless People To Clean Trash In LA

City News Service; Photo: LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 01: Homeless people mill around on a Skid Row sidewalk after packing up their tents for the day and before businesses open on May 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. The newly released 2017 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count indicates a 20 percent jump in the city of Los Angeles while Los Angeles County has spiked 23 percent. Voters have approved a record number of funds for homeless services with the passage of Measure HHH in the city and Measure H countywide. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)