Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ATLANTIC CITY — The crew picking up trash and leaves Friday along Georgia Avenue in Ducktown worked quickly as city officials hosted media nearby. It was the third day of work for homeless individuals who are part of a 10-week jobs program helping the Public Works Department clean up the city. "My ship came in, in time for me to get on," said participant Thomas Taylor, 60, who recently moved to Atlantic City from Philadelphia, where he had been homeless for years. "I love it, they are hard workers, real hard workers," city Sanitation Supervisor Larry Holmes said as he oversaw their efforts and pitched in himself. Participants are being paid $75 a day to clean streets, the Boardwalk, City Hall and a Police Athletic League building, said city Health and Human Services Director Jarrod Barnes. Jersey Shore restaurants shift gears to survive in offseason Friday’s New Jersey high school football playoff scores Not too late! Voting closes at noon for The Press Football Player of the Week Galloway Township gymnastics center co-owner charged with sexually assaulting minor Offshore wind company to buy vacant 1.5-acre Atlantic City lot for $1 million Galloway man gets 3 years in Ocean City fatal crash Atlantic City International Airport's 1 carrier, Spirit Airlines, files for bankruptcy Which players did the Cape-Atlantic League coaches pick as the best of the best in fall sports? Prosecutor still determined to find whoever is responsible for West Atlantic City killings Upper Township employees disagree on morale 2 Galloway men arrested after spraying workers with rocks in Nature Preserve $23 million apartment complex promises to bring new vitality to quaint Swedesboro UPDATED NHL referee taken away on stretcher at Flyers game Julian Turney's TD sends St. Augustine past Delbarton in state Non-Public A playoffs Iconic Avalon properties on the market for $7.4 million "After 10 weeks, we will reevaluate and see where they are," Barnes said. "If full-time positions are available, they can apply." The program, paid for by opioid settlement funds, is also focused on preparing the new workers for full-time employment and permanent housing, Barnes said. Like most urban areas across the United States, the city has seen an increase in homelessness in recent years, he said. Atlantic City is getting some help addressing homelessness — a tough problem that has persisted for decades in spite of the efforts of dozens of nonprofits and government agencies. Early this year, a string of fires suspected of being started by homeless people trying to keep warm damaged the resort's Boardwalk. One fire was started by a campfire that killed a homeless man, and resort leaders vowed to find ways to prevent more homeless encampments from popping up. The fires happened as the city was embarking on a $26 million repair and rebuilding program for the aged Boardwalk, which runs about five miles from Gardner’s Basin to the border with Ventnor. Barnes said that was part of the impetus for the new program, but it is also a response to seeing the need to help "in daily life." Participants work Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays work with case managers to get services they need — from medical care to rental assistance. Another 10 people will then be hired temporarily, Barnes said, but the city will keep assisting anyone who goes through the program with case management. "Once they are with us, they are always with us," Barnes said. There are now 43 people on the waiting list to participate, said city social worker Anthony Woodard. In the wake of a string of recent fires that damaged the iconic Boardwalk — one started by a campfire that killed a homeless man — resort leaders vowed Friday to find ways to prevent more homeless encampments from popping up. Taylor said he has been homeless for about 33 years. "Really after my 20s," he said of the hard economic times he experienced after working in construction for a time. "I could never make enough money." Now, he says his goal is to get a full-time job in public works so he can do what he loves — pick up litter and improve the city. Jason McCracken, 38, said he moved to Atlantic City about two years ago from Vineland and has been homeless about a year. When asked what caused his homelessness, McCracken answered quickly. "Substance abuse at one point," he said. "Poor legal choices and decisions." He is now in a recovery program and doing well, he said. "My goal through this opportunity is to stay employed and work side by side with Atlantic City," McCracken said. A two-year incubator program has the goal of turning a block of Pacific Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood of Atlantic City into an indoor farming hub, said Elizabeth Terenik, executive director of the Chelsea Economic Development Corp. He has a varied work background that includes construction, tree work, cooking and plumbing and heating, McCracken said. There are currently 250 homeless people in the resort, officials said. "I think it's good. It's giving them something to do to make some money," said David Ingber, of Ocean City, who stopped to find out what was happening on his way to visit his father in the neighborhood. "They could get a job and get a place," Ingber said. "Look how nice and clean it looks now." The program will help the city, Ingber predicted. "We want the city to do good. People will buy more houses," Ingber said. Mayor Marty Small Sr. said the state is aware of the program and supportive. "It's all about giving people chances," Small said, "sometimes second, third and fourth chances as we try to end homelessness." There are four women and six men in the program, Barnes said. They are paid via checks and considered city vendors. "We are working to see if a local bank will set up accounts for them," Barnes said. Woodard said the program is also working with partners like the State Police's Operation Rise and the Hope Exists Foundation to help with housing and other needed services. On November 22, 2024, on Georgia Avenue in Atlantic City, city social worker Anthony Woodard and Director of Health and Human Services for the City Jarrod Barnes answer questions from members of the press at the unveiling of their new program, Hope Work Initiative, a program which provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, on Georgia Avenue in Atlantic City, Director of Health and Human Services for the City of Atlantic City Jarrod Barnes answers questions from members of the press at the unveiling of his new program, Hope Work Initiative, a program which provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, on Georgia Avenue in Atlantic City, city social worker Anthony Woodard answers questions from members of the press at the unveiling of his new program, Hope Work Initiative, a program which provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue and Artic ave, Thomas Taylor sweeps the sidewalks as one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue in Atlantic City, Diamond Heard, 51, sweeps the streets as one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue and Artic ave, Jason McCracken, 38, talks about his battle with substance abuse but lists his skills from electric work to cooking to plumbing, and how he is excited to be participating in Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, which provides new opportunity for temporary employment for homeless individuals. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue and Artic ave, Thomas Taylor sweeps the sidewalks as one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue and Artic ave, Jason McCracken, 38, sweeps the street and sidewalk as one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue and Artic ave, Thomas Taylor takes a break from sweeping the sidewalk to say hello to Mayor Marty Small. Taylor is one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, on Georgia Avenue in Atlantic City, Mayor Marty Small takes questions from members of the press at the unveiling of anew program, Hope Work Initiative, which provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue in Atlantic City, Diamond Heard, 51, sweeps the streets as one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue in Atlantic City, Diamond Heard, 51, sweeps the streets as one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue in Atlantic City, Diamond Heard, 51, sweeps the streets as one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue and Artic ave, Jason McCracken, 38, sweeps the street and sidewalk as one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. On November 22, 2024, at Georgia avenue and Artic ave, Jason McCracken, 38, sweeps the street and sidewalk as one of the participants of the City of Atlantic City’s Homeless Outreach unit's program Hope Work Initiative, a new opportunity that provides temporary employment for homeless individuals with the City. 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