People experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to threats like heat and flooding. By helping them access critical resources, the City of Raleigh builds a healthier, safer community. This makes our community more resilient to climate impacts.
The City is collaborating with The Great Raleigh Cleanup (TGRC) and A Place at the Table on “The Workforce” program. This program employs people experiencing homelessness. Participants beautify City locations such as parks, waterways, and roadsides. Through the program, we connect residents to resources that can help them access shelter and other needs. The program helps make Raleigh a more beautiful place to live, work, and play. It also supports resilience by creating education and engagement with the community.
Participants earn a living-wage rate of $18/hour, and they receive a meal at A Place at the Table, a pay-what-you-can café.
The Great Raleigh Cleanup nonprofit reduces litter in Raleigh through the power of community. It supports environmental stewardship through organized beautification projects and related events.
Contributing to Broader Climate Action and Housing Goals
In the first year of the program, participants completed over 95 cleanups and cleaned more than 50,000 pounds of trash. The Great Raleigh Cleanup has now paid more than $50,000 in wages to its Workforce members and employed more than 70 individuals. Participants have said the program provides valuable support. It helps them pay for daily supplies and temporary housing. They are also able to get work experience, access to other support programs, and a sense of pride and accomplishment.
The Workforce Program achieves key elements of the City's Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP). These strategies include:
- Building community resilience
- Encouraging community empowerment
- Fostering environmental stewardship
- Reducing waste
Several City departments collaborated with TGRC to fund and design the program. While the Workforce program doesn’t provide housing, it’s an important step to help people experiencing homelessness. It works with the City's Housing & Neighborhoods Department to connect people to permanent housing.
View more information on programs and services for residents experiencing homelessness.