The City of Danbury and Jericho Partnership launched the “Clean Start” program this week.
Five individuals from the homeless community participated in the litter cleanup accompanied by four of Jericho’s job coaches/volunteers. The same team will go out again on Wednesday.
“We hope that the people who participate in this initiative will get the fresh start that they need. The program gives them something to work towards,” said Mayor Boughton. “What we are doing here will benefit our entire community.”
“We want the participants to be successful and hopefully it will lead them to longer term or permanent employment and housing,” said Carrie Amos of Jericho Partnership.
As of now, 10 individuals from the homeless community have been invited to participate. Jericho continues to meet with new participants in hopes of growing the program as quickly as they believe they can.
Today and Thursday a team composed of four participants will participate with two job coaches/volunteers. At the end of the week, with amounts based on time spent participating, each individual will receive gift cards.
“I’m so excited that this project has come to fruition. The ability to provide opportunity for people in need is a wonderful thing,” said Steve Nocera, Director of Project Excellence. “We wouldn’t be able to do this without our partners at Jericho. They have provided the volunteers/job coaches which are a huge part of this. The participants are going to gain skills to get employed and that is what we hope to see.”
“I’d really like to see someone from this program eventually work for the City,” added Mayor Boughton. “Our goal in this is to help set these participants on a path to employment.”
The City thanks the City staff involved, UNIT, the City Shelter, Winters Bros. and Kenosia Construction who have all pitched in to get this initiative off the ground.