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Clean and Safe Back Before Mayor's Task Force Today

By 250 News

Friday, February 12, 2010 03:52 AM

Prince George, B.C.- The Clean and Safe Program has taken another step towards reality.
Chris Bone, the City of Prince George’s Manager of Social Planning, says partners have been identified who can provide the resources needed to make such a program work. The program would see those who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, carrying out duties of basic litter pick up and the painting of graffiti.   
Bone says the next step in the plan will go before the Mayor’s Task Force on Downtown later today.   The Task Force will be asked to endorse a request that City Council provide $20 thousand dollars to pay a team leader who can train the individuals who will be doing the work, and co-ordinate the program. 
The program ‘s full costs have not yet been detailed as this is expected to be one of the initiatives that would be covered by the $350 thousand dollar budget enhancement  that has yet to be approved.
A final decision on that enhancement won’t be made until February 24th.
The Downtown Business Improvement Association has also committed to  paying $40 thousand dollars of this program  if the proposed special tax levy bylaw to fund a DBIA is approved. 

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Posted on Friday, February 12, 2010 03:52 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Comment Posted by: IMO on February 12 2010 7:58 AM
On one hand I see this as a good thing for down and out souls but....On the other hand it takes yet again from the tax payers and/or the businesses down town. I am torn.
Comment Posted by: verballabel on February 12 2010 8:59 AM
The DBIA will only put in if the tax levy passes.... give me a break!
Comment Posted by: Loki on February 12 2010 9:17 AM
This is a good thing in my mind. It's not like they (the homeless and at risk of homeless) have little other legal opportunity. By giving them something to do with their time and being compensated for the work should only be a positive. No one with all the advantages of a home and a family support network would stoop to do such a thing. Having them do the task of cleaning the downtown may be the break they need to break out of their current living situation.

This could work well, without the DBIA.
Comment Posted by: acopolympics on February 12 2010 10:34 AM
Cronic welfare recipients should be the ones to do this work, they are already getting paid as it is. If they can't actually prove they are actively trying to find employment they should have to do this work or loose thier benefits. Even if they were obligated to work 50 hrs a month that would work out to $10.00/hr for a regular single employable on welfare. I don't think that is too much to ask. That still leaves lots of time left over to look for employment.