With a recent program, Denver, Colorado is attempting to lower the percentage of homeless and jobless people in the areas around and in their city.

The Denver government of launched a program on November 1, 2016 that would pay homeless and jobless people $12.50 an hour to work for the city by performing public service.  The jobs that were offered included landscaping in parks, helping out at election places, helping out public works crews and a lot more. According to an article on www.goodnewsnetwork.org, almost 300 people have found work in the program over the last year, and most have worked more than one day.

“I think it is really cool how the city did this to help out it’s homeless people,” sophomore Reagan Montjoy said.

Overall in 2017, the percentage of homeless people in Colorado rose about almost 4 percent, however in Denver itself, that percentage went down.  According to an article on cbsnews.com, the legalization of marijuana has drawn the homeless to Colorado and had caused an increase in the amount of homeless in the city of Denver.  This a one reason why the program was started.

“I think the whole state should try to do the same thing Denver did so their homeless rate drops as well,” sophomore Isabelle Redd said

Since the beginning of 2017 , over 100 people who have done work in the program have been able to find a regular, stable job, and many others are still working for the city.  No background check was needed in order for people to get the job for the city.

“I really believe that all the people who got real jobs did it because they realized how good it felt to work for and earn your living,” freshman Jackson Petty said.

According to an article on cbsnews.com, the legalization of marijuana has drawn the homeless to Colorado and had caused an increase in the amount of homeless in the city of Denver.  This a one reason why the program was started.