Brighten Your Day

More Than 100 Homeless People Now Have Jobs Through Austin Nonprofit

October 3, 2019

A nonprofit in Austin, Texas, is helping the homeless find jobs while also cleaning up the city.

In October 2018, The Other Ones Foundation created its a program to provide the homeless with jobs cleaning the green space in Austin and reduce panhandling.

Since its inception, the organization has provided more than 130 jobs, picked up 60 tons of trash, and paid out more than $100,000 in earned income to the homeless.

"When they come in, there's so much desperation, so much isolation," said Chris Baker, the executive director of the nonprofit. "They become a member of our community and then they really start taking the steps necessary to get into the housing to get full-time jobs."

Currently, nearly 100 people sit on the waitlist to start working for this organization.

Baker said the next step to grow the company includes an expansion three times its size. He hopes this will help to tackle that waitlist.