Council adopts plan to pay panhandlers to clean up Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday night voted unanimously to adopt a proposal to deter panhandlers by giving them jobs. 

The approved proposal allocates $300,000 in the Office of Public Health and Safety Budget to fund a number of programs to support people who struggle with homelessness. One of those programs, which Mayor Hogsett’s office hopes to launch in the spring, would pay workers an hourly wage for 20-30 hours a week of employment cleaning up litter and graffiti, especially in the downtown area. 

The city of Albuquerque launched a program in 2015 that pays panhandlers for garbage pickup and landscaping work. Participants are paid $9 per hour. 

In January, the mayor’s office said the funding for the program would come from the expansion of metered parking hours. 

The mayor’s office said the city of Albuquerque launched a program in 2015 that pays panhandlers for garbage pickup and landscaping work. Participants are paid $9 per hour. According to Albuquerque’s city government website, more than 1,500 people have participated; 76 participants have gained permanent jobs and 355 received mental health, substance abuse services or both. A map on CABQ.gov shows more than a dozen other cities have launched similar programs.