By Jack Day

There’s something really smart going down in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In a duel effort to curb pan handling in the city as well as create jobs and opportunity for those who are often forced to beg, the mayor, Richard J. Berry, announced a program called, “There’s a Better Way,” in which vans are dispersed throughout the city to offer daily work to panhandlers.

Partnering with St. Martin’s Hospitality Center, a local charity and homeless shelter, the participants will get paid $9 an hour cash for their work on various city beautification projects. After the work day they are dropped off at St. Martin’s and told about the various channels available to them to help them get back on their feet.

If the participants show promise then the work could lead to full time jobs with the city. The program is starting small and plan to pick up about 10 people each day the vans are out on the streets.

Enthusiastic about the program, Mayor Berry says, “Sometimes the best thing for certain individuals is just to have an opportunity to go out and make an honest wage for the day.”

Watch the video to see the rest of the details on this awesome plan to help those in need.

What do you think about the “There’s a Better Way” program in New Mexico? Are there any work programs like this where you live? Please tell us your thoughts and share this great story with your friends and family.