Program employs individuals experiencing homelessness while making an ongoing impact on litter
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) continues spring cleaning around the city by further pursuing its partnership with Keys to Work, an organization focused on helping ex-offenders and those experiencing homelessness re-enter the workforce through its Pathways to Employment program.
“Collaborating with Keys to Work is one of the many ways the Department of Public Works and the City as a whole work to engage with outside partners to help address issues facing the entire city, such as litter,” said Indy DPW Director Dan Parker. “We should all be doing our part to minimize litter across Indianapolis, but this is one way the City actively works towards litter abatement.”
Crews began collecting litter the week of March 1st, targeting corridors that teams and visitors would be traveling throughout the NCAA tournament. With the tournament over, crews will begin working from a set list of locations across the city, focusing on major thoroughfare medians and entry routes into downtown.
Crews collected 450 bags of litter in preparation for and during the NCAA tournament. Since then crews have collected an additional 285 bags, for a total of 735 bags throughout 2021.
Indy DPW, the Office of Public Health and Safety, and Keys to Work entered into this partnership to help keep Indianapolis clean, while also providing stable jobs to ex-offenders and those experiencing homelessness.
“There are many barriers in the way of obtaining long-term, meaningful employment,” said Lauren Rodriguez, director of the City’s Office of Public Health and Safety. “This program offers participants the opportunity to get back on their feet, while also making a real impact on our city as a whole.”
In 2018, Keys to Work staff closed out a backlog of nearly 3,000 resident reported cases of illegal dumping in alleys, medians, roadways, and greenways. In 2019, Keys to Work staff picked up over 42 tons of litter across Indianapolis. Starting this year crews will also begin to focus on graffiti abatement across the city.
There are multiple ways residents can help crews picking up litter as well as overall abatement efforts. Motorists should slow down if they see these crews working and drive carefully to give them the space they need. Citizens should also refrain from littering, making sure all waste is secured in bags inside of trash carts.
If citizens would like to become more involved in preventing litter, Indy DPW encourages them to contact Keep Indianapolis Beautiful about their Adopt-A-Block or Great Indy Cleanup programs, which empowers neighborhoods to keep their streets, sidewalks and lawns litter free.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Hannah Scott-Carter
Public Information Officer
Indianapolis Department of Public Works
C: 317-775-1590
hannah.scott@indy.gov