Litter Abatement and the Homelessness Crisis: Cross-Agency Action
Track
Diversity & Environmental Justice
Speakers
Ricky Ramos, Downtown Streets Team
Title
Director of Programs, STE
Speaker Biography
Ricky Ramos is the Director of Programs for Streets Team Enterprises, the workforce development wing of Downtown Streets Team, a homeless advocacy agency operating in Northern and Central California.
Abstract Title
Litter Abatement and the Homelessness Crisis: Cross-Agency Action
Speaker Abstract
In 2021, Downtown Streets Team (DST) was included in a $2.3 million dollar Clean California grant submitted by the Alamada County DA's office with DST as subgrantee. This talk will discuss the role of people experiencing homelessness in the abatement of litter and illegal dumping. Thanks to coordination between multiple agencies including the DA's Office, the Alameda County Illegal Dumping Task Force, and Argent Materials, DST has been able to engage unhoused neighbors as agents of change. One of the most complex challenges in addressing litter and illegal dumping is dumping at or near homeless communities. By engaging local unhoused persons to help beautify areas in and around zones where they live, and by supporting job creation for the unhoused, these agencies are able to effect positive environmental changes as well as changes in the way homeless neighbors are often viewed as part of the problem to illegal dumping instead of part of the solution. DST operates two programs in this endeavor: its flagship program which engages unhoused volunteers in street beautification as part of program of wraparound support that includes case management and a basic needs stipend; and a supported employment program that pays an above-minimum wage to unhoused individuals looking to enter the realm of mainstream work.