Program launches addressing homelessness and keeping Norman clean
NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) — There's a new program in Norman helping the homeless and cleaning up the city.
News 4 introduced you to it last month, but now the program is officially underway and is already showing success.
“A Better Way: Opportunity Knocks” is a partnership between Mental Health Association Oklahoma (MHAOK) and the City of Norman.
The program is aimed at addressing opioid and substance misuse and preventing overdose by connecting the homeless population with an alternative.
Participants are able to work and earn a wage, while also cleaning up the community.
"To participate, they're expected to hop on this van, three days a week for two weeks in a row and come to places like this or a city park to do clean-up work and help keep the city looking beautiful," said Kayla Mills, clinical director, MHAOK.
In return, they're paid $65 cash at the end of each day.
"It's me and my girl helping out, so we can combine it together and get us a motel or something to sleep in, so we don't have to be out here," said Walter Sargent, participant.
Sargent says it's more than just a paycheck. Participants are also connected with case management services and an employment specialist to find them a permanent job.
"That's imperative, at least to me. In my past, I would just be a drug addict, and things were crazy, getting past that and trying to move forward, you have to have a job to move forward. You can't get off the streets if you're not working," said Sargent.
While it's still new to him, Sargent says he's hopeful he'll turn his life around, and he's not the only one.
The first day the van was put to use, Mills says they had over 80 referrals.
"Over 80 people in Norman who are unsheltered, unhoused, battling addiction or have a history of addiction that wanted to hop on the van and get a job, get connected to services to get their lives back on track," said Mills.
The program is already in Tulsa.
Since launching in 2018, participants have collected over 8,000 bags of litter, and last year alone, 67 individuals found permanent jobs.