by Rupal Ramesh Shah | July 2024

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According to the Environmental Protection Agency, trash has the potential to harm the environment, including wildlife and human beings. Unfortunately, mismanaged trash can travel through the rivers and oceans and as a result can transport chemical pollutants. Additionally, through environmental contamination one can develop diseases such as asthma, birth defects, cancer, or cardiovascular illness.

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Those who are homeless experience that level of threat every day as they live on the streets, at camp sites, and away from well-kept neighborhoods. The homeless are therefore far more endangered due to the toxins in their environment and are at higher risk of diseases that adversely affect their health than the average population.

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Jennifer Reiser knows about these systemic issues all too well. Reiser started Jordan’s Crossing in an effort to keep the family legacy alive, after her brother passed away. “We first started at the back of my dad’s pick-up truck by giving away 1200 warm meals a day to the homeless. Over time we increased the services to also provide healthcare supplies.”

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“About seven years ago we started the cash for trash program, a panhandling diversion program, used to encourage the homeless to collect trash in return for wages. It started as a small project which has now turned big. Close to Jordan’s Crossing is a large number of camps so it was easy to encourage the homeless to clean up that area,” said Reiser. “We keep the city beautiful and help the less fortunate,” exclaimed Reiser. 

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During the trash collection process, many people and entities are involved. According to Reiser, the funding for the trash collection program comes from dedicated individuals and volunteers in the community. “We are hoping to collaborate with more professionals in the community in the future to continue such initiatives,” she added. 

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Through the program Reiser has been able to provide support to those who are homeless. “By working closely with the community, we send an average of fifty people each month from the streets to detox programs. Additionally, we have been giving away hygiene supply bags to those who come for hot meals. Starting January 2024, we will provide haircuts to those who need it as well,” she shared.

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According to Trent Smith, the Executive Director of Franklinton Board of Trade, trash accumulation at camp sites is a very delicate subject. “We are a non-traditional chamber of commerce. Our work involves collaborating and supporting local businesses and keeping neighborhoods safe and clean. Members of the Franklinton Board of Trade includes the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), Tommy’s Diner, Franklinton Cycle Works, among others.

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Smith stated “The first cleanup project began in the Franklinton Square Shopping Centre, as businesses were invested in having that space cleaned. Those original clean up efforts eventually evolved into Franklinton Board of Trade establishing the Franklinton Special Improvement District to regularly and systematically address a larger part of the community. 

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The team at Franklinton Board of Trade has formulated ways to improve the spaces and neighborhoods. They have assigned safety patrols and cleaning ambassadors to work closely with those who live on the streets to keep their neighborhoods clean. “The cleaning ambassadors build connections with those who live at the camp sites to think of ways to keep them clean. In some situations they have provided trash bags to camps, which are later collected and disposed of appropriately,” explained Smith.

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He added, “Yet there are challenges. At times when the camp sites become too large, they become difficult to manage. In even more precarious situations, the sites may become unsafe or hazardous to health. However, our work continues, as we strive to improve and clean neighborhoods.”

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While the organization works with businesses and companies to ensure they are satisfied, they also work hard to understand the gravity of the situation for the homeless. “We are creating an awareness for both sides. While the homeless encampments might make customers feel uncomfortable about shopping at certain businesses, the companies also have a role to play. After all, healthy businesses in the neighborhood can support the homeless in their community,” stated Smith.

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“It is also important to understand why customers feel unsafe in certain neighborhoods and what we can do to provide a deeper understanding of the situation. I root for small wins because all of them add up to major successes. The more the community understands the challenges the homeless face, the more likely those who live on the streets will seek out and accept the support,” said Smith.

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The Franklinton Board of Trade collaborates with many local organizations such as Sanctuary, as they work closely with unhoused populations to support them. “The more we collaborate and compromise, the more likely we are to succeed,” Trent stated with enthusiasm. 

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Over the years, the Franklinton Board of Trade has also found ways to address and advocate for ongoing issues such as sanitation. They are encouraged that the city has now installed three public restrooms in downtown Columbus, which will soon be functional and accessible to the public, including those who live on the streets. It would be ideal to eventually have similar facilities in Franklinton. 

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In one such positive collaboration, Sanctuary Night has been able to employ and support women who are homeless. Hannah Estabrook, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Sanctuary Night, has a background in mental health and therapy. “We noticed a gap in services provided to women in the homeless community. Therefore we started to provide targeted services to them in the form of healthcare services, food, water, and clothing, and educational resources,” stated Estabrook. 

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By collaborating with the Franklinton Board of Trade, Estabrook and her team has employed up to six women, at a time, to collect trash for $15 per hour. That program was part of the Cleaner Columbus initiative, set up by the city of Columbus. 

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Estabrook stated, “I consider that to be a harm reduction program because we are providing employment, which allows the women to feel independent and secure. We have now participated in two rounds of such clean ups, in December 2022 and April 2023. Our goal is to do it again in the summer of 2024.”

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When asked about success stories, Estabrook shared, “The initial participants in the project were sober but couldn’t find employment. After collecting trash for us on a regular basis and developing a track record of hard work and discipline, some were able to obtain gainful employment. For example, after collecting trash through the program, a new mom was employed by the Franklinton Board of Trade in a special community role, to work in a similar capacity.” 

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“Success to us means not being in a harmful situation. Women in our program can imagine a future beyond the streets. That’s why we would like to expand the program,” Estabrook shared.

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The city of Columbus started the Cleaner Columbus Employment Program, with a goal to provide employment to residents and to clean up local neighborhoods. With such a successful outcome, the objective of the program would be to build it further. 

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“When we told everyone about this program, we had a waitlist of over thirty people who wanted to participate. However, we couldn’t hire everyone because of our own limits. Success is knowing that people will work if we provide the right tools and resources,” she concluded. 

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Street Speech is a newspaper hosted in collaboration with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless.