ST. PAUL WORK NOW
Community Jobs for our Unhoused Neighbors. Based at the Listening House of St. Paul.
Employment is one of the biggest predictors of exiting homelessness — especially when paired with support. Listening House shares a hopeful vision that by extending opportunities to individuals in creative ways, we can strengthen our collective community.
St. Paul Work Now is a zero-barrier job program for unhoused adults in St. Paul, created to provide immediate & meaningful work. Work Now focuses on essential tasks: trash removal, snow shoveling, sidewalk cleanup, general landscaping and more. Participants are paid hourly and offered wraparound support.
Funded by Ramsey Country Rescue Act funds, St. Paul Work Now ran as a pilot program from February 2024 through August 2025
Over the course of 18 months, St. Paul Work Now gave 172 unhoused individuals a chance to earn and contribute to their community by cleaning our parks, sidewalks, and bus stops- all while earning steady wages & receiving wraparound services.
A Program Update
Work Now is expanding its mission through the launch of a new social enterprise that offers affordable, community-based labor services throughout the City of St. Paul.
All workers are: carefully vetted, provided with job coaching and soft skills training & supervised on every site
Hiring Work Now crews supports residents who are trying to rebuild stability. Your sidewalks get cleared by a reliable, supervised team & funds stay local and directly support people living in your community.
WHY THIS WORKS
When people are given the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways, everyone benefits. These efforts strengthen relationships between housed and unhoused neighbors, creating communities that are safer, cleaner, and more connected. Meaningful work builds dignity, fosters a sense of purpose, and helps break down barriers that often separate people from one another. At the same time, it addresses real community needs, demonstrating that everyone has something valuable to offer when given the chance.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO YOU
Hiring a Work Now crew is more than a practical solution, it is a visible investment in the well-being of your neighborhood. It demonstrates a commitment to both compassion and community safety while creating employment opportunities for people facing some of the greatest barriers to stable work. Through meaningful, paid employment, participants gain income, experience, and a pathway toward greater stability. At the same time, your sidewalks and public spaces are cared for by a reliable, supervised team, and your investment stays local, directly supporting people who live in and contribute to your community.
WE ARE FLEXIBLE & EAGER TO HEAR FROM YOU!
HAVE AN IDEA OR A TASK? REACH OUT, LETS SEE WHAT WE CAN MAKE HAPPEN.
EMAIL: MAKAYNE@LISTENINGHOUSE.ORG