Whittier : Welfare Recipients to Work for City as Part of Project

The city will let unemployed workers clean city alleys, remove weeds and paint over graffiti as part of a county plan under which welfare recipients earn their benefits.

Project participants, who are receiving general relief, must perform the work to remain eligible for welfare under the county’s Workfare Project. They will be assigned to assist city crews on municipal projects.

“I think this is a creative way to solve some property owners’ problems,” Councilman Allan Zolnekoff said at a meeting last week. The council voted 4 to 0 to participate in the program, which will involve five workers initially.

In exchange for the free labor, the city administers the local program and provides insurance, on-the-job training and supervision. Officials hope to begin the program by late February.