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Idea#353

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community service jobs for the unemployed

Why Is This Idea Important?: We have a huge resource of willing workers who have lost jobs, homes and self esteem due to this poor economy....This worked on a much larger scale during the FDR administration.

All the unemployed people who are getting paid through unemployment insurance must participate in something like a WPA or CCC program in their nearby cities/communities for at least 8 hours a week. and if they work hard enough, their unemployment will be extended, if not - sorry. Jobs could be supervised by those unemployed that have leadership skills and some re-training could be done too. Those with construction skills could repair and renew neighborhoods, those with child care skills could help care for the children of the more physical workers. It would be a huge force of community workers restoring America - fixing parks, filling in for companies that have had to lay off workers, making cities cleaner and more attractive. Most of the folks I know who have been unemployed would love to do something more productive than checking in once a week at the unemployment office - this could make a huge difference, especially in crumbling cities. And it would be a partially volunteer work force of over 8 million people working on projects that directly help people.

Submitted by Unsubscribed User 2 years ago

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Comments (4)

  1. Unsubscribed User said:

    I'm not so sure about this. It would be wonderful if it wasn't *required*, but there are people in situations were it would be impossible to meet with these sorts of restrictions that actually *need* the unemployment, and that are looking for jobs.

    Now, if you were to say it would be required after, say, some period of time ...

    But what about the people who don't have transportation of their own, with no way to get around except relying on others? Or older people that couldn't quite reach retirement so still rely on unemployment until they can find another job that suits them?

    It seems like you're a little biased in your suggestion here. I mean, it is a good idea, I'll say that again, but it definitely needs some refining before it's valid in my opinion.

    2 years ago
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  2. go2thesun said:

    there are already volunteering opportunities set up through the Obama admin.

    without the forced labor or lose benefits plan.

    http://www.learnandserve.gov/

    http://www.encore.org/

    you can call your local united way for opportunities too.

    2 years ago
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  3. mftobin said:

    Having worked in the field of job search, I can say that if people limit their job search activities to checking in once a week at the unemployment office they will not find a new job. Conducting a job search IS a job.

    Perhaps a better idea would be to offer the unemployed courses in job search skills (not simply how to read adverts in the newspaper and online), some coaching and perhaps to create office space for their use while conducting their search (access to phones, faxes, copiers, computers).

    2 years ago
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  4. we_spencer said:

    I would not limit the option to those who receive unemployment benefits, Let anyone who is unemployed voulenteer. I would.

    2 years ago
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