Glendale Works, a city partnership that gives people experiencing homelessness paid day work while connecting them with housing and employment services, says 112 participants have been placed into housing since the program began in 2018.
The program also reported that participants completed nearly 19,000 hours of work for the City of Glendale and 401 cleanup projects during 2025, according to figures published by ABC15 on Sept. 11.
The results provide a current measure of a program that operates at the intersection of homelessness response, workforce development and basic city maintenance. Crews work in parks, at the Glendale landfill and in other public spaces.
How Glendale Works operates
Glendale Works is the local name for Phoenix Rescue Mission’s Will Work program. Participants receive $76 for a five-and-a-half-hour shift, plus breakfast, lunch, water and electrolytes, ABC15 reported. The daily pay is above Arizona’s current minimum wage when calculated by the hour.
The Phoenix Rescue Mission program page says assignments can include public-park revitalization, landscaping, brickmaking and cleaning public walkways or event venues. Pay is distributed at the end of the workday.
The work assignment is temporary rather than permanent employment. Alongside it, outreach staff provide individual case management and help participants obtain identification documents, prepare resumes, pursue longer-term jobs and begin the housing process.
That combination addresses a practical barrier faced by people without stable housing. A missing state ID, Social Security card or birth certificate can prevent someone from completing a job application, leasing housing or obtaining other assistance. Program staff told ABC15 that they accompany participants to government offices and help cover document costs when needed.
What the new figures show
The 2025 totals equal an average of about 47 worker-hours per completed cleanup project, although the scope of individual projects varies. Program representatives said the landfill work can also reduce the city’s exposure to fines and complete in hours tasks that might otherwise take city employees days.
The 112 housing placements are cumulative since the program’s 2018 launch. Public program materials reviewed by West Valley Post do not provide a year-by-year breakdown, define how long a placement must last to count or report a housing-retention rate. Those details would be useful for evaluating the program’s longer-term results as it continues.
Phoenix Rescue Mission also says reliable participation can strengthen a resume and lead to job-preparation support or placement in full- or part-time work. The organization is seeking businesses willing to consider graduates for employment.
How to reach the program
Adults interested in Glendale Works, or residents and employers seeking additional information, can call Phoenix Rescue Mission at 602-233-3000. The provider’s current page lists that number specifically for Glendale Works.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration. It represents a generic supervised cleanup crew and does not depict Glendale Works participants, a specific city location or an actual event.
