Providing Public Service Employment
Adopted at the 75th Annual Meeting in 2007
WHEREAS, unemployment and a lack of both skills and quality jobs are major causes of poverty; and
WHEREAS, in areas of high unemployment and stagnant job growth it is especially hard for low-skilled workers to obtain jobs; and
WHEREAS, public service employment would stabilize the workforce supply and increase wage stability for all workers; and
WHEREAS, over the years, the U.S. Department of Labor has funded public service employment programs targeted to economically disadvantaged or long-term unemployed individuals on a temporary, short-term basis as a means of providing income maintenance or human capital development for workers and valuable services for the community that would not otherwise have been available; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Labor is currently funding public service employment efforts through the Youthbuild program and a waiver provided to the State of Texas which permits public service employment under a National Emergency Grant for residents affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED , that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the federal government to provide funding for a public service employment program which hires economically disadvantaged and long-term unemployed individual to work in projects which address identified community needs.