Markeshia Ricks Photo
Morrison and Paolillo.
The city’s forthcoming teen drop-in center and homeless shelter, The Escape, could mean a chance at day labor jobs for New Haveners.
On Monday, during its first regular meeting of the month at City Hall, the Board of Alders unanimously approved the transfer of $100,000 to the Department of Engineering and the Department of Youth Services for the building of the soon-to-open teen center, called The Escape.
Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison had pressed city officials at a previous Finance Committee meetings about whether the construction of the center could mean day labor jobs for city residents. Those officials said that the city would have to secure an insurance rider for those walk-ons.
“We have received notice today that a walk-on rider has been put in place on this project,” she said before Monday night’s vote. “So residents interested in a couple days work [on the center], they will be able to do so. I think this is a really good item going to help with people making money to help their families.”
The city set aside $285,000 to rebuild a spacious building, owned by the Bethel AME Church into The Escape, and formed a not-for-profit corporation to operate it.
The Job Corps agreed to send a team to do part of the work. In September, the city signed a 15-year, $4,000-a-month lease to create the 30,000 square foot center, which formerly housed the church’s Community Outreach Center at 654 Orchard St. near the corner of Goffe.