Independence T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. FAQs

  • Independence T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. is a partnership between the City of Independence and Community Services League that focuses on two community issues – assisting residents who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and contributing to community beautification by reducing roadway litter. Through the program, participants will obtain employment as a crew member reducing litter in our community, and will receive coaching to help move towards permanent housing.

    T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. stands for Together Opportunities Grow Everyone To Help Empower Resiliency. The program is funded through a $100,000 grant from the City of Independence’s allocation of federal American Rescue Plan dollars.

  • Independence T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. was approved by the Independence City Council on March 20, 2023 and officially launched on March 27, 2023. The program is currently funded through September 2024.

  • Those eligible to participate in the program include:

    • Anyone living on the streets or in their car

    • Anyone living temporarily in a hotel or motel

    • Anyone ‘couch surfing’ with friends or family

    • Anyone living in a half-way or sobriety house

    • Anyone in a CSL transitional housing program

    • Anyone with disabilities

    • Unaccompanied minors

  • If a person has been out of work for some time, it can be very hard to re-enter the workforce. It becomes extremely hard when a person is unstably housed or experiencing homelessness. Some barriers include: lack of state-issued identification and other legal documents, inability to apply for jobs due to lack of technology, poor hygiene and overall health, mental health challenges and lack of self-esteem, little or no transportation to and from work, lack of work stamina, and more.

  • Employees will be paid $12/hour and will be paid daily at the end of their shifts. In addition, $3 per hour will be put in escrow towards a participant’s housing savings fund. After every 100 hours worked, employees can request $300 paid toward any housing expense. These might include daily/weekly/monthly motel rental, past due rent and utilities, deposits on new utility services or apartment rental, or any other expense that promotes permanent, stable housing.

    Employees will also be provided with proper work attire and supplies, including high visibility safety vests. Breakfast and lunch will also be offered to employees.

    CSL will work to connect employees with additional housing resources and programs, and attempt to place them in permanent jobs. They will also assist employees in securing the appropriate stat- issued identification and documents needed to enter the workforce.

  • The Independence T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. team will focus on the most visible areas of our community – public rights of-way. Crews will be focused on high-traffic and high-visibility areas. Priority areas for service will be major east-west corridors (24 Hwy., Truman Rd., 23rd St./M-78 Hwy., I-70, 40 Hwy., 35th St., and 39th St.) and the major north-south corridors (Blue Ridge Blvd., Sterling Ave., Crysler Ave., Noland Rd., Lee’s Summit Rd., M-291 Hwy. Jackson Dr., and Little Blue Pkwy.), and along parks and historic sites.

  • We don’t want people to be on the Independence T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. team forever. Our long-term goal is to help workers transition to permanent, full-time jobs when they’re ready. There may be full-time options available with the City of Independence, MoDOT, other employers in janitorial work, environmental services, general construction/laborer, job site cleanup, and many other jobs that employees will be well-prepared to access after receiving on-the-job experience through the program.