The Saskatoon Wellbeing Employment Enterprise Program (SWEEP) is helping people who have had trouble with the law get a fresh start in life. The program works with the city to provide jobs to people who have difficulty finding work while also helping clean up and improve the community.

SWEEP is run by a community non-profit group called Quint and offers community-centric jobs to people who are leaving jail or have difficulty finding work. The jobs include cleaning up the community by picking up garbage, cleaning graffiti, and other tasks. The program members also collect scrap metal, appliances, tires, mattresses, and other items, which are first sorted to streamline waste management before they go to the landfill.

Program manager Aaron Timoshyk said the program helps people who have been involved with the justice system and now want to give back and help the community. It supports people who face discrimination or have trouble keeping a job. SWEEP members also receive life-skills training and support, helping them turn their lives around and use their skills to help the community.

SWEEP helps people who have had tough pasts and do not have much hope. Once they feel safe and supported, they can start to dream about a better future, like getting a home, saving for a car, or learning a trade. The program gives them a chance to imagine new possibilities for their lives.

Source: Aishwarya Dudha, CBC