People at Work (P@W)

Restoring Pride. Cleaning Flagstaff. Building Community.

At Community Assistance Teams of Flagstaff, we believe that everyone has something to contribute. Our People at Work (P@W) program provides our unsheltered relatives with the opportunity to earn a dignified wage while directly improving the health and beauty of our city.

How It Works

P@W is part of the City of Flagstaff’s Engage, Empower, Elevate (E3) initiative. The program bridges the gap between the need for city-wide litter removal and the need for low-barrier employment for those experiencing homelessness.

Dignified Wages: Participants are paid minimum wage for their labor, providing immediate financial support.
Essential Service: Relatives work in teams to remove litter from Flagstaff’s streets, trails, and public spaces.
Skill Building: Beyond the paycheck, participants develop essential job skills, gain work experience, and reconnect with the community in a positive, visible way.

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The K'é Philosophy

We use the Diné (Navajo) term k'é to guide this program. It expresses the belief that we are all related and responsible for each other’s well-being. When our relatives put on their work vests, they aren't just "cleaning up"—they are being seen and thanked by their neighbors.

This program is made possible through a powerful partnership between C.A.Ts of Flagstaff, the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office, and the Arizona Department of Housing. Together, we are proving that environmental sustainability and social equity go hand-in-hand.