‘Choice, not charity’: Homeless initiative looks to turn bottles into paychecks
Isabella Warren
(Update: Adding video, details)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Following KTVZ News’ coverage of Senate Bill 992, which would allow grocery and convenience stores with bottle returns to refuse returns during nighttime hours, homeless advocates have reached out to share their side of the dangers.
Homeless in the city of Bend are using the state’s ten-cent bottle and can deposit system as a form of employment.
“I can’t think of a better group of people to work with. And they really need the help. It’s a hand up, not a hand out. Choice, not charity,” said Justin Gottlieb, who is the creator of the organization We-Can and was formerly homeless.
His organization’s business model gives those still on the street a chance at a paying job, by doing daily deposits.
“Instead of trying to buck the system or break the $35 a day rule, I decided to pay folks who had their $35 limit, who maybe couldn’t collect $35 in cans, and pay them $0.40 on the dollar. “
Supporters of the bill argued that the later deposits have opened up areas to open-air drug markets and brought more homeless people to the area.
Business owners near Bend’s only BottleDrop say the homeless can be dangerous, especially at night.
Oregon Spirit Distillery owner Brad Irwin told us, “It does attract people who hang out or loiter, and generate income. And it does have a negative public perception, and it does have genuine safety concerns.”
But Gottlieb and other canners hope to prevent that with their canning group
Roger, who helps Gottlieb, said, “When you get close to the end of the month, you look forward to this guy showing up with his bottles. You can take in a bag and get $8, and then, guess what? You’ve got enough money to go in there and get a sandwich over at Safeway or something. “
It hasn’t come without pushback, though. We’ve reported over the years that Bend residents have been complaining about strangers going through their recycling bins to get cans and bottles.
Back in 2020, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller told us, “If it is garbage or recycling that is in a recycling bin that’s going to be picked up by the company that contracts with city or county services, that is not public property. It is not lost or found property. That is the property of either the property owner or the company that is contracted to collect that property.”