In our Spotlight on Business Report.

A new ten week program is giving hope to people who are experiencing homelessness.

The Hope Work initiative launched under the City of Atlantic City's homeless Outreach unit, is giving ten homeless individuals a chance to earn money while beautifying the city.

I got the chance to speak and shadow them at work as a brave the cold with a big smile on their face.

They proudly shared with me why they are grateful this holiday to have some extra cash in their pocket and a second chance at life.

Cleaning up isn't something that excites everyone, but for Thomas Taylor, he's happy this holiday to have a job and a fresh start to things he didn't have a week ago.

It's a dream job for a guy my age 60 again.

I don't want to wash no more dishes and one scrubbing floors, but I love being outside.

I love picking up trash.

I love beautifying the city with our work, live and playing.

And you get paid for it.

And I get paid pretty well.

Yes, ma'am.

Tell me about how what that paycheck is doing for you.

No.

Paychecks can get me a new pair of glasses.

Taylor is one of ten homeless residents, four women and six men ranging in ages from 18 to their sixties who are enrolled in the Hope Work Initiative, a new program created by the City of Atlantic City's homeless outreach Unit under the Department of Health and Human Services.

Mayor Marty Small called it a win win for the city, a.

Creative idea sparked by Director Barnes.

We put to use our opioid funds and we're giving people opportunities.

And listen, I say it all the time.

This is typical small administration behavior.

Sometimes people need a second, third and fourth chance at life.

If they do such a great job and is full time opportunities available.

We will never hesitate to give anyone an opportunity.

Gerard Barnes is the director of Health and Human Services for the City and helped spearhead the program that he says is funded through money from the city's opioid settlement funds.

The program provides temporary employment for 15 hours a week for homeless individuals working with the Department of Public Works in various ways.

Some of my all but beach volleyball, some of it's out of city hall.

Someone with the street team is helping clean up the city of Atlantic City.

They are getting paid.

They are getting paid 75 hours a day, three days a week that they work.

And it's for ten weeks.

And workers I spoke with say they are grateful to have purpose, get paid all while bettering their lives.

Going to shelters and eating Sharon on the boardwalk when you know the best times available.

But once the summer ended, you know, Sharon outside's not the best idea.

It's a little cold.

So it's it was rough.

38 year old Jason McCracken says he is now optimistic about his future, telling me the program has transformed his life.

I'm currently technically homeless and with this I can save up and be able to get my own apartment or whatnot.

My goal is to turn this into a full time job with the city at the end of this ten weeks.

Anytime we can have some employment, another meal, something look forward to clothing, simple, basic hygiene, things of that nature.

And this time of year, I mean, that's more than you know.

So I'm really happy.

Diamond heard had a huge smile on his face while collecting leads and sweeping the street in the cold.

Heard says after months of struggling to survive the program was a godsend.

Well, I've been in L.A., actually, for about two years now.

I just recently lost my job about four months ago and have been looking forward ever since.

And nothing's been coming through.

Just like on the street, you hear lots of the word, but word of mouth or whatever.

And a friend of mine told me about this program.

I came in last Friday and sorry, this Monday, which is great.

And how has this been a game changer for you?

Completely, because, I mean, you have something to put in your pocket, you know, something you look forward to.

You know, it's only a TV program where just two weeks I didn't have before.

In addition to temporary employment, three days a week, two days a week, the workers receive assistance and access to resources to help them get their lives on track.

I feel like it's been going great.

We've been doing a great job.

We've been creating great relationships with the individuals who are homeless.

We've created a trusting relationship and we can kind of talk to them about anything.

They're pretty open to talk to us now that we've created a relationship.

Currently, there are about 43 people on the waitlist to participate in the program.

In an effort to lower that number, The city is now looking into ways to expand the program so they can employ more than ten people at a time.