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| The Problem
 When unorganized, Day Labor is generally a "lose-lose" problem for all concerned parties. Groups of men loitering on street corners, sidewalks, and parking lots all day, every day, contribute to a sense of public disorder. They are often not well received by home owners and business operators in the area, who, accurately or not, may associate day laborers with theft, drug activity, and unsanitary practices. One newspaper columnist wrote that congregating day laborers created a "general blight on the community."
The workers themselves lose as well. Chronically under-employed, unorganized day laborers get work only 10-30% of the time. This means they are left loitering on the streets, often without benefit of cash, food, or facilities, 70-90% of the time. During these long idle periods, they are the frequent targets of law enforcement efforts. When they do get work, day laborers are often abused by unethical employers, who pay them below minimum wage, or may even refuse to pay them at all.
The cities and police departments called upon to address complaints about day laborers also lose. Caught between unending citizen complaints and the limitations of the law, police often resort to "nickel and dime" enforcement efforts. Much like INS "raids," the impact of such routine enforcement programs is always short-lived.
Some cities have discovered they can become financial losers as well. In most areas where Day Labor is an issue, it is a multi-faceted problem, involving several different stake holders. Spending money on a "quick fix" instead on investing in a more well-researched, and better coordinated, program has proven not just costly, but counter-productive in some cities. One Southern California city spent $240,000 in one year on their program, yet their Day Labor problem persists. In fact, a poorly designed program can create new problems, including becoming a magnet for day laborers from other areas, and turning the area into a hangout after hours for drinking and camping out.
Though tailored to each community's unique needs, all of the models developed by the
Day Labor Research Institute have several key points in common:
• FOCUSED OBJECTIVES
• INSULATION FROM LIABILITY
• COST CONTROL
• ELIMINATION OF THE PUBLIC NUISANCE
• WORKER DESIGNED & FUNDED
• HIGH LEVELS OF DAY LABORER PARTICIPATION
• HIGH LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT Solutions
The Day Labor Research Institute has helped implement new, effective responses to the issues of Day Labor in 21 different communities. Our successful record is the result of careful research, hands-on experience, and coordination with all concerned parties. Dedicated only to research, analysis, and organization of day laborers and their programs, we have unique and expert knowledge.
Services
• Day laborer-designed program development and implementation
• Organizing day laborers to ameliorate problems in their current location
• Successfully relocating groups of day laborers and day labor centers
• Feasibility studies and geographically specific day labor studies
• Follow-up studies and evaluations.
• Auditing, evaluating and improving existing day labor programs and problem solving
• Successful marketing and outreach for day labor centers
• Funding for day labor programs
• Finding appropriate locations for day labor centers
• Self sufficiency for day laborer centers
• Training for police and curriculums for police academies
• Advice on the issues of immigration status and taxes
• Limiting liability for cities and counties
DAY LABOR RESEARCH
Day labor is a phenomenon that can be successfully dealt with as long as day laborers are understood. In the past, both the efforts of those who sought to combat the public nuisance problems sometimes associated with unorganized day labor, as well as the efforts of those who sought to protect the rights of day laborers, have been based on anecdotal, inaccurate, incomplete, or stereotypical information.
Our approach to understanding day laborers is thorough: surveys and interviews, statistical analysis, group interviews, oral histories, historical and forensic detective work, ethno-organizing, and also, interviews of those who interact with day laborers including employers, police, neighbors, and businesses
DAY LABOR CENTER SPECIALISTS
We are the only day labor center specialists in the U.S., and have ten years experience in evaluating, auditing, and improving existing programs, including cost reduction and improving levels of day laborer participation and employment for day laborers. We can help cities and counties regain control of their local day labor program, and establish realistic and verifiable program goals (and a simple system of reports and program documentation to assure compliance).
ORGANIZING AND OPENING DAY LABOR CENTERS
Our legal department specializes in creating non-profit entities and anti-solicitation ordinances (our experts can also offer viable alternatives to anti-solicitation ordinances). We also assist with the opening of non-profit bank accounts, grant-writing, locating and renting/purchasing an appropriate site, lobbying, gaining approval from community, local business, residential neighbors to the site, and community organizations. Our mediation and intervention pre-opening can secure cooperation from all interested parties, from the day laborers themselves to employers, organized labor, and special interest groups.
CONSULTING SERVICES
The Day Labor Research Institute is available to help study the problems and proposed solutions unique to your community. We would be pleased to provide initial explanations and information at no cost. For ongoing assistance and consulting work whether simply investigative or to facilitate your program or program development, we will provide a specific costing scenario for your project. All requests are treated in absolute confidentiality.
Researching Your Solution
Selecting the Right Day Labor Center Model
Begins with Research into Your Community's Particular Problem
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