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Clean Start

Hours & Location 
Clean Start operates across multiple contracts in the Portland metro area, with varying schedules and seven-day-a-week coverage in most districts.

Contact 
For any questions or general inquiries, email the Clean Start team at cleanstart@ccconcern.org!

Established in 1996, Clean Start is a homeless-to-work employment program that provides consistent work opportunities while supporting Portland’s efforts to improve street cleanliness and promote recovery from homelessness. What began with one truck and a team of four has grown into a program with more than 130 employees and a fleet of over 60 trucks, electric vehicles, and motorized trikes. Clean Start employs both full-time permanent staff and temporary trainees, offering pathways to stability and long-term employment.

Clean Start crews operate across the Portland metro region through contracts with Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, Central Eastside Together, Metro, Homeless Services Department, and the City of Portland, including its Impact Reduction Program and Public Environment Management Office.

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Program Information

Trainee Program Overview Join the Team Partnerships

Trainee Program Overview

Over nine months, trainees in the program work 40 hours a week, removing graffiti, trash, needles, and biohazards throughout the Portland metro area. During the program, they also receive peer mentoring and develop critical job skills, building confidence for future employment opportunities.

Trainees are connected with CCC’s wraparound services, including: 

  • Supportive housing 
  • Health care 
  • Substance use disorder treatment 
  • Employment assistance 

Toward the end of their nine-month work experience, CCC Clean Start trainees participate in practical employment development workshops at CCC’s Employment Access Center, where they receive one-on-one assistance with the job search process. 

Some graduates of the program transition to permanent employment, either with Clean Start or in janitorial, maintenance, pest control, painting, or front desk roles within 23 CCC buildings. Others secure permanent employment outside the agency. Most trainees also exit the program with long-term housing!

Start Your Journey with Clean Start

Gain new skills while helping keep Portland neighborhoods clean with Clean Start! Trainee positions start above minimum wage, and full-time permanent roles offer higher pay based on position. All full-time jobs are union represented and include benefits.

Before applying, you must: 

  • Have a valid government-issued ID 
  • Have your Social Security card 
  • Be sober and prepared to pass a pre-employment drug test 

View Open Trainee Positions

Positions are filled quickly, so we encourage applicants to apply early!

In 2024, our cleaners removed over 6.02 MILLION pounds of trash from throughout the Portland metro region and over 92,150 needles!

Partnerships

Clean Start’s success is built on strong partnerships with the following organizations throughout the Portland Metro region:

Downtown Portland Clean & Safe maroon arrow pointing right

Together with Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, Clean Start crews keep the heart of the city clean and welcoming. The partnership provides daily sidewalk cleaning, graffiti removal, outdoor surface pressure washing, and litter pickup. In addition to regular routes, crews provide responsive cleaning services for downtown businesses as needed.

Central Eastside Together maroon arrow pointing right

Through Central Eastside Together, Clean Start provides cleaning and sanitation services across the Central Eastside district. Crews help maintain safe, vibrant streets and public spaces for everyone who lives, works, and visits the area.

City of Portland – Impact Reduction Program maroon arrow pointing right

Clean Start partners with the City of Portland’s Impact Reduction Program to conduct campsite assessments. Because staff bring lived experience with homelessness and recovery, they serve as a trusted first point of contact—engaging with residents, offering resources, and removing garbage identified by campers.

City of Portland – Portland Environment Management Office maroon arrow pointing right

Clean Start works with the City’s Public Environment Management Office to keep sidewalks and business corridors clear and inviting. Crews provide regular sidewalk cleaning services that support neighborhood safety, accessibility, and community pride.

Metro maroon arrow pointing right

Clean Start partners with Metro’s RID Patrol to clean up and investigate illegal dump sites on public property across the region. Crews remove trash and debris from public spaces, helping protect and restore the natural areas that make our community thrive.

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Read More About Clean Start

View all blog posts
Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Podcast Ep 6: More Than Clean Streets

Read More

 Thursday, August 28, 2025

Honoring the 2025 Cleaners of the Year

Read More

 Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Celebrating the 2024 Cleaners of the Year

Read More

Support CCC Employment Services

Every year, CCC supports almost 16,000 individuals in their journey towards self-sufficiency and productivity. Please consider donating to ensure our most vulnerable community members continue to have access to life-saving care.

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