No Dough, No Doe

Craig Trotta got a second chance on life six years ago. The Queens resident was homeless, abusing substances, and drifting in and out of jail, when he was introduced to the Doe Fund.
The non-profit organization runs a program that houses homeless men in New York City, provides them with blue uniforms and sends them out to clean streets and sidewalks in various neighborhoods, in order to rehabilitate them back into the workforce, drug and alcohol free, living independently. While in the program, participants earn a stipend for their work. Eventually they graduate on to other jobs outside the Doe Fund and rent their own apartments.
Trotta finished the 11-month program five years ago and now refers to himself as a guy whos got money in his pocket, pays his bills and is teaching others how to do the same.
"I am doing things today beyond my wildest dreams," said Trotta, now the director of work and training at the Doe Fund, where he supervises the teams of men in the program who work out in the field.
The Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce honored the hard-working, straight-talking Trotta at a luncheon July 10. It was to commemorate the success of the program and also point out that the streets of Forest Hills have lost a helpful service.
"He was a man who went through the Doe Fund and worked himself up," said Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce president Leslie Brown about the Doe Fund grad. The chambers president said Trotta would often come to the work site in Forest Hills to make sure operations ran smoothly.
Since 2001 the Doe Fund had contracted with the Austin-Continental United Merchants to provide street cleaning to the area, including sweeping sidewalks, bagging trash and removing graffiti. However, due to lack of funds the result of a poor economy, higher insurance premiums since September 11 and rise in property taxes the service ceased April 30 of this year, when merchants could no longer afford the cost.
Since the programs ended in Forest Hills, streets have become filthy, according to residents.
"There was an incredible change in the cleanliness of the neighborhood," said Diana Boardman, a local resident, about the Doe Funds impact on Forest Hills. Since the Doe Fund ended its service in the area, said Boardman, the garbage pails have piled up with trash.
"I know that the sidewalk never looked cleaner than when those guys were around," said Milan Suga, owner of HB Chevrolet, located on Queens Boulevard and 69th Road. Suga was so impressed by the work ethic of the "men-in-blue" that he hired one on after the program ended. The former Doe Fund participant now works as a porter at his dealership.
The chambers luncheon also served to introduce a new effort to get the Doe Fund back in Forest Hills. To defray costs of the program, it is seeking corporate sponsorship and donations from merchants and residents. Councilmember Melinda Katz was one of the first to pledge her support, by donating $5,000 toward the fund.
At the luncheon, Trotta noted that the program helped merchants and the men in the Doe Fund. He ended with a nod to his crew. "The men who stood out there doing the cleaning each deserve the recognition," he said.