A city in the United States is providing work for homeless people by paying them to pick up rubbish from the streets.

Little Rock, in the southern state of Arkansas, is paying US$9.25 (around NZ$14.20) an hour, in an attempt to give some of the community's most vulnerable a chance to get ahead. 

The Bridge to Work programme was originally launched in April by the Canvas Community Church and planned to last six months. 

The city's mayor was so impressed with how it's going, however, he wants to extend it until September 2020.

So far, the initiative has cost the city US$80,000, with around 380 people taking part in the programme. A total of 130 sites have been cleaned, with 2056 bags of rubbish being filled over 1821 work hours, according to local media outlet 12 News.

"We're super excited about what has gone on, and we hope to be able to keep the momentum going," Pastor Paul Atkins said at a recent board of directors meeting, according to 12 News. 

Atkins said the programme also provides workers with services for their mental and physical health and job interviews.

"We want to work with them on their next step. There are a lot of barriers that our people experience to go from homelessness and panhandling to full-time work. There's a lot of steps in between."

Felecia Cook, a team leader, said the programme was "a dream come true for the entire community".

"That has been the most exciting thing that I've done in my life," she told 12 News. "The energy, just the positive (energy), the vision that Canvas Community Church has. You know, it's just wonderful."

Participants have also responded well to the programme. 

"It's positive. I'm giving back and making money, setting an example for my son,"  Harond Goodlow Jr told 12WIFR news when he began the programme in April.