“Move them to the scrap pile,” Otis Williams says to one of the participants of the Delta Bike Project’s “Time is Money” program. He points outside to the yard that contains two large storage containers filled with bikes, rows and rows of bikes, and piles of bike chains, handlebars, and other parts.

Williams is “in charge around here,” explains Jeff DeQuattro, executive director of the Delta Bike Project. He explains Williams’ role: “He runs ‘Time is Money’ here and he keeps the place squared away… He’s in charge of the people who are earning bikes.”

For the past six years, Williams has been homeless. He calls Tent City, an area in the woods in midtown Mobile, home.

Williams explains that he initially became involved with the organization when it first opened just over two years ago. He says, “I started coming out, coming down here, helping them fix bikes and a lot of other stuff, whatever he (DeQuattro) needed me to do.. I just kept coming everyday.”

About a year and a half ago, DeQuattro asked him to take on more responsibility and run the program. “He needed someone he could trust for the program… He chose me. He got me keys to the container, everything,” says Williams with a smile.

Now, Williams says, “I come and do what I gotta do.” According to Thomas Carpenter, director of facilities for DBP, ”Otis is the first one here and the last one to leave.”

DeQuattro and Carpenter explain that one of Williams’ primary duties is assisting with cleaning up the shop. “It gives me something to do, stay out of trouble… I like being here,” Williams shares.

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Jeff DeQuattro and Jenn Greene, director of operations, opened the bike shop in downtown Mobile just over two years ago. “The goal was to open a community bike shop… Initially, to fix bikes and be a hobby shop,” says Greene.

Greene explains that on the organization’s opening day everyone who came was “all in a demographic we didn’t know had a need for a bike in Mobile… Within a week, we changed our mission.” Soon, the “Time is Money” program was born.

According to deltabikeproject.org, “Participants first meet with DBP staff to determine their bicycle needs and we determine the cost of the bike that fits that need (usually around $50). They receive $10 worth of “bike credit” towards their bike goal for every hour they work, meaning that they usually ride away with the bike that same day.”

Over 300 bikes have been provided to those in need through the “Time is Money” program.

Gareth Briggs, a program participant, explains the significance of owning a bike: “They about to help me get a job because now I can get back and forth to a job…. They help a poor man out.”

Through the program, individuals may also work for specific bike parts as needed. “I work for 45 minutes to get new pedals… It’s real good for my self esteem,” says Damien, another participant of the program.

The Delta Bike Project, according to Williams, also helped him get “a real job” as a cook at NoJa, a restaurant in downtown Mobile. “I put in an application and Jenn (Greene) helped me too,” Williams proudly shares, “I had three interviews. After the last one, they already had my name on the schedule.”

Although Williams is now employed, he is still experiencing homelessness. According to the National Coalition for Homelessness’ “Employment and Homelessness” fact sheet from 2009, Williams’ situation is not uncommon as 44 percent of homeless have jobs of some kind.

Williams explains that his wage is still not enough for him to pay for housing, especially if he has to pay a deposit. DeQuattro shares that Williams is currently on the housing list at 15 Place. Williams says that he is also actively seeking housing in income-based housing.

“Otis is the huge success story. In the past two years, he’s turned his life around,” says DeQuattro.

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