Kevin Barber, 16, was inspired by a TED Talk to tackle homelessness in his own town.
(CNN)The homeless men and women step off the van and get straight to work. They pick up trash and bottles, and as they do, business owners and residents cheer them on — honking, clapping and even handing out refreshments.

It’s part of a pilot program in San Diego that hires homeless people to help clean up the city’s streets. And it was started by a 16 year-old boy: Kevin Barber.