Just read gjohnsit's rec list diary about why stimulus won't fix our systemic problems. Still, in the meantime, we need a plan to keep people from falling through the cracks.
Why can't we have a hybrid of the WPA and Americorps?
Many communities are stressed and would benefit from an extra hand at the public library, the elementary school, the food pantry.
Let our unemployed put in a minimum of 20 hours volunteer labor at a qualifying institution in return for a $500 a week paycheck. Anyone who has filed for unemployment, is receiving it, or has exhausted it would qualify to participate. Those receiving unemployment would still only draw a total of $500, but volunteering would stretch the funds available to them.
This could help states, communities, and individuals, while pushing 'hot money' into the local economy - hot because when you are broke you tend to spend it as quick as you get it.
With only a 20 hour requirement individual participants could still continue a job search. And hopefully the $500 will be enough for most to maintain the essentials of that search - an address, a phone number, transportation.
Seems to me that we could have this idea up and running pretty quickly. No big planning stage, no bidding by contractors, no squabbling among the states for the biggest piece of pie, just help where it is needed at a time that many are desperate for it.