Hustle Truck bosses remain confident they will soon be signing a deal to save the much-needed scheme, which offers work to the unemployed.Talks are currently taking place to draw up a public-private partnership to secure the future of the Government initiative.The Hustle Truck has been severely scaled back since its $1 million funding was axed in this year’s Budget. The shock announcement to cut funding came just four years after the Progressive Labour Party created the scheme.Last year the scheme was such a success it had 60 men and women filling up three trucks. There were up to ten people a week signing up for the scheme, and a two to three-week waiting list.Today it’s a very different story as there are no more than about 20 workers on one truck and the unemployed are being turned away.Work mainly includes landscaping, gardening and yard cleaning for government departments, private companies and individuals, including many seniors.The Hustle Truck is currently operating on the $300,000 it has been given by Government for the year. But that money will soon run out and financial help from the private sector will be the only way to keep the scheme up and running.Major Barrett Dill, general manager of the Bermuda Housing Corporation, yesterday refused to give too much away but said: “We hope to have something concrete soon.”He said the scheme was operating on the basics. He remained hopeful that it would not be scrapped.Mr Dill said: “These are difficult times but we have scaled back and we are managing.“We are hopeful and remain very confident that we will find funding. The Hustle Truck is much needed in Bermuda.“We’re constantly working towards a public-private partnership, having meetings on a regular basis. We will continue doing just that.”The high number of men and women looking for work across the Island is being blamed on the recession. But the Hustle Truck has been widely praised for bearing the brunt of the decline in Bermuda’s hotel and construction industries.The Hustle Truck was set up in April 2007 and is run by the Bermuda Housing Corporation. HUSTLE is an acronym for Helping the Unemployed Sustain Themselves through Limited Employment.It caters to Bermudian men and women aged from 16 “who have already made every effort to get a job”.The Hustle Truck is only a “stop-gap measure”. People are on the truck for three weeks before having a week off to apply for jobs.It is hoped employment will then follow but workers can stay on the Hustle Truck for a maximum of three months.Minister of the Environment Walter Roban said in a statement: “The Hustle Truck is in the process of being restructured and will be operating within BHC limits.“The BHC is still in discussions with the private sector regarding future funding.”Anyone who can help with funding the Hustle Truck should call the Bermuda Housing Corporation on 295-8623.