Have you ever tried getting a job when you have no phone number for potential employees to call, no address, no nice 'interview' clothing, no resume or recent references, and are so focused on just being able to eat or find a safe place to sleep that you can hardly think straight? There is also such as strong stigma, that many employers will not hire someone they know is homeless. Plus, many homeless people have mental disabilities, or have just left abuse home situations, and really just need somewhere to help get better so that they can become productive members of society. Some homeless shelters now provide job training, psychological services, and help people get jobs and then apartments.
I see that the weblog post I was linking to isn't there anymore, but what you said was pretty much exactly the point. It was explaining what you said about all the things necessary to find work not being available when you are homeless (a phone number to be called on, an address to get a paycheck, a place to get a shower, a place to sleep in the day if it's a night job, ....)
There are actually quite a few people working minimum wage jobs who ARE homeless, or living out of their cars. In their position it's almost impossible to climb any higher on the ladder, and just as difficult to try and get a home. With the rent on an apartment, plus paying for electricity and heating, PLUS paying for any needed healthcare* (which can be a major dent in the wallet), there are people who give up hope for ever being able to keep a home. It isn't easy to "just get a job", and even if you do there isn't even a vague promise that it will end your homelessness.
*There are free clinics. But these tend to be incredibly crowded, under funded and under staffed. Some people will wait in line for hours, only to be turned away because there aren't enough doctors to get to everyone.
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This page contains a single entry by Ask Bjørn Hansen published on October 17, 2002 8:06 AM.
Have you ever tried getting a job when you have no phone number for potential employees to call, no address, no nice 'interview' clothing, no resume or recent references, and are so focused on just being able to eat or find a safe place to sleep that you can hardly think straight? There is also such as strong stigma, that many employers will not hire someone they know is homeless. Plus, many homeless people have mental disabilities, or have just left abuse home situations, and really just need somewhere to help get better so that they can become productive members of society. Some homeless shelters now provide job training, psychological services, and help people get jobs and then apartments.
Hi Anonymous,
I see that the weblog post I was linking to isn't there anymore, but what you said was pretty much exactly the point. It was explaining what you said about all the things necessary to find work not being available when you are homeless (a phone number to be called on, an address to get a paycheck, a place to get a shower, a place to sleep in the day if it's a night job, ....)
- ask
truckstops offer showers you can lie about the address or instead of buying beer take the 10 dollars and get a PO box and McDonalds is always hiring
There are actually quite a few people working minimum wage jobs who ARE homeless, or living out of their cars. In their position it's almost impossible to climb any higher on the ladder, and just as difficult to try and get a home. With the rent on an apartment, plus paying for electricity and heating, PLUS paying for any needed healthcare* (which can be a major dent in the wallet), there are people who give up hope for ever being able to keep a home. It isn't easy to "just get a job", and even if you do there isn't even a vague promise that it will end your homelessness.
*There are free clinics. But these tend to be incredibly crowded, under funded and under staffed. Some people will wait in line for hours, only to be turned away because there aren't enough doctors to get to everyone.