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.
you are a self-righteous, foolish being who has no idea what they are talking about! ...and yet strongly opinionated. Based on your words it seems all too clear you had everything handed to you, and their by have no real comprehension of what life on the streets entails. So, i've taken the oppertunity to better inform you.
1 "Truckstops offer showers..."
How would someone that is in the city find a "truck-stop"?
If they COULD find one, how would they get to it, and then back for their next day of work.
Does said place offer free shampoo, soap, razors, toothbrushes, or towels?
I'm guessing, but I would think they are not that clean, nor are they particularly hospitable to non-truck-drivers using their facilities. Other wise don't you think homeless people would be lining the blocks around the place? Then again you just assume they all are hygienically-inept, or just like to walk around smelling horrid...don't you?
2 "you can lie about the address"
Being they certainly can't get a bank account without some verification of residency, let's say you do lie about your adress, but then how do they cash a check at curancy exchange if the adress doesn't corspond to the one on their ID. [asuuminig they even have an ID]? If they use whatever adress is curantly on their ID what do think happens if the employer receives retunred mail stamped "UNABLE TO DELIVER"?
Besides, is lieing to you employer from the beinging REALLY the best way to start a job? ....REALLY?
3 "or instead of buying beer take the 10 dollars and get a PO box"
First of all, a beer is a lot less then 10$.
Second. Even if they can somehow scrounge up $10 don't you think they might need that to call employers, do laundry, buy toiletries, or maybe even to EAT? MOST HOMELESS PEOPLE TODAY ARE NOT ALCOHOLICS [or drug users]...THERE ARE/WERE PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU. [well, maybe not as illogicaly judgmental of situation they have absolutely no direct understanding of, or as completely ignorant of the hardships in a homeless-reality]
Thirdly, [In Chicago] US. MAIL PO boxes are much MUCH more then 10$ and you can only pay for it by check, debit, or credit card. non-U.S. MAIL PO BOXES are dramatically more expensive and require a minimum of a three month commitment payed in advance.
4 "and McDonalds is always hiring"
Where would they call you at?
What McDonald's?
What planet are you talking about?
MOST business have either frozen all hiring, slashed their work-force with lay-offs, and/or downsized dramatically in the last few years.
Have you ever applied at a McDonald's?
I doubt it, because you would then understand that being an independently-owned franchise the majority of their new employees are gained through currant employees or by nepotism.
Have you noticed the tasks the 20-something manager assign the 40+ employee?
I can't speak for anywhere else, but out here it's practically a prerequisite that you have some Spanish ancestry if you want a job there.
5 "there isn't even a vague promise that it will end your homelessness."
THERE IS NO PROMISE!
[Il. min. wage]8$/hr * 40hrs = $320[gross]
$320[gross] - 25%[approx. total deductions] = 240/wk
A SHOE-BOX STUDIO IN CHICAGO [not including utilities] STARTS AT ABOUT 550/MONTH!!
THAT LEAVES ABOUT $400/MONTH FOR GAS, ELECTRIC, TRAVEL, PHONE, LAUNDRY, DETERGENT, TOILET-PAPER, DISH-SOAP? THEN WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
EVEN IF YOU CAN SOMEHOW NOURISH YOURSELF ON $10/DAY THAT IS MORE THEN $300/MONTH.
WHAT IS SOMEONES' HONEST CHANCES OF UPWARD-MOBILITY IN THAT SITUATION?
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This page contains a single entry by Ask Bjørn Hansen published on October 17, 2002 8:06 AM.
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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.
be careful what you say because you may become homeless one day
you are a self-righteous, foolish being who has no idea what they are talking about! ...and yet strongly opinionated. Based on your words it seems all too clear you had everything handed to you, and their by have no real comprehension of what life on the streets entails. So, i've taken the oppertunity to better inform you.
1 "Truckstops offer showers..."
How would someone that is in the city find a "truck-stop"?
If they COULD find one, how would they get to it, and then back for their next day of work.
Does said place offer free shampoo, soap, razors, toothbrushes, or towels?
I'm guessing, but I would think they are not that clean, nor are they particularly hospitable to non-truck-drivers using their facilities. Other wise don't you think homeless people would be lining the blocks around the place? Then again you just assume they all are hygienically-inept, or just like to walk around smelling horrid...don't you?
2 "you can lie about the address"
Being they certainly can't get a bank account without some verification of residency, let's say you do lie about your adress, but then how do they cash a check at curancy exchange if the adress doesn't corspond to the one on their ID. [asuuminig they even have an ID]? If they use whatever adress is curantly on their ID what do think happens if the employer receives retunred mail stamped "UNABLE TO DELIVER"?
Besides, is lieing to you employer from the beinging REALLY the best way to start a job? ....REALLY?
3 "or instead of buying beer take the 10 dollars and get a PO box"
First of all, a beer is a lot less then 10$.
Second. Even if they can somehow scrounge up $10 don't you think they might need that to call employers, do laundry, buy toiletries, or maybe even to EAT? MOST HOMELESS PEOPLE TODAY ARE NOT ALCOHOLICS [or drug users]...THERE ARE/WERE PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU. [well, maybe not as illogicaly judgmental of situation they have absolutely no direct understanding of, or as completely ignorant of the hardships in a homeless-reality]
Thirdly, [In Chicago] US. MAIL PO boxes are much MUCH more then 10$ and you can only pay for it by check, debit, or credit card. non-U.S. MAIL PO BOXES are dramatically more expensive and require a minimum of a three month commitment payed in advance.
4 "and McDonalds is always hiring"
Where would they call you at?
What McDonald's?
What planet are you talking about?
MOST business have either frozen all hiring, slashed their work-force with lay-offs, and/or downsized dramatically in the last few years.
Have you ever applied at a McDonald's?
I doubt it, because you would then understand that being an independently-owned franchise the majority of their new employees are gained through currant employees or by nepotism.
Have you noticed the tasks the 20-something manager assign the 40+ employee?
I can't speak for anywhere else, but out here it's practically a prerequisite that you have some Spanish ancestry if you want a job there.
5 "there isn't even a vague promise that it will end your homelessness."
THERE IS NO PROMISE!
[Il. min. wage]8$/hr * 40hrs = $320[gross]
$320[gross] - 25%[approx. total deductions] = 240/wk
A SHOE-BOX STUDIO IN CHICAGO [not including utilities] STARTS AT ABOUT 550/MONTH!!
THAT LEAVES ABOUT $400/MONTH FOR GAS, ELECTRIC, TRAVEL, PHONE, LAUNDRY, DETERGENT, TOILET-PAPER, DISH-SOAP? THEN WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
EVEN IF YOU CAN SOMEHOW NOURISH YOURSELF ON $10/DAY THAT IS MORE THEN $300/MONTH.
WHAT IS SOMEONES' HONEST CHANCES OF UPWARD-MOBILITY IN THAT SITUATION?