grouch
Well-Known Member
I feel a little less human for having read it.
When people have no choice but to get a job, they will get a job.
When people have no choice but to get a job, they will get a job.
That brings to mind our apartment complex out here in a midwestern farmland county seat burg,I used to think that as well. Not so sure anymore.
When people have no choice but to get a job, they will get a job.
That too is a big part of the problem. A great many of the homeless people that I've met already *have* jobs.
Some have more than one.
And they're still homeless.
Two or three weeks ago I met a woman who has lived in a local motel (where many transients and homeless live) for three years. Let me say that again. They've lived in temporary housing, two people sharing one room (and sometimes it's whole families with school-age children), without a kitchen, hotplate, or access to hot food (outside of paying someone for it) for THREE YEARS. Her husband works. But they've gotten "stuck" in a bad situation. They don't live under a bridge, but what they make never gets them far enough ahead to save up for a security deposit and other things that you need to make it to a permanent solution.
Others are trying (or are stuck) to overcome barriers to employment that our government and our culture has seen fit to put between them and better employment. Still others, as many have noted, have psychological, physical, or emotional problems that would prevent them from being employed (at least full-time).
That's why the problem is so difficult.
There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution because you cannot describe "a homeless person" in one monolithic paragraph. There are hundreds of reasons that people are homeless, and no one solution will fit for all of them.
That too is a big part of the problem. A great many of the homeless people that I've met already *have* jobs.
Some have more than one.
And they're still homeless.
Two or three weeks ago I met a woman who has lived in a local motel (where many transients and homeless live) for three years. Let me say that again. They've lived in temporary housing, two people sharing one room (and sometimes it's whole families with school-age children), without a kitchen, hotplate, or access to hot food (outside of paying someone for it) for THREE YEARS. Her husband works. But they've gotten "stuck" in a bad situation. They don't live under a bridge, but what they make never gets them far enough ahead to save up for a security deposit and other things that you need to make it to a permanent solution.
Others are trying (or are stuck) to overcome barriers to employment that our government and our culture has seen fit to put between them and better employment. Still others, as many have noted, have psychological, physical, or emotional problems that would prevent them from being employed (at least full-time).
That's why the problem is so difficult.
There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution because you cannot describe "a homeless person" in one monolithic paragraph. There are hundreds of reasons that people are homeless, and no one solution will fit for all of them.
Something needs to be done where we can get these people better jobs or offer a training in different skill sets that will allow them to better themselves. I mean whatever can be done. Maybe a vocational school of some sort? I'm sorry to hear this honestly because people like this are making an honest effort to get ahead, but even with minimum wage whatever it may be is still not enough. Living in a hotel is NOT cheap! Even if the hotel / motel offers weekly rates its still ridiculous.
seems appropriate for this thread:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/we-we...-donates-10k-to-thunder-bay-shelter-1.3444404
Ok I'll bite. Let's dissect this with logic for a minute...A car full of stuff and $600 is very different from $17.50 and shoes that are cardboard-and-taped.
I've never been quite that low, but I know that after about my third day of sleeping rough in the same clothes I'd be essentially unable to land a job interview ( no shave, bad smell, visibly soiled ).
Would I beg? I'd beg for a job, any job. Would most people stop to listen? I very much doubt it.
Awesome. I've now got two part time minimum wage jobs and no health insurance.Ok I'll bite. Let's dissect this with logic for a minute...
Refer to this link which reflects what I've heard in the past. You can make much more than minimum wage just panhandling.
That $17.50 most likely only took you an hour and a half to earn panhandling. Do it for another 2 hours and buy some decent shoes. But maybe not quite yet, you'll earn less if you have new shoes on. Earn $60 your first day, after a week you'll be stinky but have $400-$500. Now buy some fresh clothes, a razor, and get a hotel/motel for the night. Take a good shower and put on those new clothes of yours. Now go for a minimum wage job interview looking and smelling decent. If they don't give you the job, put your dirty clothes back on and earn another $400 for a week of panhandling. Rinse and repeat until successful.
Sound ridiculous? The point is, if you're of sound mind and body, there's no excuse. Not having money is no excuse for not earning it. Throwing money at the problem won't fix it because not having money isn't the problem. There's something else at issue that needs attention.
Maybe instead of handing them a dollar bill, next time hand them an invitation to your Church or the address of an free treatment center?
I'm sure we've all heard about Ted Williams and his story. What was the thing that dragged him down? Drugs and alcohol. Money didn't take that away. Proper treatment was the only thing that helped. Once he got sober, things got better.
Ok I'll bite. Let's dissect this with logic for a minute...
Refer to this link which reflects what I've heard in the past. You can make much more than minimum wage just panhandling.
That $17.50 most likely only took you an hour and a half to earn panhandling. Do it for another 2 hours and buy some decent shoes. But maybe not quite yet, you'll earn less if you have new shoes on. Earn $60 your first day, after a week you'll be stinky but have $400-$500. Now buy some fresh clothes, a razor, and get a hotel/motel for the night. Take a good shower and put on those new clothes of yours. Now go for a minimum wage job interview looking and smelling decent. If they don't give you the job, put your dirty clothes back on and earn another $400 for a week of panhandling. Rinse and repeat until successful.
Sound ridiculous? The point is, if you're of sound mind and body, there's no excuse. Not having money is no excuse for not earning it. Throwing money at the problem won't fix it because not having money isn't the problem. There's something else at issue that needs attention.
Maybe instead of handing them a dollar bill, next time hand them an invitation to your Church or the address of an free treatment center?
I'm sure we've all heard about Ted Williams and his story. What was the thing that dragged him down? Drugs and alcohol. Money didn't take that away. Proper treatment was the only thing that helped. Once he got sober, things got better.
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