r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Garey_Coleman • 10d ago

Where are the homeless supposed to go?

Cities have been cracking down on homeless people so they can’t have encampments or stay on sidewalks. At the same time usually the shelters are full. So those who are unable to get into a shelter, where are they supposed to go?

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u/PyroNine9 9d ago

Being unemployed for long isn't really an option in the U.S. either. But at the same time, nobody has to give you a job, much less a job that actually pays enough to live.

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u/JaymoKeepIt100 9d ago

That’s what do not make sense about this new Medicaid/SNAP rule having to work whatever hours a month to get benefits. What if nobody wants to hire you they can’t make them do it

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u/HeavyMain ok 9d ago

this is not an oversight. the intent was always to starve out the "undesireables".

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u/Meal_Next 9d ago

The term is: autogenocide

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u/Emu-Limp 9d ago

Specifically of the tens of millions of the disabled (including the chronically ill) who are intentionally denied Social Security Disability benefits, even tho they absolutely SHOULD receive them (enough to live on) & would in a just society, that had competent, honest govt officials. Instead so many ppl like this fall thru the cracks (some after medical bankruptcy) & end up sleeping in parks, in their car, in tents at highway rest stops... while coping w/ cancer, kidney failure, epilepsy... fully disabled, & unable to work at all, or disabled, yet able to work some PT, low wage jobs - but thanks to insanely inadequate worker protection laws (& lack of unions) even those who manage to get hired can't maintain steady employment, thru no fault of theirs own, bc they eventually get fired once they need sick leave, or request ADA accommodations, etc.

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u/Professional-Tax-615 Down with Gambling ads 8d ago

Yep that's exactly what happened to me. As soon as I started asking for accommodations for my disability to be able to continue to work my job, they came up with other BS reasons to fire me. And in the US employers are allowed to fire you without any reason at all, so those anti-discrimination rules don't even mean s***.

There aren't any anti-discrimination laws that actually get followed in the united states. It's just meaningless words on paper that nobody actually follows.

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

Had the problem of nobody hiring me for 2 whole years. Sent thousands of resumes and many interviews. I have a decade of work experience, it doesn't look the best due to constantly moving because of my father or when he'd kick me out and constantly had to keep moving so I never stayed somewhere for that long and developed a criminal record due to my father making false statements to the cops.

But I worked very hard for a decade, learning everything in a restaurant. FOH & BOH been everything from dishwasher to management. Can run an entire kitchen all by myself.

None of that mattered. All they saw was the gap in my resume, the lengths I had stayed at previous jobs, and my legal troubles. it was a wrap. How tf are we supposed to get our shit together if nobody gives us the opportunity.

One day, I want to open a store that hires only people who have struggled in one way or another. They are the ones that respect having a job, know what it means to work hard even for the smallest of things, being grateful for things that are taken for granted every day, understand the consequences of their actions, and so much more. But even that would hardly help the community of hardship.

Shit needs to fucking change.

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u/brightorange67 9d ago

There is a rapper who does this I want to say Too short

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

Does what?

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u/brightorange67 9d ago

Started a business where he only hires ex convicts and stuff who are trying to better themselves

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

Oh the store part?

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u/New_Improvement9644 9d ago

Check out Black Bear Diner if there's one in your area. I know on good authority that in Texas, they pretty much only hire felons (my felon niece works for them).

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

Actually their is one down the street from me. But I finally landed a job from a previous employer about 3 1/2 weeks ago. Thank you though!

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u/SkyKingPDX 9d ago

Faking a resume for something you can actually do is easy to do and if you can actually do the job well, that'll be shown in performance Use good reputable restaurant reference that recently shut their door.. honestly it's more about interview than anything.. be dressed nice, speak like you're educated and have desire in your eyes to do a good job, then do it. Even shity little jobs could be a great reference, or resume, especially if you really did awesome at it.

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

Oh, I know. lol, I worked for a decade straight. Due to the number of times I moved, I had to interview for jobs many, many times. 9/10 times i got the job. I can for sure nail an interview. When I was struggling to get a job, i landed several of them. but when background check time came, they'd ghost me.

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u/SkyKingPDX 9d ago

You can always buy a drop phone and leave that number and you respond, or use a friend to verify you.. just do the job well once you're there and it'll never come back to haunt you

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

I'm confused? Drop phone for what? Verify what? My background?

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u/SkyKingPDX 9d ago

Yes, so like. If you're filling out an application, you need to have numbers for jobs that you were at, so you find a restaurant that closed recently but leave a number of a "manager" phone (drop phone) use the number of the drop phone and then you verify yourself to them. Again this only works if you can show up clean, ready and able to do the job.. I'm not suggesting we waste everyone's time. In my experience they rarely check references unless you're already suspect.. so step the game up, dress for the job you want to have is what they say.. Goodwill it up, whatever... only trying to help

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

Mm, interesting. I never thought about all that. lol, anyway, I have a job now. Thanks for the tip tho!

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u/Goge97 9d ago

This is such a trap. You sound so qualified!

Take the bull by the horns! Carefully craft your resume. Pad it a bit to account for gaps. Don't get too creative, keep it believable!

For example: Owned my own catering business. Or: Was employed at X Restaurant (pick someplace that was open at that time, but is now closed).

Worked for small business preparing and delivering dinner menus to families on a contract basis.

Self-employment is always good!

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

Yeah, i could've done that. But also take into account I have 2 warrants for DV/ASSAULT on my father. He was an abusive prick that would beat tf out of me, and when the cops would come, lie and say I attacked him. For some fucking reason they always took his side and say he had marks like a black eye or something which is complete bullshit because I never touched him.

Honestly, I really don't want to deal with those warrants because they're unjustly. But I know I have to eventually.

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u/Low-Dot9712 9d ago

offer to work free for a week to prove yourself

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

I have a job, lol im saving up for a room to rent rn

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u/Low-Dot9712 9d ago

oh ok thought you were without a job

good luck to you!!

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

No, i was finally able to land one from a previous employer a month ago. Thank you, you too!

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u/CannaChurchUniversal 9d ago

Much Love man! That’s a great goal!! There are some business loans available, and grants for hiring felons, etc. A combination of those might be a major game changer for you! You can do it! This system was created for us to be bosses, but we weren’t taught that! Get 5-10 serious friends and start working as a team. We Are the Change! Give people the chance we all deserve, and show the world the good in people. 👌 Let’s figure out some housing and work solutions for our homeless friends, while we’re at it! #CanNamaste

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u/fruderduck 9d ago

Coolworks . Com

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u/Tiny-Safe5280 9d ago

I hope you manage to open this business you speak of. I just left federal prison in June, and thankfully found work eventually, but many people don't.

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u/Phazetic99 9d ago

Well bub, I hate to say it to ya, but you were warned. You were told to stay in school, get a good education, quite playing with deadbeat friends, don't do drugs and a whole lot of advice that you chose not to follow. You wanted to blaze your own path, and this is the consequence of doing that. You are where you are because you chose to be.

Good news is that you can change that. I was once like you, but even more headstrong. I found a good smart woman, I stopped eating out. I stopped drinking, drugs and even smoking. I learned how to save my money and use it strategically to build my credit. I now own a home and just bought my first brand new vehicle. But I had to follow some rules to get here

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

What? You have absolutely zero idea what my upbringing was or consisted of, which in reality was the complete opposite. In summary, I was raised by addicts who started me off at the age of 8.

Secondly, I'm super happy you were able to do that, man. Seriously, congrats. But you don't have the slightest of what obstacles and restraints I've had to overcome to get where I am today.

Also fuck you. My "deadbeat friends" were successful but were killed in various ways, ranging from accidents to health problems.

Not everyone has the same upbringing as you or other normal people. Don't assume that you know ones life story.

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u/scharlie27 9d ago

I’ve also worked in the restaurant industry for about 10 years and my best advice to you is to just lie about your start and end dates at previous jobs. You obviously have the experience, and of all the restaurants I’ve worked at (there’s been more than a few) nobody has ever called any of my previous places of employment or even any references. You could even put friends or family members (as long as they have a different last name) as your references just in case someone actually does call one.

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

Yeah, I've 100% done this already, lol. I use my sister as a ref. Then I have 2 other legit ref. And I edited my resume to where I dont have gaps.

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u/Cocosito 6d ago

I work management at a grocery store in a community outside a major metro that has a large rehab community. I hire a lot of people in recovery because I believe it's the right thing to do. It's not easy though. About 1/3 just fall off the wagon within the first month and disappear, 1/3 create absolute chaos, and 1/3 actual want to get their life together. Those ones make it worthwhile.

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u/Awkward-Skin8915 9d ago

You have to be able to fudge the truth and present yourself in the best way possible. Make them run a background check. Not everyone will.
It starts with how you look and how you present yourself through body language and your approach and tone etc. when you turn in your application/resume and also when you go back and check up on it repeatedly. It's similar to acting. Make yourself standout in a positive light.

Some people don't understand what it takes to get a job. If you literally turned in 1000 job applications and didn't get hired you were doing something wrong.

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u/udsd007 8d ago

“The System” is designed to see that once down, you can’t get back up.

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u/Author_Noelle_A 9d ago

I’m on month 20. I’m very fortunate, though, since my husband actually does make enough to pay the bills. So it’s not critical for us. I’ve been called an asshole on occasion over the past 20 months for trying to get a job that my household doesn’t need when there are households in desperate need. I don’t know what to do.

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u/boslifesober 9d ago

What? They're mad that you are trying to get a job? Kinda toxic ass roommates you got? Fuck them. Do what you want.

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u/VBswimmer1946 9d ago

And there is a limit on how much you can make (and it’s not much) before you make too much to be eligible for these benefits.

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u/Diligent_Read8195 9d ago

Thats why they put in “or volunteer”. Not that I agree with any of it.

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u/okhi2u 9d ago

They put that in for the slow people who can't imagine scenarios where that's not possible such as being disabled, you're off taking care of sick family, you have temporary health or other reasons to need off for a long time, or someone who could technically volunteer but the car or public transport just to get there is too much a burden when you can't find a job which is what you really need instead, and you also could look for a volunteer place and not find anything that makes sense for you that also wants you.

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u/cbpars 9d ago

The required hours can be fulfilled by any combination of work, education, or community service, with mandatory exemptions from the requirement for a laundry list of reasons. Not sure how someone would get turned down for all opportunities for community service.

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u/Fog_Juice 9d ago

Then to the labor camp they go

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u/espressocycle 9d ago

You can technically satisfy those requirements with documented job searching activities or volunteering but in practice it's just a trap.

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u/Level_Substance4771 9d ago

I know at least a couple years ago it was work or volunteer so many hours a week.

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u/v_x_n_ 9d ago

There is option of volunteering as well.

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u/Bakalakachacka 9d ago

You’re right, they can’t make them do it. But they can motivate them to do it by taking away benefits.

Also volunteering is an option. Maybe they could use some help at the homeless shelters or soup kitchens.

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u/EffectiveVast5369 9d ago

they can also fulfill the requirement by doing volunteer work in their community. The community is supporting you and paying for your and your family’s food, surely you can spare 20 hours a week to give back to that community in some way.

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u/Unfair-Language7952 9d ago

You can volunteer to meet the prerequisite.

You can’t stay home as an able bodied 20 something who is unable to work because of anxiety and needs to stay home and play video games.

As documented by several TikToker’s. It only takes a few wankers to ruin it for everyone.

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u/Awkward-Skin8915 9d ago

There are a ton of places hiring for jobs that few people want. There is no shortage of jobs in the US at least. Even then you have to present yourself well to get hired. They won't hire someone they don't feel confident can do the job..even for bottom of the barrel jobs you have to be reliable and competent.

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u/Total_Jelly_5080 9d ago

A few years ago I fell on hard times and got SNAP. I landed a low-paying job shortly after, $12/hour. I got a massive raise to $13/hour and they cut my benefits to $20/month. I lost like $300/month by getting a raise lol. That's what hard work gets you here. If food banks weren't a thing I'd have been spending my nights fighting raccoons in the closest restaurant dumpster for half-eaten Dr. Pepper soaked cheeseburgers.

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u/pinksocks867 9d ago

Yeah that's bullshit on so many levels. What about the percentage of people who would love to work, if only they had medical care, to manage, the conditions that are keeping them from being able to

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u/Stunning_Scheme_6418 8d ago

Well in here in Colorado where I'm at the minimum wage is 16 something so if you work that 20 hours you're going to income out they're going to kick you off anyways

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u/YogurtclosetFair5742 8d ago

It's to kick people off the programs.

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u/genx54life 9d ago

You don't have to work for pay. They are saying that if you volunteer, then that will be good enough.

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u/Shamus-McNasty 9d ago

What an interesting way to skirt minimum wage laws.

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u/genx54life 9d ago

I'm not saying I agree with it.

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u/Subbacterium 9d ago

Didn’t realize that till now. Huh. Those sneaky weasels.

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u/Connect_Glass4036 9d ago

Republicans are fascist demons. They are biblical evil. Read the book of Revelation. Satan comes back through politics and makes the religious folks do unspeakable evil under the name of “god”

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u/Hamblin113 9d ago

The UDA’s are also being removed opening up jobs. As the US had the highest incarceration rate of any developed country, that can be an option. Can get healthcare, food, bed, even dental care. Can possibly get clean of addiction. The biggest issue for some homeless in addition to addiction is what to do with their pets. Usually not allowed in shelters, or jail.

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u/jennerforis79 9d ago

UDAs??? Sorry don't mean to be ignorant.

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u/Hamblin113 9d ago

The official name for illegals, Undocumented aliens. The media tried to be cute and call them migrants. This was a big disservice for the actual migrant workers that come every year to work agriculture. The Americans now don’t recognize the difference. Plus the official paperwork was forged and the UDA’s would work in place of the migrants. Could blame the farmers for hiring illegal’s, but in many instances, the farmers hire a person/employment agency to hop through the paperwork and provide the proper workers. These agencies may get the UDA’s and make more, or unknown to them hire those with forged paperwork. Many true migrant laborers quit coming because of the hassle, just crossing the border became a pain, plus scrutiny on paperwork. Basically it is multi layer effort to make money of people.

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u/JaymoKeepIt100 9d ago

Aliens? No they are from earth

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u/Hamblin113 9d ago

Alien: “Belonging to a foreign country or nation”. Is actually the primary definition.

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u/Ok_Depth_6476 9d ago

Google's first result is Universal Dance Association, but somehow, I don't think that's it. (I don't know, either)

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u/Hamblin113 9d ago

Undocumented aliens. The official name of illigals used by border patrol and ICE.

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u/MixCalm3565 9d ago

I'm pretty sure they have volunteer options if you don't have a job. Community service.

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u/WMBC91 9d ago

Being unemployed for long isn't really an option in the U.S. either.

You are (I suspect deliberately) missing the key point that in the USA, like most countries, you are free not to work but obviously that means you probably have no money.

But hey, if you got rich and want to stop working, or got a massive inheritance, or even your family is happy to provide for you - etc etc... you don't have to work.

In the Soviet Union this wasn't allowed - this was literally a crime and you could be prosecuted if you refused to work until your retirement. You are essentially the property of the state who compells you to work for them.

Yeah, it's a world of difference.

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u/PyroNine9 9d ago

No, I'm just pointing out the reality for the VAST majority of people in the U.S. You are the living parody of the rich who think the person having abuse heaped on them at work must like it since they haven't quit.

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u/WMBC91 9d ago

You are the living parody of the rich who think the person having abuse heaped on them at work must like it since they haven't quit.

Lmao. I'm a lower middle class Brit who earns just enough to support a family of four on one wage. You've pulled that bizarre statement out of thin air.

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u/PyroNine9 9d ago

Evidently the phenomenon of the temporarily embarrassed millionaire occurs on both sides of the pond.

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u/octotyper 9d ago

And no laws to enforce livable rents, except for a handful of places.

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u/Locksandshit 9d ago

You sure about that? Same guy has been begging within 3 blocks of my work for all 22 years I’ve worked there (so prolly before then)

Guys an asshole too. Has the same “just a tiny bit” finger gesture and a shrug for every car. Has kept the bit up for decades. Years ago he came in our store asking, offered to pay him to sweep the parking lot out - he told us to fuck off.

See him drunk or high (heroin or pills maybe?) pretty much every day by around 5 pm next to the convenience store.

I also live in peak homeless territory, have cleaned more human shit, trash, needles, and had stuff vandalized more than someone should ever have to.

IMHO the 1920s had the solution. Got all the unemployed into work groups (paid) and they went and built parks, hiking trails, cleared forest brush etc. half the parks in the PNW were built that way before anyone criticizes too heavy

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u/PyroNine9 9d ago

I suppose if you call that a life...

OTOH, for all you know he also has a job and just does that for extra to support his habit.

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u/Just-Performance-666 9d ago

It's an option if you want it to be. Your quality of life is probably going to suck. But if you have enough friends and relatives to exploit, you aren't forced to find work. In the USSR it was "you do the job we tell you, or you go to prison".

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u/PyroNine9 9d ago

For most, it's an option the same way eating, sleeping, and breathing are options.

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u/Just-Performance-666 9d ago

As I said, you have a choice if your finances permit. Let's not pretend it's the same. And people need some kind of incentive to not be a burden on the social safety net.

In the USSR that wasn't a thing, you worked until they decided you weren't worth forcing to work anymore, for pitiful wages. If you refused, you went to the gulag.

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u/horrorgeek112 9d ago

Getting that way here