Homelessness and Unemployment

 

            It’s no surprise to anyone that finding a job these days is enough of a struggle, despite the current unemployment rate being around the 4% mark (bls.gov). People in Gen Z can all relate to each other in the aspect of how hard it is to find a job that pays more than minimum wage and that can start careers. Hillary Hoffower says “…the Class of 2020 graduated into a crippled economy marked by a nearly century-high unemployment rate of 14.7%.” (businessinsider.com, 2021). Though whatever struggles the young generation is facing currently, the struggles in finding a job are multiple times harder for the homeless community.

            A few of the major components in getting a job these days requires a person to have some kind of internet connection for online applications and those applications require a home address. An address those in the homeless community obviously don’t have. Not to mention people who don’t have access to laundry or a shower, so hygiene is also an obstacle difficult to overcome. That’s not to say that all homeless people are also jobless, however, nearly 50% of homeless people in the country do in fact have jobs (usich.gov).

            Community Supported Shelters, an organization committed to helping homeless people, covered many testimonials about different homeless people and their struggles with maintaining jobs. One such testimonial is, “’Once they find out that you’re homeless, it’s ‘you can leave the establishment now,’’ says Shawn Cooper, a 40-year old who moved into the Veterans Safe Spot in January. ‘They don’t even want you to come in the door.’” (communitysupportedshelters.org, 2017). This is just one of many struggles that homeless people go through to maintain work.

            This situation doesn’t mean that we as Portlanders have to be depressed about the reality before us, there are many organizations that are working to provide people with employment and other useful resources. The city of Portland itself has many job opportunities that are reserved specifically for homeless people by partnering with nonprofit organizations. Jobs mostly include trash pickup around the city and taking that trash to recycling centers. The organization Harbor of Hope is another resource available to homeless people, they provide laundry and showers to people. This clears the hurdle of hygiene for homeless people getting jobs and working with the city makes it so they don’t need addresses for employment.

            Below are some links to the resources I just mentioned for more information, the city of Portland also has many contact resources available when it comes to employment programs.

Portland Employment: https://www.portland.gov/homelessnessimpactreduction/opportunities

Harbor of Hope: https://oregonharborofhope.org/our-programs/#shower

 

Works Cited

Photo courtesy of portland.gov

“Challenges of Getting a Job While Homeless.” Challenges of Getting a Job While Homeless, 6 Nov. 2023, www.communitysupportedshelters.org/challenges-of-getting-a-job-while-homeless.

“Charts Related to the Latest ‘The Employment Situation’ News Release  |  More Chart Packages.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-unemployment-rate.htm. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

Hoffower, Hillary. “Gen Z College Grads Are Having the Toughest Time Finding a Job Right Now.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 27 July 2021, www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-graduates-hardest-time-job-hunting-recession-2021-7?op=1.

“Homelessness Data & Trends.” United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, www.usich.gov/guidance-reports-data/data-trends. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.