Why don’t homeless people just get a job?

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This is a question that is hard not to ask when we see homeless people sitting on sidewalks asking for change. People need to know that the homeless are not lazy, and it is not true that all they have to do to solve their problem is to get a job. Finding a job when you are homeless is very difficult. They have no permanent address or reliable contact info, which means it can be hard to contact the person if a situation comes up and the employer needs to do so.

They do not have a lot of money, so they do not have much access to showers or nice clothing to look presentable for a day of work. Often the homeless will have a criminal record or will have a mental disability, physical disability, or an addiction. These make it hard for people to trust that they will be able to do the job as well as keep it. Most homeless people have a traumatic event that has happened in their life, and their family and friends are not able to be there for them. We need to address the causes of peoples’ homelessness, so they are able to flourish after finding a job and a place to call home.


Published By: Emma Brandt


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