Why Don’t You Just Get A Job (Part 5) “I Need the Right Help”

First, I want to start by saying Happy 4th of July. So I’m finishing this blog series on “Why Don’t You Just Get A Job” and I want to thank everyone who has posted comments. When I started this blog I was not sure what to expect, but I’m very pleased with how it is going. In case you haven’t noticed I’m going to be posting three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Once I get comfortable with that I will probably go to 5 days a week.

I want to start this post by saying I’m a Christian. I’m not saying that to brag I just wanted to say that before I level a general criticism of Christians, so you would know I’m pointing a finger at myself as well as others…. well here we go. I think we “American Christians” love to help the poor; however, we want to help them when it is convent for us, in the way we want to help, giving them what we want to give them, and they should be happy we are doing it. Yes I know I’m generalizing and you may be reading this thinking I’m a Christian and I don’t do that. OK I have a question, when is the last time you sat down with a homeless person and talked to them about what they need and how can you help them. Often we make decisions about what they need before we get to know them.

Here is an example; I was talking to a lady who has been struggling to stay off the street over the last couple years. She asked why do churches always give us a toothbrush when they give us a lunch, then she went on to explain that she already has 5 brand new toothbrushes. She asked me why they don’t just ask if I need a toothbrush. She actually had an urgent need for some microwave food because she was in a hotel, and had very little food. By asking what they need we are actually building a relationship. You ever noticed how when Jesus would help someone, He would usually engage them in conversation first. Jesus knew what they needed, but He knew that if they were going to be transformed they would need to know what they needed. So, they could begin to make correct decisions in the future.

So how will all this help someone get a job? I believe we need to help homeless people take responsibility for the things they need. If we just give them things without engaging them we take them out of the process of providing for themselves. In John 5:6, Jesus asked the invalid, “Do you want to get well?” Jesus is getting ready to heal this man, but before he does Jesus engages him in the process before healing him. Jesus is getting ready to change this man’s life; however, if this man is not ready to be changed he may be able to walk, but his life won’t be any different. If when we help people we engage them in the process, we are preparing them to be self sufficient. By doing this we are preparing them to be independent and eventually this will lead to getting and keeping a job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Don’t You Get A Job (Part 4) “My Addiction”

Let me start by eliminating a stereotype, during a year most homeless people have at least one job. There are also a group of people who are homeless that work a full time job just like you. One time someone asked me if someone is homeless how can they afford cigarettes. There is a difference between being broke and not having enough money to afford a place to live. Now I’m going to narrow in on a group that has trouble keeping a job long enough to get a place to live because of their addiction. For this discussion I will define addiction as (drug, alcohol, and co-dependency) which is the biggest addictions I see on the street.

For the homeless that do suffer from addictions they are going to have trouble getting off the street until they deal with the addiction. So let me create two subgroups. Subgroup 1 has an addiction, but doesn’t see it as a problem or doesn’t want help. Subgroup 1 needs to come to grips with their addiction before they can get help. Subgroup 2 knows their addiction is at the heart of their problem, but is having trouble kicking that addiction. The largest reason PIN is praying for an emergency shelter is Subgroup 2. We have recovery groups on Saturday and a Biblical service on Sunday; however, during the week they live amongst drugs and alcohol. If you have or have had an addiction you know how hard that is, and if you haven’t had an addiction imagine working in a bakery when you are trying to lose weight.

If you have a serious addiction to crack, heroin, or heavy alcohol, then you are going to work for your addiction. This means you are going to work to support your habit. Until the addiction is eliminated you have no hope of getting your own place to live. PIN currently partners with an organization called Recovery for the City to offer recovery groups for the homeless of Virginia Beach. It is a great first step, but until we can get them out of the drug and alcohol environment it is like spitting into the wind.

I would like to take a minute to say if you are reading this blog and suffer from an addiction then Recovery for the City is where you need to be. Recovery for the City runs an awesome Christ-Based 12 step program. They offer the recovery groups to the people PIN are helping for free. God is definitely doing some amazing things through them, and you can visit their web site at www.recoveryforthecity.com.

 

Why Don’t You Get A Job? (Part 3) “Transportation”

Transportation is a real obstacle for the homeless getting and keeping a job. Ok, I know what you’re thinking take the bus. Read your mind didn’t I.

If you live in a home here is your scenario. You are now homeless, you have no place inside to sleep, and you need to go to work tomorrow. You are going to be taking the bus, if you have never taken the bus try it once, and you will better understand this post. Since, it is against the law to sleep in public in Virginia Beach; you are not going to be able to sleep in a place you can be seen, so you’re going to have to find some place to sleep. Guess where all the bus stops are…. there in public places. You definitely can’t sleep at the bus stop, so next time you drive by a bus stop with a bench, you will notice the nice metal arm rest the city put on the benches. You will have to find a place in the woods or out of view that is close to a bus stop. Most homeless people who live in the woods or under a bridge get very few hours of really good sleep (comfort and danger issues), so when you get up you still feel tired. Now you have to walk several miles to a bus stop. If you are taking the bus to work and have to change buses it can take several hours, let’s say it takes you two hours to get to work.

Ok are you still with me. You get 3 hours of sleep at night, and you take your 2 hour bus ride plus 1 hour getting to the bus, then you work 8 hours. If you have been following the scenario and doing the math that’s 14 hours. Now you’re thinking if it keeps me off the street I would do it, go ahead and try it the next month. Sleep on your back porch for 3 hours tomorrow with only a blanket, then get up and walk for an hour to the bus stop. Now take the bus for 2 hours, and work your manual labor, minimum wage job for 8 hours. Walk 1 hour back to the bus, and get on the bus for 2 more hours. Walk to your back porch and sleep there for 3 more hours, and repeat all of the steps above. Now you need to do this for 1 month minimum before you have any hope of getting some place to live.

It’s not impossible, but the lack of sleep, taking the buses, living in dangerous places, can really take its toll. It may even be enough to break you and make you want to give up.

 

 

 

 

 

Why Don’t You Just Get A Job (Part 2) “I’m Not A Person Anymore”

I can’t get a job because I don’t have an ID. Nobody will even look at me for fear that I might ask them for money. It seems like no matter how hard I try I can’t get back on the right track. I know it’s hard for most of the people reading this to imagine being in this position, but there are people who live in Virginia Beach who know these feelings all too well. People have different reasons for being in this position, but once you’re in this position it’s really hard to reverse your fortune.

Without an ID it’s hard to get a job, I should say a legal job. If you don’t have a birth certificate it can take months to get an ID card. In order to get an ID you have to have proof that you reside in Virginia Beach, you can use a bill mailed to your address. So you need an ID to get a job, and you need a job to afford a place to live, and you need to prove you have a place to live to get an ID….. See the dilemma once you get on the outside of this circle it’s hard to get back in. Without an ID you really feel like you don’t exist.

The other thing that makes you feel like you’re not a person is when people walk by you without making eye contact. Often we ignore homeless people because we are afraid that they will ask us for money; however, imagine you are someone that people won’t even make eye contact with. Combine not having an ID and the fact that nobody will make eye contact with you it’s easy to see how people can feel like less than a person.

 

Why Don’t You Just Get A Job (Part 1) “Bad Choices”

Lets cut through all the “nicey– nice” and get right to the first issue you are probable thinking about “Why don’t you just get a job”. If you are being honest it has crossed your mind, go ahead you can admit it. Like I said the purpose of this blog is to talk about real issues, so lets get it out. Most people who have never been homeless will say why don’t you just get a job. What I hope to do in the next 5 post is to look at some potential barriers to getting a job. The cool thing about identifing barriers is if we can talk about them then eliminate them, It will put people in a better position….. OK Part 1 “Bad Choices”

Often times this category is identified as “Bad Luck”, and yes I agree bad things happen sometimes when you make good choices; however, most of the time it’s not bad luck that makes you homeless it’s usually a series of bad choices. I also like choices better than luck because I have some control over my choices. I believe making better choices is something we can learn. Maybe we had bad role models as a kid or maybe we look up to people who make bad choices. I once met a man who had been homeless for more than 20 years, and every time I saw him or heard he made a good choice I would praise him. This person began to try to make better choices, and every time I saw him he would tell me about the good choices he had made.

So lets say that as you grew up your mom was a drug addicted prostitute. You don’t know who your real dad is, but every man in your life seems to abude your mom. When you start in school the people with the bling are the people who are breaking laws. Who is teaching you to make good choices? Yes, I’m sure you can find an example of someone who has overcome that; however, that person is in the minority. PIN is using Biblical principles to help people to make better choices, and have seen some great successes. Maybe you can come out and help change someones life by building a friendship, and helping someone make better choices………

Next Post will be “I’m Not A Person Anymore”