Humans of MPLS – Homeless interview
A sad situation, and a catch-22: need a job to get away from being homeless, but being homeless prevents them from getting a job.
Homeless people should be a number one priority for our help (both via our government, and our selves).
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“How did you end up homeless?”
“I struggle with addiction and depression, and I relapsed. I couldn’t maintain a job. I couldn’t do everyday, normal things that other people do effortlessly. I’m just couch-hopping right now amongst friends. It’s embarrassing. I just want to find something that’s stable that I can call my own. A grounding spot. Because it’s hard to touch base with your creativity and higher-minded things when you’re just focussed on ‘Where am I gonna stay tonight? How am I gonna cook dinner?’
I really need to find a job, but it’s hard to say I can be at work at 7am every day when I don’t know where I’m gonna be the night before. Being homeless is a barrier to employment because how are you gonna get to work? Do you have reliable transportation? Right now for me to find an employer that would be a good fit, I’d have to be forthcoming and honest with them about my struggles, otherwise I’m gonna set myself up to fail. Even though that’s probably not recommended by any job coach, ever.
Being homeless messes with your self-esteem and your self-confidence. You’re not going into a job interview thinking that you’re gonna rock the shit when you’re life is in shambles. Right now I’m really searching, and I don’t know what my next move will be. But I know I want to make a positive change in my community.”
