Clifford
Posted by invisiblepeople | Filed under face and voice of homelessness
Clifford is an expert multitasker. He managed to ask others for help, ask me questions, and tell me about his life all at the same time. For him, life on the streets in Chicago is hard.
His dad, who he was living with, died in 2005, and Clifford turned to selling drugs. After a felony conviction, work has been hard to come by. He’s been even more frustrated as his professional connections are limited, and the job market seems to be governed by who you know.
He handed me a resume, and he let me know he’s even willing to shovel [beep] if that means he can have work. He’s ready and willing to work, but options are hard to come by.
How do we help people like Clifford off the streets?
June 13th, 2010 at 4:12 am
I would hope that the employment agencies that will help people such as these which in the future may include myself would be able to train people such as these to have techniques laid out for them in educational courses to overcome background barriers which would include what to do when you have lost all of your credential documents,what to do when you have not recorded your work hours,income earned,unemployment earnings earned.There should be a computer program for the homeless which would allow them to legally record all identity and work documents that they are apt to lose because they are low income.My understanding of this issue right now is that is illegal.I think that is the only way people such as these can prove who they are.Another thing that should be taught to people in elementary school is what consequences can happen to them when they don't record in electronic format their identity,medical,work and personal documents in electronic format so that they have proof of their former credentials.Another thing that should be provided for a flat rate is the ability of the poor to have their personal documents notarized by government officials rather than lawyers who make such services unaffordable to the poor.Educational institutions should be required to give students the option to have their educational credentials notarized right at their graduation ceremonies so that students can keep a good record of exactly when they got their credentials.So should all institutions in society who provide credentials for services provided.