Why don homeless people just get a job?
They’re either lazy or don’t want to work. The vast majority of homeless people are not homeless by choice. According to NEOCH, only about 5 percent say they are homeless because they like to move around. More than half cite economic reasons, such as a job loss or a rent increase, for their homelessness. Ninety percent of homeless people have an employment history, and about one-third have worked in the past month. At some shelters, almost one-fourth of the homeless people are currently working. Most of these jobs, however, are part-time, temporary, or for minimum wage. Affording even a modest one-bedroom apartment requires a full-time job at almost double the minimum wage. The problem is not laziness. The problem is a lack of affordable housing, too few jobs and, in some cases, inadequate education or training. MYTH: Even if they got a job, most homeless people couldnt keep it. Theyre either drunks, drug abusers or mentally ill, About one-third of homeless people suffer from a serious
