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Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

seattletimes.com

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Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is that supposed to work? He can't even afford to leave Seattle.

Many companies offer relocation packages including travel costs and temporary accommodation.

Yes but they expect you to pay and they'll reimburse you. Not saying it never happens any other way, but that's the only way I've ever seen it done.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#32
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Visas require background checks and I am not sure how that would work out.

passport is like $70 bucks.

And doesn't allow you to take permanent residence and a job? Also, that's likely $70 he doesn't have.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#33
post #3

I wonder if he could start his own consulting company?

It's possible, but there's also some annoying bootstrapping costs for starting a company (yes, even a consulting company) that can make it a hard thing to do if you don't have any money or access to credit.

I put everything on my credit card to start mine, I doubt he has that luxury.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#34
post #16

In his case, it sounds like the problem isn't homelessness itself, but: 1. A crappy background check system that reports him as an ex-con/drug dealer when he's been exonerated. 2. Companies using those systems and judging him without giving him a chance to speak up.

Even the president is in favor of punishing people who have been suspected of crimes; it seems to be a popular position that people are not really innocent until proven guilty.[1][2] I find this trend deeply troubling, but it does seem at least somewhat popular. #2 is at least partly due to the fact the if the companies allowed him an opportunity to refute the claim, they would be incurring various legal liabilities.…

> it seems to be a popular position that people are not really innocent until proven guilty

Shouldnt that be instead: "people are somewhat guilty until proven innocent" based on the links you shared?

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#35
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even the president is in favor of punishing people who have been suspected of crimes; it seems to be a popular position that people are not really innocent until proven guilty.[1][2] I find this trend deeply troubling, but it does seem at least somewhat popular. #2 is at least partly due to the fact the if the companies allowed him an opportunity to refute the claim, they would be incurring various legal liabilities.…

> #2 is at least partly due to the fact the if the companies allowed him an opportunity to refute the claim, they would be incurring various legal liabilities. Interesting! I'd thought it was simply done in the name of efficiency.

You're too old. You have a criminal background. You're too overeducated. We think you'll sue. You're too young.

It seemed that companies are loathed to take risk on employee. At the same time, lot of environments contained toxic working conditions, so it's not clear if their choice of employees matter much.

But people must find a job to keep themselves afloat or depend on someone having a job. It didn't matter if you're bad at social grace or if you have mental illness or if you're a felon, old or young.

Without food, shelter, and peace of mind, I think people would be hard pressed to be economically productive.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#36
post #4

Why don't wrongfully convicted people Sue for damages and use the lawsuit to get there records purged? I sure there is a reason why people don't in general I'm just not clear what exactly this reason is. Anyone in the know care to elucidate me?

Suing the government is not all that easy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_immunity_in_the_Unit...

It really isn't. A close associate of mine had a government official back out of a contract he signed (in the government's name) in a way that was so legally clear that it would have resulted in a summary judgement had it been anyone else. His lawyer advised him not to bother unless he could afford to pay the legal fees for a decade long court battle.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#38
This is part of the larger tech hiring culture of "it's better to miss hiring someone good than to hire someone who might be bad." The guy in the story is hit especially hard by this, but HR's paradigm of fear/incompetence/inability to manage people after they're hired is a big piece of it.

It's not ever easy for someone classified as an ex-con to get a job, but tech discriminates more than most other professions.

Re: Being homeless a struggle, even with a $100k job offer

#40
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many companies offer relocation packages including travel costs and temporary accommodation.

Yes but they expect you to pay and they'll reimburse you. Not saying it never happens any other way, but that's the only way I've ever seen it done.

When I was hired for my role as an SRE at http://imvu.com/ I had approximately zero savings. They were unable or unwilling to give me cash for my relocation bonus before my first employed day, but they were willing to pay for various moving expenses directly, renting me a moving van, paying for a hotel partway, renting a storage unit, and while I stayed on a friend's couch while looking for an apartment, I have heard of them paying for hotel accommodations for new hires while they were looking for housing before they received their relocation bonus or first paycheck. It's not uncommon at all, just be up-front and ask for it when discussing compensation and signing terms.
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