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

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

#71

Post by RealGeek »

exhomeless wrote: post #59

I was homeless for about a year and a half. The first 6 months were spent sleeping on the streets, and when possible, in a shelter - but realistically, in the area where I was, most shelters were not really a safe place to be, and the few that were filled up early. The remaining time, I crashed at a drug dealers house and helped sell in return. I didn't have much more than the belongings that fit in a mid-sized duffl…

Glad you were able to break the vicious cycle and build a career.

What job do you do now? What skills / education helped you get the job?

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

#72

Post by exhomeless »

coldtea wrote: post #66
exhomeless wrote: post #59

I was homeless for about a year and a half. The first 6 months were spent sleeping on the streets, and when possible, in a shelter - but realistically, in the area where I was, most shelters were not really a safe place to be, and the few that were filled up early. The remaining time, I crashed at a drug dealers house and helped sell in return. I didn't have much more than the belongings that fit in a mid-sized duffl…

> It's possible to get out of the situation if what got you there isn't addiction or mental illness - the system does little to help, and without being resourceful it's easy to get stuck in that position for a long time. But it can be done. Glad it worked out in the end for you! I have a small issue though with the "it can be done" thing. Getting to have 10 top 10 hits at the charts can be done too. The question is h…

I am certainly an outlier and am not sure what the probability of it occurring really is. I think there are systemic issues in how homelessness is treated that I was lucky enough to get past - what concerns me is the lack of support and aide that people in that situation actually receive. Addiction and mental illness barely gets the attention it deserves, and getting people back on their feet is extremely tough regardless of their determination, or skills. I don't want to make it seem easy, because it certainly wasn't - and maybe I did have a one-up in terms of resourcefulness - but without changes in the way homelessness is treated, from government as well as how it can be stigmatized, it's an additional blocker for those trying to re-enter society and make a difference in their lives.

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

#73

Post by buro9 »

exhomeless wrote: post #59

I was homeless for about a year and a half. The first 6 months were spent sleeping on the streets, and when possible, in a shelter - but realistically, in the area where I was, most shelters were not really a safe place to be, and the few that were filled up early. The remaining time, I crashed at a drug dealers house and helped sell in return. I didn't have much more than the belongings that fit in a mid-sized duffl…

Fully escaped?

I've spoken openly of my 30 months sleeping rough on the streets of the UK. I may have "escaped" homelessness, but the mental scars accumulated whilst on the street do still haunt me. I feel it, the sense of worthlessness, the self-doubt. There's a feeling that I shouldn't be alive let alone here in this workplace or surrounded by good people, a feeling that I don't quite belong.

One can put a roof over one's head, get a job, that leads to a career, obtain an income that is above-average... but can one truly escape something as traumatic as being homeless for any sustained period of time (covering 1 Winter at least)?

I'm less sure on that. I live in the hope that I'm wrong.

And of course, Christmas comes around and people return to family and those who don't are the waifs and strays, an annual reminder that we're not the same.

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

#74

Post by exhomeless »

RealGeek wrote: post #71
exhomeless wrote: post #59

I was homeless for about a year and a half. The first 6 months were spent sleeping on the streets, and when possible, in a shelter - but realistically, in the area where I was, most shelters were not really a safe place to be, and the few that were filled up early. The remaining time, I crashed at a drug dealers house and helped sell in return. I didn't have much more than the belongings that fit in a mid-sized duffl…

Glad you were able to break the vicious cycle and build a career. What job do you do now? What skills / education helped you get the job?

Engineering - self taught, and I have a GED (for non-U.S., this is a credential that is treated as an equivalent to passing high school).

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

#75

Post by lsiebert »

lsiebert wrote: post #28
cgio wrote: 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.

I meant that even it alone is expensive for a guy who's homeless, not that it's cheap.

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

#76

Post by lsiebert »

johncolanduoni wrote: post #32
lsiebert wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

That was supposed to be my point, that just the passport is a lot of money, but apparently I failed.

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

#77

Post by Symbiote »

AYBABTME wrote: post #37
ommunist wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Companies pay relocation to a suitable candidate.

They reimburse, you need the money upfront.

Not necessarily. I would have thought the company paying directly was preferable, since then they can see invoices, and query costs beforehand.

My employer paid to transport my belongings, all I did was get a few quotes. It was useful for them to be involved, since they knew about necessary insurance etc, but an international move was new to me.

They also offered to transfer my relocation bonus to me as soon as the contract was signed, but I didn't need the cash so I waited until I'd opened a local bank account in the appropriate currency.

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

#78

Post by exhomeless »

buro9 wrote: post #73
exhomeless wrote: post #59

I was homeless for about a year and a half. The first 6 months were spent sleeping on the streets, and when possible, in a shelter - but realistically, in the area where I was, most shelters were not really a safe place to be, and the few that were filled up early. The remaining time, I crashed at a drug dealers house and helped sell in return. I didn't have much more than the belongings that fit in a mid-sized duffl…

Fully escaped? I've spoken openly of my 30 months sleeping rough on the streets of the UK. I may have "escaped" homelessness, but the mental scars accumulated whilst on the street do still haunt me. I feel it, the sense of worthlessness, the self-doubt. There's a feeling that I shouldn't be alive let alone here in this workplace or surrounded by good people, a feeling that I don't quite belong. One can put a roof ove…

Personally, yes I think I have fully escaped. It's been 16 years since then, and I see my scars as a personal trophy of sorts - a motivator on what I can accomplish if I set my mind to it. It wasn't always like this - but it's what I have conditioned myself to do after the traumas that I have endured related and unrelated to the homelessness.

I hope that you are working to get past any demons that haunt you - you deserve it, everyone does.

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

#79

Post by curiousDog »

exhomeless wrote: post #74
RealGeek wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Glad you were able to break the vicious cycle and build a career. What job do you do now? What skills / education helped you get the job?

Engineering - self taught, and I have a GED (for non-U.S., this is a credential that is treated as an equivalent to passing high school).

That is very cool. How many years of experience did it take you to get to $160k? That's top of the line if you aren't at a hot tech startup isn't it?

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

#80

Post by RyJones »

buro9 wrote: post #73
exhomeless wrote: post #59

I was homeless for about a year and a half. The first 6 months were spent sleeping on the streets, and when possible, in a shelter - but realistically, in the area where I was, most shelters were not really a safe place to be, and the few that were filled up early. The remaining time, I crashed at a drug dealers house and helped sell in return. I didn't have much more than the belongings that fit in a mid-sized duffl…

Fully escaped? I've spoken openly of my 30 months sleeping rough on the streets of the UK. I may have "escaped" homelessness, but the mental scars accumulated whilst on the street do still haunt me. I feel it, the sense of worthlessness, the self-doubt. There's a feeling that I shouldn't be alive let alone here in this workplace or surrounded by good people, a feeling that I don't quite belong. One can put a roof ove…

I haven't lived in my car since 92 or so and I still notice nice places to park where the police won't bug me.
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