My Story as a Homeless Developer • Hacker News Board

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#211

Post by macspoofing » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 4:41 AM UTC

jessehorne wrote: post #43

freddy418_sc wrote: post #21

This article makes no sense to me. It feels like there is something wrong with this dude and he still hasn't figured out what yet. I guess this article is for soliciting pity. But his real story seems extremely juicy. He should write about the details there. All of the interesting decisions and events that got him to where he is was glossed over in this article. "My interest in computers and programming was more like…

I am thankful for your response. The longer story would be fairly juicy, I guess. I want to write more on it but it is painful and I am embarrassed by many decisions that I have made. I've been to jail several times for activism and for someone else, for example...but I've never been because I did something considered immoral, I guess is the right way to put it. I want to write on these things and your response motiv…

> I've been to jail several times for activism

Don't you think you should probably stop your activism? It isn't good for you and you're in no position to advocate for anyone.

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#212

Post by austenallred » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 4:54 AM UTC

Ahmed90 wrote: post #205

austenallred wrote: post #140

Hey Jesse, I'm also formerly homeless, and now the cofounder of https://LambdaSchool.com (YC S17). We have a nonprofit fund designed specifically to help out homeless software engineers looking for a job. I'd love to put you in a cheap airbnb or apartment, hook you up with Lambda School's career services team who will help review your resume, get your github and portfolio in shape, practice interviewing, and help you…

Sorry about the thread highjacking! But do you work internationally, like all the way in the middle east? I'm one of the local dev community leaders in my country, and there is just so much space for proper training and education, also a huge supply of fresh out of CS school youngsters who have no idea what to do in a troubled country with an education system that's stuck in the 90s. So I would like to ask you a few…

We’re mostly in the US for now, need to figure out regulation and income verification + markets overseas. Soon.

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#213

Post by austenallred » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 4:56 AM UTC

da02 wrote: post #186

austenallred wrote: post #140

Hey Jesse, I'm also formerly homeless, and now the cofounder of https://LambdaSchool.com (YC S17). We have a nonprofit fund designed specifically to help out homeless software engineers looking for a job. I'd love to put you in a cheap airbnb or apartment, hook you up with Lambda School's career services team who will help review your resume, get your github and portfolio in shape, practice interviewing, and help you…

What was David's education and career before entering Lambda School? What languages or frameworks does he use now for his job? Are any of the graduates working remotely or do most SW jobs require going to a daily office?

David wasn’t a Lambda School student, he was just an engineer that ran out of cash looking for a job.

Some of our grads work remotely but those roles are difficult to find and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them as a fresh new engineer.

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#214

Post by Ahmed90 » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 4:57 AM UTC

austenallred wrote: post #212

Ahmed90 wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry about the thread highjacking! But do you work internationally, like all the way in the middle east? I'm one of the local dev community leaders in my country, and there is just so much space for proper training and education, also a huge supply of fresh out of CS school youngsters who have no idea what to do in a troubled country with an education system that's stuck in the 90s. So I would like to ask you a few…

We’re mostly in the US for now, need to figure out regulation and income verification + markets overseas. Soon.

Oh, that's unfortunate, Thank you :)

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#215

Post by austenallred » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 4:58 AM UTC

rahimnathwani wrote: post #208

acover wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think this is the place but they boast 96% employment of which 97% are in tech. They must be fudging something. https://lighthouselabs.ca/studentoutcomes

Thankfully, that page also links to their 'transparency report', which provides some of the raw numbers. The 96% you state is 237/247. Numerator is grads who accepted employment within 120 days. Denominator is grads who were unemployed and working with the bootcamp's career programme. But only 76 of those 237 were regular full-time positions. Another 78 were apprenticeships which led to full time employment. The tota…

Gotta love bootcamp accounting.

Personally I’d count apprenticeships; getting your foot in the door is generally the hardest part. That gives a meh 64.9%.

Not far off most bootcamps to be honest, but a far cry from 97%.

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#216

Post by cobar » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 5:03 AM UTC

jakeinsf wrote: post #182

justinclift wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmmm, my reading of Scarface's comment was that it's more just trying to be constructive "He'll need to work out the mental health issues too..." kind of thing, rather than negging your comment. But, maybe I just need more coffee. :)

I think this is a perfect illustration of what happens. The (mentally ill) person does something which they intend as a benefit and people react. The (mentally ill) person feels attacked, often where no attack was intended. This is the problem that needs to be addressed, as has been stated. The reason (mentally ill) people don't have jobs is because they can't keep them, due to their illness, not that they can't find…

I can relate to this as I'm quite sensitive and when I was younger had an incredibly hot fuse, largely related to being socially awkward, getting teased in school, and not knowing how to deal with it. That carried on into the work environment and left me adversarial and feeling isolated.

For me the problematic dynamic came from having things upset me and build up until I would get so angry it would explode outward. I grew up learning to hold it in, so I had no idea I could talk about problems with people. It wasn't so much letting go of the anger as talking about feelings and difficulties with people allowed me to avoid hitting that breaking point and over time, the anger and resentment has faded. Additionally, those conversations led to a level of trust where I feel like I can reach out to the person when something comes up or even strongly supported by them.

Coming from alcoholic parents, you might want to check out Al Anon. I found that and Codependents Anonymous invaluable as places where I was surrounded by people struggling with many of the same social issues I did. Also, it was unique in that it's an environment where talking about these sort of things is encouraged and invited, in public I tend to find that people find these topics uncomfortable and unwelcome.

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#217

Post by adrianN » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 5:09 AM UTC

jakeinsf wrote: post #189

chrisseaton wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So how do for example blind people who cannot drive find work?

A better question is "What jobs can blind people do?"

All jobs that involve sitting in front of a computer and typing things.

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#218

Post by paradite » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 5:13 AM UTC

honkycat wrote: post #87

Hang in there, you're still young and healthy. It gets better. You can become a programmer, and there are jobs out there. Now, some harsh advice: You are being completely unrealistic in your expectation of a remote position while you live in rural Iowa. Problem 1: Where you are located _____________________ Get out of Iowa. Seriously. The tech-hub effect is real and Iowa has very few job opportunities for programmers…

> Remote positions tend to be for people with a proven track record.

I didn't think about this before, but that looks a really good observation. Hiring someone working remotely means it's harder to track their performance and productivity. So you will need some credentials to prove that you have the discipline to work remotely.

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#219

Post by Ahmed90 » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 5:26 AM UTC

616c wrote: post #210

Ahmed90 wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry about the thread highjacking! But do you work internationally, like all the way in the middle east? I'm one of the local dev community leaders in my country, and there is just so much space for proper training and education, also a huge supply of fresh out of CS school youngsters who have no idea what to do in a troubled country with an education system that's stuck in the 90s. So I would like to ask you a few…

My email is in profile. Please email and I'll try to link you up with friends in MENA and in the US and look for opportunities where you can cooperate.

Sure, check your inbox :)

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#220

Post by manigandham » Sat, Sep 08, 2018, 5:40 AM UTC

komali2 wrote: post #83

eric_b wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You sound pretty out of touch. In Iowa there is an enormous agriculture industry - an industry not known for asking a lot of personal questions about origin or current status. If you can show up and do the work (and maybe pass a drug test), you're hired. And often paid cash. Outside of agriculture, there are the usual suspects. Bars, restaurants, cleaning jobs, roofing, painting, other forms of low skill construction…

The implication is that the majority of homeless are just lazy, yea? Just pick apples! I've been exactly there. You're not making minimum wage when you show up to the farm to pick apricots all day. Bars - need a bartender license. Yes, you do, nobody is risking it in 2018. Restaurants, sure, but again, you're not making minimum wage, and if you whiff of hobo you're not working front of house and getting tips. Cleanin…

There is no implication as the post said nothing about the homeless.

> That's how the immigrants do it

Not really. Lots of generalizations there about immigrants. Some might have networks but many come here on their own with nothing and grind it out for decades to build up their lives. The key is persistence.

Your post seems to be full of assumptions and complaints which makes it clear that you likely have never attempted to get such a job, because it's definitely not as impossible as you make it sound. Also, when you're homeless, anything is better than nothing.