Why dont they just get a job?

Have you ever gotten off work and driven down the street and saw somebody holding a sign that says need money for food, need money for gas, need money for anything? I’m sure you have we’ve all seen it, and you may have even thought to yourself why don’t they just get a job? You also think to yourself I wonder if they are even homeless? You know I saw on TV once a lot of these people have big nice houses that they live in, and yet they come out and ask for money all day. Well I can’t answer the second question but I can tell you the answer to the first question can be a bit challenging.

I have had the opportunity to dive into this question over the last 8 months. There are definite factors that go into this. One of the things that I realize, was for the most part these guys are walking ghosts. What do I mean by that you may think, well men that walk into the shelter do not have what it takes to just get a job right off the bat.  A lot of times they don’t have their ID, OK well, let’s just go get an ID. No before we do that. We need another form of ID like a birth certificate, guess what that doesn’t exist either. Well that’s not a big deal. We can just re-order a birth certificate, and in the state of Kentucky, it might be free, but if they’re from somewhere else, then we have to pay for it. Then we have to do the request and wait for the birth certificate to come in and then we can go down to the Social Security office and get their Social Security card that is also missing. Once we have those items now we can go and get an ID. Having said all that where are they supposed to stay? Are they gonna stay in your garage while they wait for you to get this information? Are you going to lend your computer so that they can request all of this stuff? By the way, can I use your phone number? A lot of times a man doesn’t have a phone. Getting a phone can be a real hassle. Also, it takes everything that I mentioned above and health insurance in order for a guy to get a free phone. Do you think to yourself I pay for my phone bill, well the free phone is just what it says. It is a free phone. You don’t get all the bells and whistles. So it’s really not that cool. But now that we’ve got a phone we’ve got our ID the next thing we need is a email address for the hundredth time. Let’s create a new one and see if we can remember this one. So are we willing to do all of these things?  I don’t think so but yet don’t they need to get a job? Isn’t it easy just to get a job? I mean, I have a job why don’t you? On top of that now that we’ve gotten all the required documents now all I need is an address, it’s weird people don’t like to hire people with no address. Can I stay with you again thank you for getting me the ID! Oh wait I can’t? Now what do I do, well I’m going to go ahead and apply for this job and hope that I get it. But I can’t go to the interview like this can I? I’m gonna need some new clothes, and not necessarily new clothes but at least something a little more than what I have on. Can you lend me some money? Wait now I’m asking for money again. That’s why you wanted me to get the job in the first place.  I guess I say all of this, just so we are all on the same page. There’s more to getting a job then just applying.  So the next time you see somebody, they’re holding a sign asking for help. Try to think back to this and remember everything that goes into helping a human get to that point. If you really wanna dive into it, I suggest that you read the Bible. There’s a certain passage that really sums it up.

Matthew 25:35-40

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' 37 "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40 "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'