Occupy: sleeping in our storage locker

[goldfinch]

Job counselors are not going to get millions of people jobs. There are too many who are unemployed. And as Trek said, there are homeless that are employed, especially in high cost of living areas.

My sister recently had her ex-husband move in with her. He was a computer programmer, laid of more than 2 years ago. He has worked hard to find work, even grunt work. Not even the Census hired him. Finally, his unemployment and savings ran out. My sister cares about him as a friend. So they live together again. I can't imagine trying to find work in your 50s after a couple of years without a job. And he does volunteer work. He does a few free lance jobs here and there. But not enough to live on in California.

Warning, political rant: Our country is doing next to nothing to get people working. Instead, we are obsessed with the deficit and saying "no spending, end of story." Spend money on jobs and maybe we will have more taxpayers to help with that deficit.

[shootingstar]

You're right that the employed maybe homeless, ie. sleeping /camping in their car. Which I did notice when I would walk to the transit rail station in Vancouver and saw same car in 5:30 am with same person just sitting there. Car was abit old, but ok looking.

Glad your ex-brother in law has a home for now, goldfinch and that he's making productive use of time. Important for mental health.

It amuses me in a dark way, to read magazine articles about leaving a job one doesn't like to find something more satisfying by being self-employed or finding another job. I don't think it's that easy as it's made to be in the glossy magazines. That has not been my experience --at all.

I guess-- if one is in their 20's or if one is highly mobile to travel across the country to accept that job offer.

Being self-employed or seeing someone start up their own business, is alot of hard work and networking. There are times of feast and near famine depending on the type of biz.

The value of a job counsellor is provide some tools and structure for people who need practical support and ongoing motivation/perseverance. I have nothing but good things to say of my experiences since they offered valuable, practical advice. And I needed it ..no matter how experienced/well-educated I was.

[Trek420]

I can't imagine trying to find work in your 50s after a couple of years without a job. And he does volunteer work. He does a few free lance jobs here and there. But not enough to live on in California.

Good for your BIL for volunteering. Sharpens skills, keeps him current, gives him networking opportunities (you never know who you will meet), probably makes him feel pretty good making a difference.

Bet he'll be one of those who land on their feet. But I worry a huge numbers, even entire cities might never fully recover from this.