Hire The Homeless
Yes, that's what I said. I'm not expecting you to loan them a
suit and put them to work in your office. I'm not suggesting you
give them keys to your building. I'm suggesting... I'm asking
nicely... can you please look in your heart and around your work place
to see if there is any area of what you do that can be done by someone
who lives out-of-doors?
I can hear some of you now saying, "I don't want a homeless person to
be a representative of my business." And I say to you that a
homeless person would not be a representative of your business, but a
representative of your good works in the community. Maybe someone
who's homeless this week might not be homeless next month if someone
gave him a chance at a fresh start today.
Yes, some of the homeless have bigger problems than mere money can
fix, but that's not every one. Some have lost everything and more
than they could ever have conceived of losing, and all they need is a
second chance - some regular work so they can get their feet under them
again.
I have some suggestions for jobs that the
homeless may be able to perform for you for pay.
Sign Spinners or Human Signs
Many of our community's homeless are often out panhandling with a
crate and a cardboard sign reading something like, "Homeless and
Helpless. Anything helps. God Bless You." It takes
guts and desperation to sit next to a sign like that, relying on the
kindness of strangers and often getting much less than kindness.
These are folks who have demonstrated their willingness to hold a sign,
why not pay them to hold yours?
Yard Work or Business Exterior Clean Up
Could you perhaps give someone jobs like sweeping up outside, washing
exterior windows, breaking up boxes, moving things, trimming bushes or
mowing lawns, picking trash up off the grounds, etc.
Handing Out Flyers or Hanging Door Hangers
You need to get the word out about your business and you aren't going
to hand those flyers out yourself, so why not hire one of these fine
folks to hand them out for you? I know... you worry that the
flyers would wind up a dumpster somewhere or thrown all over and you
will have wasted the 20 bucks. You run that chance with anyone you
hired to do the job.
If you're a politician running for office, what better way to show
you care about your community than giving paid work to your community's
homeless? |
