Homeless in Berkeley and my SSI is about to expire.

[tikkasf]

As the above poster stated, talk to people and let everybody you know or happen come in contact with, that you are looking for work....even a janitorial position would be fine. Also, I would suggest using the library and whatever internet access you have to research the basic knowledge/skills for any job you are thinking about trying to get. Even a janitor job requires some knowledge......such as proper way to strip and wax, how to disinfect as a couple of examples. Doing a bit of reading up will help you during an interview.
Somebody I have known since the late 1970s, retired from a janitorial job he has had for the past 30 years. When he retired, he was making $31.25 an hour with really good benefits. This person has a bad case of dyslexia & although it does not affect his IQ, it causes real difficulty in reading to the point where just trying to read a restaurant menu close to an impossible task.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by City Guy997S

You can serve all the empathy you want but you realize most people see homeless as the dirty guy panhandling for money with the cardboard sign.

And that was exactly my point in responding - to educate you on the FACTS, that the majority of unhoused Americans are not "the dirty guy panhandling for money with the cardboard sign." They are more often in temporary or unstable housing, maybe living in a vehicle or motel/couch-surfing.

If a guy can't take a shower on a regular basis (taking care of himself) then I don't want the guy touching my food.

That is a matter of behavioral and hygiene policy, not housing status; in fact I believe it would be illegal to discriminate based on the latter, but not the former. It's the same theory we follow at the public library (where I work). All are welcome, regardless of race/religion/politics/housing/etc, as long as you follow our behavioral policies. I don't care if you're homeless, but if your hygiene is poor enough to where other patrons are complaining, that's when we need to intervene and speak about solutions. Again, empathy is the key. I even have a t-shirt with that on it! See Ryan Dowd @ https://homelesslibrary.com/ if you actually care to learn more.

I wouldn't want him working on my car either if it makes any difference to you.[/i][/b]

Yes, that does make a difference. But only in the sense of illustrating your lack of empathy, tolerance, and quite frankly logical thought. How on earth does their housing situation affect their ability to work on a car? I sure hope you aren't in any sort of power to hire or fire people... yikes.