In class today we touched on the topic of the types of jobs that organizations were helping the homeless obtain in order to get back on their feet.  We learned that the type of skills that are taught to the homeless were mainly skills for low-wage jobs like working at a fast food restaurant.  Mr. Spickard brought to our attention that organizations weren’t trying to teach skills such as computer engineering to the homeless, which would be a much more stable career/future.  However, I can see why organizations don’t teach these skills.

According to Chris Jenck’s analysis, homelessness is correlated with the use of cocaine.  Jenck’s calls it the “crack epidemic”.  In a shelter study, Jenck’s finds that 66% of homeless had crack in their urine.  This is more than half.  With statistics showing that a majority of people who are homeless, also use cocaine, probably means that these people aren’t able to learn computer engineering.  Or at least not in a significant amount of time.  Especially if a person becomes addicted to cocaine, which most of them do, it’s hard to get off the streets let alone keep a job.

Trying to teach anyone such skills for computer engineering-type jobs takes time and a lot of schooling.  Most people don’t just take a few classes and become whatever they want to be.  I don’t think that organizations have the funding or the time to really be able to fully teach anyone skills like that either.  I mean, isn’t that what schools are for?

Overall, with the high use of drugs and the limited amount of resources and time, I can see why organizations can’t/don’t want to teach homeless people such skills.