I've seen a few people at the drive-thrus when I get fast food who I swear to heaven, if I had a chance to interview them I'd bet dollars to donuts they were homeless once, or on the verge of it.
One person was many years ago, he was trans, dressing as a woman and maybe starting hormone therapy? But he still had rather a male sounding voice, was tall, had hairy arms, but he also had nice nails, wore a wig and make up. He was very friendly and nice, but you hear a voice at the drive thru and expect one gender, then you get to the window and see another, so it was off-putting. But I drove away thinking, "God bless this manager for giving this transitioning young person a job!" So many managers will not.
Then another time, different city, an older woman, probably my age, was working the drive thru and she was fast. Much faster than I am. But her skin on her arms, neck, and face had that worn, leathery look that so many homeless can get when they have been out in the sun for years. You don't get that kind of skin from being indoors for the past 10 years. You either have to be addicted to tanning, or you've been homeless.
She is another fast food worker who I think must have been homeless at one point and once again, I praised that manager for giving her a chance.
I've also seen a few formerly homeless speak at community meetings. One was presently homeless and he spoke of how he has a JOB, fast food, but they won't give him 40 hours a week. He would sleep at the local shelter that the City Council was threatening to close (because the rich were complaining about it) and he said he'd have to ride his bike much, much farther to work if they closed it. I think they closed it anyway.
The guy had a frickin' JOB. He just couldn't afford housing yet because he had to save up and/or get a 2nd job which he would once again have to ride his bike to.
The wealthy have so much power, but they sure do not like to really research the issues of the poor. Power without knowledge - power w/o responsibility.
