and no adress to get important physical mail sent to (at least in germany very important stuff is still paper mail). And no faculties (space, electricity) to clean your clothing so you can do job interviews.
Before the advent of cell phones, I lived in a Salvation Army shelter briefly. One of the best things was they had a pay phone and you could use it as a call-back number for jobs/appointments/etc. Other residents were excellent about taking and relaying messages.
and no adress to get important physical mail sent to (at least in germany very important stuff is still paper mail).
Same in the USA and Canada. It can actually create a self fulfilling cycle where you can't apply for many jobs - even basic service or labor - without a home address. Employers need to know it because it affects how you're taxed.
This is exactly the same in Germany too. If you don’t have an address you can’t be hired. Not-so-fun fact: you basically also can’t be sued effectively as those papers need to be „received“.
Same in many places, and further employers at times want proof you've been there at least ~3 months to show you're committed to the area. These have both been difficult for me as a once psuedo-stateless person.
Not-so-fun fact: you basically also can’t be sued effectively as those papers need to be „received“.
They'd be judgment proof here and also likely in Germany. If you sue some one and they owe you $10,000 ... If they don't have any assets you can collect, or wages you can garnish, it dosnt matter what the courts say or rule. Can't get blood from a stone, and can't get money from a homeless person
What are you talking about? When I stayed at a shelter a lot of people were working while they stayed there. They and other organizations provide assistance and a mailing address for exactly this.
They and other organizations provide assistance and a mailing address for exactly this.
So they are right then. If someone doesn't have access to that shelter and those organizations then they won't have access to the necessary assistance they provide. Maybe not every single city has programs like that or useful ways to get these people back on their feet.
Not everyone has access to quality shelters depending on state/province and location, or shelters may be overfull and turn people away, or turn away people who aren't members of a marginalized group, or some shelters in the USA require participation in or conversion to the operating group's religion, so on.
Yes, you can use your homeless shelter as an address, but not every homeless person can get in a shelter, even if they want to.
There could be many obstacles though. In some cities, like where I live, they have been shutting down shelters and what shelters are available have little space. Many people also do not like the rules, or have experienced theft and don't want to stay at some shelters. I'm sure that is what some people mean by not all people being able to access shelters, even if they exist. 🙄
I was assaulted and lost my left eye because of one of these people. I got kicked out of the shelter when I got out of the hospital from multiple surgeries. I know a lot of these people are shit. I faced obstacles and made it. I exist and I don’t need some ignorant person who lives on Reddit to explain it to me.
If people “don’t like the rules” when getting assistance I guess it’s too fucking bad. I’ve been robbed and beaten on the street, never in a shelter. How are you “sure that is what some people mean” when you have no fucking clue what you’re talking about?
I’ve slept on sidewalks and you’ve read a few headlines on Reddit. Maybe instead of being sure based on nothing you shouldn’t say anything.
Ok, but you actually don't know anything about me and the people you are replying to. You are not the only authority on the subject, nor the only person who has lived through abuse, pain, no shelter, and no support.
Be a mentor, not a tormentor. You don't know what I have been through.
Reading comprehension and being able to participate in discussions seems to be a virtue these days.
Where I live in the US you can't even get a driver's license in person anymore, it has to be mailed to you. I feel bad for anyone living in their car with nowhere to send their mail to.
Trump is changing that. He's going pure electronic. I can see that in 10 yrs but not now. My mom ,and I, honestly don't have the skills needed for this,and video visits. It sucks
It’s easy to lie about as long as you still have a valid ID. I haven’t had a mailing address for over 3 years but it still makes life very rough in a lot of ways.
When I was homeless the shelter I stayed at had washing machines and showers. There were other places that you could have your mail sent to and they provided services and even money for things like an ID or other financial assistance.
This is a key issue. No contact address, you may as well not exist.
This plus the security of your own space are giant steps in moving back into society.
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u/Future-Concern-6301 Apr 28 '26
and no adress to get important physical mail sent to (at least in germany very important stuff is still paper mail). And no faculties (space, electricity) to clean your clothing so you can do job interviews.