The Tools of the Trade

This is the third in a series of posts over the next 24 hours looking at poverty in Austin as part of Blog Action Day 2008.

I'm a bit late for my Noon entry today.

What tools do we take for granted? Our watches, our cell phones—or just any phone, an address.

A friend of mine recently started looking for a new job, a difficult process for anyone in today's economic climate, but he has most things working for him. A high school diploma, senior status at UT-Austin, a car, an address, a phone number with voice mail.

The homeless today face a much tougher time finding a job. If a person walked into a potential employer's office, looking perfectly groomed in a nice suit, but could not list an address or a phone number, would they get the job? Would you hire someone without that information?

Even a PO Box requires you to list a physical address; I honestly don't know if they'll accept a homeless shelter as a residential address.

I have to get back to work, but let's start thinking about how to help get the right tools into the right hands.