Employing The Homeless: The Whys and Hows

Written by Luke Kitchen
Last updated January 19, 2022

No one deserves to be homeless. But the reality is that many homeless people need a job and can’t find employment because of their homeless status. With more than 2,000 people forced to sleep rough in London for the first time between January and March this year, we need to do more to get homeless people back on their feet. This article will explore why more businesses should consider employing the homeless and the benefits homeless employees can bring to the company. 

Barriers to Employment for Homeless People

In many cases, despite being qualified and ready to work, there are several barriers to employment for homeless people. Homeless individuals typically don’t have the money for transportation costs or other travel expenses that may be required when getting to and from an employer’s location of business. 

Without having any place to live, homeless people may not have access to the resources they need to prepare for interviews. This includes basic shower facilities, somewhere to wash their clothes, do their hair or make-up, etc. 

Stigma is also a significant contributor to homeless unemployment as many people are ignorant of the diverse array of factors contributing to homelessness in the UK. 

Why Consider Employing The Homeless

At Refreshing a Career, we believe everyone has the right to employment and to earn a living. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of reasons why employers must consider employing the homeless. 

Showing compassion 

First of all, homeless people are just people. Often, homeless people have work experience or a good level of education but can’t find a job because of their homeless status. 

They may be considered unemployable by employers due to having a poor record with previous jobs or not being able to provide references from past employers. 

This doesn’t mean that they’ll make bad employees. Employing homeless people would give them a chance to get their lives back on track.

Unlimited potential 

Homeless people have unlimited potential and may thrive in the perfect job. Like any employee, hiring a homeless person could massively enrich your team. 

Homeless people may also offer a unique, new perspective to the work environment which could be infinitely valuable. 

Loyalty 

Homeless employees can be loyal and hard-working. Most homeless people are trying as hard as possible to change their current situation. They want to find a job that allows them to earn money to leave homelessness behind. 

In addition, homeless people are often homeless due to a personal crisis. This means that homeless people have more motivation than many other employees because they don’t want their current situation to continue indefinitely. 

Reducing poverty in the community 

Hiring homeless people is one of the ways businesses can help reduce poverty and homelessness in the wider community. Poverty is cyclical, and homeless people can’t get out of poverty if they aren’t employed. 

By hiring homeless people locally, you may uplift an entire community as homeless people spend their money and buy goods from other local businesses within it. 

There are also incentives and funding for employers to hire homeless people. You may be eligible to receive government subsidies if you hire homeless employees under specific programmes. 

The Hiring Process 

Employing homeless people can be a reasonably straightforward process. We’ve outlined the main steps below.

Identification

Some homeless individuals already have the required identification needed to work (driver’s license, passport, or national insurance), but some may require some help in getting a valid ID. Many homeless people also tend to be open about their homeless status. As such, they may not mind disclosing this information if asked during an interview. 

Work contracts

The best way for homeless people to get hired is by offering employees a temporary work contract. This should outline how much they will pay homeless workers per hour or week. This contract should include how homeless people will be paid (cash, card transfer, or cheque), where they’ll work, when they’re allowed to take breaks, and when they can go home early. 

Employment rights

Homeless people must know their rights throughout their employment. This is especially the case if the business decides not to hire them after the temporary worker contract expires. This protects both the employee and the employer. 

Key Takeaways

Businesses should consider employing the homeless because they are just as capable and skilled as anyone else. Homeless individuals can provide high-quality labour, perform effectively, and be excellent employees. Often, they are more motivated and loyal than others. Additionally, their unique perspectives can offer companies a valuable competitive edge.

Attract Homeless Talent

Our experts at Refreshing a Career can help you attract homeless people to your organisation. Here are just some of the services we offer:

Call 03458724501 or email info@refreshingacareer.com to learn more about our bespoke packages. 

Find Jobs for Homeless People 

If you’re a homeless job seeker, you can find support and resources on our website, which includes information on education and training, funding and job application tips

Check out what opportunities are available to you now on our homeless jobs board and explore jobs for the homeless in Brighton, Oxford, Manchester and Glasgow.

Contact us if you have any questions.

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Last Updated: Tuesday July 9 2024
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