Once upon a time, only privileged people used the internet. That's no longer true. Low-income people use the internet for the same things everybody else does: research, email, social media, finding jobs, and lots more.... they just have to be more creative in how they access it, if they don't own their own computer. This worksheet was developed collaboratively by homeless people in the Homeless Organizing Academy at Picture the Homeless. It's meant to be a work-in-progress. Any tips and tricks from other resourceful brilliant homeless people (or their friends and allies) can be emailed to Sam J. Miller to be added to the list. 

 

Why should homeless people know their way around the internet?

• The world is predicated on information

• Information is free

• Knowledge is power

• You can educate yourself about your rights.

• You can access services to get your needs met

• You can keep in touch with friends and colleagues and family

• You can find jobs

• You can get an education—at an online universities, or simply by studying a subject until you're knowledgeable about it

 

How can homeless people use the internet?

• Check email

• Look for work

• Get information

• Do research

• Play games

• Networking

• Promotions

• Blogging

• Online organizing

• Writing

• Engaging politicians

• Dating

• Family history

• Accessing government records

   

What job resources should homeless people know about?

• Basic search engines—learn more about a specific job or industry

• Free employment newsletters—Google it!

• Workforce/ Labor Ready

• Digital resume templates

• Top job search sites: Monster.com, careerbuilder.com, others

• Craigslist, for part-time or freelance work

• New York Public Library posts schedules for free employment classes

• Department of Labor online

 

 

Where can homeless people access the internet?

• Libraries

• Internet cafes

• Homes and friends and family

• Some laundromats

• Some Popeye's/Burger King/other fast food restaurant (yes, really!)

• Offices of organizations like Picture the Homeless

• Government programs

• Some hospital or doctor's waiting rooms (Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mount Sinai)

• College campuses

  • Kingsborough

  • NYU

  • Columbia

  • Lehman

  • Queens  

 

NYC-SPECIFIC SITES FOR EMPLOYMENT HELP

 

Job Listing Sites, from the New York Public Library - broken down by category

http://www.nypl.org/job-listings-specific-categories

 

Job Search and Resume Writing Classes - schedule, from the NYPL

http://www.nypl.org/help/getting-oriented/for-job-seekers/programs

 

Non-profit jobs: 

http://www.citylimits.org/jobs/

 

The Doe Fund

http://www.doe.org

While some PTH members have had bad experiences with them, others have received a lot of help and have been able to get good jobs as a result of their participation in this program. 

 

Union Jobs NYC 

http://www.unionjobs.com/staff/ny/index.html

(Note: these are jobs working for the unions themselves, not necessarily jobs for union members)

 

Union Apprenticeships NYC 

http://www.labor.ny.gov/pressreleases/apprenticeshiparchive.shtm