Experienced construction worker seeking job
The Tallahassee Democrat
Monday, August 02, 2004
All he wants is a stable job, one that will enable him
to move from a homeless shelter into a place of his own.
The 37-year-old man works nights doing maintenance at a truck stop. After sleeping three or four hours at the Haven of Rest Rescue Mission, he reports to a part-time job at a local construction site.
He'd love to stop juggling part-time and temporary assignments.
"He has training in all areas of construction except electrical work," said the Rev. Glenn Burns, assistant pastor of Temple Baptist Church and director of the rescue mission. "He can do drywalling, carpentry work and roofing. He's been very diligent, working two jobs and still remaining very faithful to church and to his other duties."
The minister described his client, who once had a drinking problem, as a man of integrity with "a long-term commitment to improving his life."
And the construction worker isn't the only one looking for regular employment.
According to Burns, all the shelter's residents are expected to work to the best of their ability. To stay any length of time, they must tackle chores and pay room and board.
"We go through a screening process to make sure they're not just looking for a handout," the minister explained. "For those who live here at the rescue mission, we have curfews and requirements that they not be succumbing to their addictions. ... Some of them have disabilities, and they're not able to do the heavy lifting that goes with day labor. But they're perfectly capable of sitting at a desk and answering phones or filing."
As Temple Baptist's benevolence pastor, Burns fields many phone calls from local job-seekers - including some who aren't yet homeless.
Recently, one plea came in from a 24-year-old woman who came here to attend Florida State University. Her plans were derailed when she lost her sales job.
"She's willing to do anything from waitressing to office work," Burns said. "She's very good at anything to do with people - a very personable, bright young lady. Anything she puts her mind to, I'm sure she's going to be good at. She's a real go-getter."
He's also eager to recommend the 50-year-old man who has served three years as the rescue mission's door manager and front-desk clerk.
"He's actually great at the job we have for him, doing receptionist-type work - answering the phone, directing people around," Burns said. "He could probably do counter work at an auto-parts store or that type of thing. He's very handy with automobiles, understands them well. He'd be great at that. He's very reliable."
The man's prospects are hampered, however, by diabetes and circulatory problems. In March, doctors amputated a three-inch portion of the flesh on his left foot. Ever since, he's been limping around in the padded boot issued by the hospital.
In order to walk properly, the client needs a prescription shoe costing $617.
"He can't wear a regular shoe because his diabetes is so advanced," Burns said. "It will cause his foot to get ulcers, and then it could get infected."