User:Blunt001/Income Generation Among The Homeless

In the United States, income generation among the homeless is essential for those living with housing insecurities. A lack of meaningful and sustainable employment is a leading cause to homelessness, as defined by the United States Department of Labor. One way that individuals experiencing Homelessness generate income to survive is by participating in the informal sector. Although working informally is often not a choice, the homeless population is one of the marginalized communities, which are forced into the informal economy. economy. These limited options can be narrowed down to a few low-skill positions: selling plasma to donation centers, stealing, panhandling, prostitution/survival sex, and dealing drugs are often activities that are fueled by the homeless informal economy. The homeless population human beings, yet they are almost seen through and not looked at; to society they are invisible. This forces some people to see work that too is also considered invisbile or the Black market. They resort to the informal economy as a means for survival.

Panhandling
Research has found that homeless individuals rely heavily on the informal economy. A survey of 142 panhandlers revealed that 82% of all panhandlers surveyed were homeless. The lower class is growing while the middle class is shrinking. This shrinking of the middle class forces those looking for any kind of work into the informal economy. Not all pandhandlers are successful in generating income. Factors that play a role if a panhandler will be successful are things like sex, how they dress, how much they are asking for, and even the weather. Although panhandling is a way to create revenue, it is being increasingly criminalized in several cities. In order to avoid the legality of panhandling, people must see income through alternative methods.

Recycling
Recycling goods can be beneficial for those seeing income by selling back collected recyclables. Recycling or a Waste picker is not only monetarily beneficial it is also is a service done for the environment by properly disposing of recyclables. Recycling can help mitigate the affects that these hazardous materials have on the environment. This is achieved by collection of materials in pushcarts, bicycles, or pickup trucks. Many homeless individuals resort to recycling for them claiming it is their only alternative to panhandling.