Because, as we know, the homeless all have laptops and wireless access
From Salon, this amazing report from the Labor Department about how they're combatting homelessness.
Are they rescinding G.W. Bush's cuts to the homeless, his cuts to social security, his cuts to unemployment?
No, they're making a website for the homeless, so they can access information that will "help them."
Because, as we know, the homeless all have laptops and wireless access to the Internet.
Addendum: Rivka, of Repectful of Otters, points out that the site is actually more self-referential than one first assumes. It's not that the homeless can't ever access the Internet (I know, firsthand, the usefulness of public libraries for such), but this site sucks dead rocks for actually finding any useful information. It's basically an advertisement for the Labor Department:
"If you want to know what the government is doing to help homeless people get jobs, this website is perfect. If you want to actually get a job for a homeless person, it's useless. So what we have here is nothing more than a government-funded advertisement for Bush's "compassionate conservatism," dressed up as a resource that actually helps the poor."
Labor Department Launches Web Site to Help the Homeless
7/20/2004 1:42:00 PM
To: National Desk, Labor Reporter
Contact: Mike Biddle of the U.S. Department of Labor, 202-693-5051
WASHINGTON, July 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Department of Labor (DOL) today launched a Web site to help America's homeless find jobs through mainstream as well as targeted training, education and placement services and to provide a vital link to government- wide resources.
"This Web page furthers the Administration's commitment to helping the homeless, including homeless veterans," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, who serves as vice chairman of the Interagency Council on Homelessness. "The Department of Labor is committed to pooling our resources and working together with Congress, our federal, state and local partners to achieve the President's goal of ending chronic homelessness in 10 years."
The Web page provides links to DOL's homeless programs as well as to other major government and non-government homeless Web pages and programs. Information on the new Web page will allow groups and individuals to better serve the homeless population. This page can be accessed at: http://www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-homeless.htm
"The Labor Department administers programs providing employment and training services that are crucial components in the comprehensive efforts to address the cycle of homelessness," said Charles S. Ciccolella, deputy assistant secretary of DOL's Veterans Employment and Training Services, who is coordinating DOL's efforts toward eliminating chronic homelessness. "The Department offers both mainstream and targeted employment-focused programs that help lead to self-sufficiency. A full list of these programs is available through the Web site."
DOL has been addressing the needs of homeless Americans through a number of model targeted intervention and prevention programs, such as the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program; the Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program; the Ready4Work and the Serious and Violent Reentry Initiative; the Jobs Corp Foster Care Recruitment Initiative; the Ending Chronic Homelessness through Employment and Training grants, which are jointly funded by DOL and the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and the President's new $300 Million Dollar Reentry Initiative for transitioning incarcerated individuals back into their communities and reducing recidivism.
U.S. Labor Department (DOL) releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call 202-693-7765 or TTY 202-693-7755. DOL is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.
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/© 2004 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/