Conveniently, many people tend to say "Get a job, Get a job!" if you ask them for financial help, especially. Worst of all you may come away with nothing more than a lecture. Lets face it, asking makes the situation worse, not an inch better.
In reality, tell me something I've not heard? Whats so hard about getting a job when your're broke? I'll lay down the cards for you. With whatever little amounts you have. You need to buy the papers, pay the telecommunications service provider and go for the interview, right? How much do you think that will cost, conservatively?
1st day's effort = Papers (SGD$0.80 +/-) + Top up (SGD$8.00 +/-) + Bus Fare (SGD$3.60) + Food and Drink (+/-SGD$6.00) = SGD$18.40
For subsequent days efforts, I'll minus the mobile top up amount = SGD$18.40 - SGD$8.00 = SGD$10.40.
Given your current situation, you have SGD$20.00 in hand, you borrowed from someone before. Having calculated the above would you really spend your cash on one and a half days worth of jobhunting? I guess many would not as results are not guaranteed. Then what? How will you eat or drink and in short maintain your fundamental human needs? Many would give priority to that then taking a risk by looking for a job.
Then comes the second and the most annoying plight that is finding the funds for work if you manage to secure a job with that initial $20. You're looking at an estimated 26 days of work which will cost you approximately; SGD$10.00 per day spenditure x 26 = SGD$260. If you start working there's no way you can survive by $5 a day handouts, and not many will borrow you cash in a lump sum, moreso it may not be enough. What makes sense is to obtain the SGD$260 at one go. Agreed?
Employers won't really be please to let you have time off during office hours to go to CDC. Evidently, there was one such case where the person got the sack due to fund sourcing and had to start square one again by looking for another job and living off handouts again! What a bummer! Like something out of a "Twillight Zone" movie. Well you'd think if he or she was to go to the Company and ask for a loan the whole solution would be solved. Well, tell me which company confirms cash in advance and I'll buy you dinner. Considering these potential fiascos it means taking a bigger gamble than what you did at the start, which is to look for a job with SGD$20 in hand. When you lose, you lose bigger this time.. you bet you will !
Firstly, putting myself into ones shoes I can definitely imagine the panic attack, making the famous adage "no money no honey" an understatement. Right, lets get some money into the pocket. Before I go along let me idemnify myself stating that there are no guarantees in the advice rendered here. It may work for some and not for others, but I'll give it my best shot.
Remember this help is only for those that really need it. If you already have a job or some other means of income I suggest you drop this idea now! The help rendered here is only for those in crises.
1) As soon as you can, contact these three Moral Help Organisations namely A) http://www.catholicwelfare.org.sg/ Call and ask for any case/social worker. State your case, remember help won't just drop from the heavens, therefore gather the facts leading to the current situation. More importantly they should see the logic in the nature of your request. By that I mean for obvious reasons you should not go there if your trying to feed bad habits like excesive drinking, drugs, an abusive husband, wife etc. Ask to speak to the social worker in charge, after listening to your problem on the phone the person would be able to make a decision on whether an appointment is worthwhile. Support docummentation would help, so don't forget to bring them if any. E.g. Medical report, Letters to and from M.P. regarding homeless situation. The person in charge will ask you regarding the nature of the problem, very importantly explain to her why the money is needed, for instance where is it going to? Transport, Food or Rent costs.
or
2) Simmilar to the above procedure do the same with http://www.filos.sg/ContactUs.html situated at Upper East Coast or (Touch Community Services) http://www.tcs.org.sg/service/st_commsvcsintl/01.php.( For Touch instead of going to the main building go to Blk 162 Bukit Merah Central, #05 - 3555. The contact number is 63179931). According to some people, heading there straight away without calling would be the best thing however if you think that you can communicate your problems over the phone in hopes for an interview please do so. . Don't waste time on the wrong person. Tell them that you need to talk to someone about the crisis you are having. Chances are they will put you though immediately. If reception persists by questioning, ask them directly if they are in charge of this, if not then who is? as it is personal. If I am not mistaken for "Touch" there is only one case worker there, so it should not be too hard to get to "him".
Remember, the cash that you may recieve could be minimal. The idea is just so that it may tie you over for a few days while you work out a job, which we will address later. Again please bring along some form of support documentation as mentioned earlier, if any. This may increase the amount allotted to you. Judging by the two organisations listed above I'd say the chances are high that you will receive help immediately as it has been proven unless;
DON"TS
A) Go in pairs instead of alone
B) Mumble and/or burp alcohol or cough smoke while you talk.
C) Sounding very relax and unserious, even worse Laugh and joking with staff or on a mobile phone.
D) Present your problems in an illogical, no sense manner E.g. Case Worker: Are you interested in working now? I can possibly get you a job tommorow as you are in desperate need to get your life back. You: Depends, I don't like working as a waiter, cleaner etc....................... Must have salary of SGD$8/per hour if not then... you know. Despite yourself not having the finances to work, the above is definite suicide.
Try the advised and I'll get back to you for the following few steps in the next post. ( And maybe more contacts)! Good luck !
*Comments given are merely ideas, views or opinions of the commentator. It does not serve as a guarantee in anyway to the reader. Everyone is free to post their own thoughts on blog topics here.
