Non-profit, non-political, non-religious, non-volunteer jobs for non-educated in Austin, TX?

Have you thought of being a special education aide or group home worker? There are always jobs for this- both in schools and in organizations, it usually requires only a HS diploma, it’s always interesting, and you’re doing a lot of good. I did it for many years.

@zophu

As an addendum- many group homes need live-in staff, which might help with the potential homelessness issue.

Could you give an example of an acceptable job? You list a lot of things to eliminate positions, but not much on the positive.

Where would you be happy and motivated?

@crisw I have some social adaptation to go through before I can accept the responsibility of taking care of people in need directly. I might also be a little too enthusiastic about “improving” people and cause unwanted stress.

@funkdaddy Off the top of my head, installing solar panels or something like that would be cool. I’d be happy moving rocks around with my bare hands if I saw the purpose in it. That’s why I didn’t go into much detail about what I would like to do. I think that any job that fits that criteria, any job I was capable of doing I mean, would be good.

Also, I should add. I need to avoid the Smile or Die tendency that pervades a lot of do-good organizations. I wouldn’t be accepted into those. But those are usually political or religious, anyway, I think.

If I can’t find anything, and I do become homeless, maybe that will be the drive I need to fulfill my dream of uniting homeless people into the Tribe of Hobo, detailed in my response to this fluther question from a while ago. . . Probably not. Probably drug-addiction/suicide (not really, that’s a bad joke, I’ll probably just lower my expectations for life a lot), but maybe the uniting the homeless people thing, if I can keep up this grandiose thinking.

Mobile Loaves and Fishes is a local organization for helping the homeless and hungry in a variety of non-judgemental ways. I don’t know what their hiring needs are but they seem to truly want to help, whatever it takes. It was the first thing that popped to mind.

Also, with the weather getting better, the farmer’s markets are going to be starting up again. Again, I’m not sure of their needs, but now would be the time to get in touch with both the organizers and those that sell there. It’s retail, but not your typical retail/sales environment.

SXSW is in March, every organization that wants to get in front of the crowds is going to need people. Most look for volunteers but I’m sure a few will be looking for something paid. The organization itself usually needs quite a few people before and during the festival. Last year they had solar panels and charging stations from Sol Labs, I don’t know if they’re on again this year but it might be worthwhile to touch base.

Craigslist has a complete non-profit section. It’s pretty sparse but if someone needs applicants it’s an easy way to find them.

Honestly, most people I know who were hired by non-profits started as volunteers. The best advice may be to find a group you believe in just start showing up.

If you need something to pay the bills in the mean time, the weather is about to get nice and all the restaurants on the lake will start hiring everything from servers to cooks, it can be good money with a flexible schedule. Lawn care and landscaping places also start hiring pretty soon once we start getting rain.

Both might be a better alternative to a cubicle somewhere and both would let you start tracking down that perfect opportunity while still paying the bills and keeping a roof over your head.

There is a Habitat For Humanity and the Habitat For Humanity Re-Store in Austin. They are volunteer, but maybe you could find someone there who needs someone on a paying position?

Bread and fish miraculously provided to everyone. . . About Mobile Loaves and Fish. Catholic origins. They wouldn’t have me, and I probably wont be able to accept them even with my desperation. I’ll try them before I give up, maybe, but trying them now would probably make me give up sooner.

Ooh! I was thinking about SXSW yesterday. I wanted a job with them, but not for money so much as the ability to attend. Looks awesome. But it’s disgustingly expensive. I’ll apply for stuff there, for sure. but I’ve applied for a lot of things. my incompetence is undisguisable. whatever, I’ll take advantage of this hollow self-confidence (energetic apathy) while I have it.

I can’t find much on Sol Labs’ website, I’ll jut email them an inquiry.

I’ll try volunteering with something that helps homeless people if I can’t find anything else. Habitat for Humanity sounds good. That might help me deal better if I do become homeless, experience and connections. Should humble me a bit too, I guess, if that’s my problem.

I found a non-profit on craigslist and actually had an interview with them this morning. Fund for the Public Interest. That’s where my no political rule might have come from. I can’t approach strangers and convert their political views for social-anxiety reasons, let alone ideological reasons. I really tried, though. I couldn’t fool the recruiter. I’m not sure I could handle many more experiences like that.

Farmers market would be okay. I have some kind of problem with that idea, but maybe the feeling isn’t well-founded. I think it’s just the “market” part. I’d rather work on the actual farm, organic and sustainable, but a farmer’s market selling the fruits of those farms is okay, I guess. I’ll think about it. Better than nothing. I’ll just find out where and when, and then go and talk to people. I just hate the feeling of “asking to burden someone,” which I might accidentally be doing for some people, tempting their compassion. that’s the only reason I haven’t applied to some local organic farms I have found. It’s made clear that they don’t want someone like me. weak based on the values those types of people generally hold. I’ll do it anyway, before I give up. this sucks. i want to feel a sense of purpose beyond myself, not just trick people into helping me. If I get help, I have to feel that whoever is helping me believes in me, so that their sense of purpose can become mine. So, I have to find ways to get people to believe in me. Volunteering is the best route, I think. I’ve got three months before I run out of rent. No . . . two months. time flies when you’re depressed. I’ll make the days count while I have them.

@zophu if you could manage the energy, you could get yourself arrested for something and have three hots and a cot if it comes down to that. Just a backup plan to keep in mind.

The city always has multiple job listings. Nice people, sometimes good benefits, reliable employment and a valid sense of giving back to your community. A lot of things go into operating the city, thus a lot to choose from. COA
If you like animals there are a lot of good things going on at emancipet and animal trustees of austin and they are always accepting volunteers which could lead to a paying job.

Have you thought about Americorps? Most of the positions require that you’re 18 and have a GED. It’s a 1 year commitment, and they pay a living stipend.

I like docenting at an art museum myself. Being around art is cool, and you have to teach yourself enough about it to talk about it.

Guh, is everything run either by the government or God? I didn’t know Habitat for Humanity was Christian; founded by a lawyer millionaire seeking repentance, apparently. I didn’t know they required that people not have “too much” debt, either. The corruption of our system is so obvious when you look at the relationship between debt and its actual effects on people. People in debt are acceptable slaves: “What? They made their choices!” That’s disgusting. Not saying the logistics would allow otherwise, I don’t know, but it’s still disgusting. Bleh. . . I’m already pretty much signed up with them online, I guess I’ll show up and see what it’s like. I wonder if they use sustainable tech on the homes they build. This seems to be about adapting people into our broken system, not around it. But I’ll still check it out, and keep my mouth shut.