5 ms·

Like the person below said, it doesn't mean you found housing. It might mean you were able to buy a pre pay phone, gym membership, PO box, bus pass, decent pair

Like the person below said, it doesn't mean you found housing. It might mean you were able to buy a pre pay phone, gym membership, PO box, bus pass, decent pair of clothes, haircut, etc. Most of the jobs in the world don't rely on Zoom interviews and email. You'll get a phone call and have to physically go interview with someone. Really hard to hide looking and smelling like a mess in that scenario.

miki123211 2y ago
Why would a gym membership be on anybody's priority list? is this a US thing?
- walthamstow 2y ago
  It means somewhere to shower in the absence of a home.
- andrewchambers 2y ago
  Very cheap 24 hour place to shower and use the bathroom.
- throwaway7ahgb 2y ago
  There used to be stories on HN where kids in SV earning good jobs would stay "homeless" and shower at Google type offices or a gym. It's a thing.
- red-iron-pine 2y ago
  * showers. many gyms often have soap as well. the Golds Gym I used to go to had that, albeit it mostly handsoap dispensers (with handsoap) in the showers. but it was enough in a crunch if I forgot my own body wash * lockers. most places claim "24 hours only" but aren't so great about that, and many will let you rent lockers for 24/7 storage for trivial money. * decent toilets, sinks, mirrors. it's hard to shower, shave, and shit in a gas station bathroom. * you can wash clothes. gyms with a pool often have drying equipment (like the little centrifuges for bathing suits). also saunas and blowdryers. like if you only have 3 pairs of undies, you can give 2 of em a good wash and spin them mostly dry, then hang em in a locker. * 24/7 access. hang out or workout at night, and then quietly grab a nap somewhere (mostly) secure. clean your gear, take a shower, get right, without a ton of people around. hit a couple of reps for arms and shoulders while you're at it. * most gyms I've been to often have powerbars or other cheap meal replacements / proteins in vending machines as well, which may be your only option if you're down to < $5 a day for food

miki123211 2y ago

Why would a gym membership be on anybody's priority list? is this a US thing?

walthamstow 2y ago
It means somewhere to shower in the absence of a home.
andrewchambers 2y ago
Very cheap 24 hour place to shower and use the bathroom.
throwaway7ahgb 2y ago
There used to be stories on HN where kids in SV earning good jobs would stay "homeless" and shower at Google type offices or a gym. It's a thing.
red-iron-pine 2y ago
* showers. many gyms often have soap as well. the Golds Gym I used to go to had that, albeit it mostly handsoap dispensers (with handsoap) in the showers. but it was enough in a crunch if I forgot my own body wash * lockers. most places claim "24 hours only" but aren't so great about that, and many will let you rent lockers for 24/7 storage for trivial money. * decent toilets, sinks, mirrors. it's hard to shower, shave, and shit in a gas station bathroom. * you can wash clothes. gyms with a pool often have drying equipment (like the little centrifuges for bathing suits). also saunas and blowdryers. like if you only have 3 pairs of undies, you can give 2 of em a good wash and spin them mostly dry, then hang em in a locker. * 24/7 access. hang out or workout at night, and then quietly grab a nap somewhere (mostly) secure. clean your gear, take a shower, get right, without a ton of people around. hit a couple of reps for arms and shoulders while you're at it. * most gyms I've been to often have powerbars or other cheap meal replacements / proteins in vending machines as well, which may be your only option if you're down to < $5 a day for food