Do shelters have job programs set in place? If so, do these programs have partnerships with employers? Are there specific 'jobs for the homeless' sites?
Why do you ask? Without context, it's difficult for an outsider to help. My best guess is that they make a friend (who is willing to take a risk on them) in a service industry and get a low-level job to start<p>I will point you towards Miracle Messages, a startup that helps homeless connect with long-lost family, centered in Bay Area.