[stomachmonkey]

He's reaching out to you. Why could be a lot of reasons.

Maybe he has not contacted you earlier as he feels he has been a failure up till now and was embarassed to let you know.

Maybe he has hit rock bottom and his need to survive has overtaken his pride.

Maybe he thinks you are a soft touch and an easy meal ticket.

Maybe he thinks you are the only one who he can trust.

Lots of things could be going on and the only way to start to get a handle is to sit and talk with him.

If after your talk you feel he honestly wants to improve his life then help him with the job. Ground rule #1, he f's it up that's it, you're done.

Whoever does you the favor of employing him should know that this is the only favor you are asking. He should be treated like anyone else, he f's up he's out.

Help him find a better place to live. You pay the rent yourself for the 1st or if necc 2nd month, the money is a loan. You open a joint account with him, his pay gets direct deposited into it. He has limited access to it, more as he proves he can handle it. Your loan gets paid back from the account on an agreed schedule.

He MUST get his GED as a condition to helping him. When he's done with that he MUST volunteer at a church, soup kitchen, any charity, habitat for humanity (he can use his skills) where he can get some self worth out of helping others.

He has proven that up till now he can not take care of himself so you are rewinding the clock on him, yes you are treating him like a child, that's how he is behaving. It's obvious that what he has been doing up till now ain't working out for him.

If he balks at any of it then he does not really want to turn his life around, wish him luck and say goodbye. Let him know that the offer does not have an expiration, just conditions that he must agree to.

Tough love time.

Good luck. Hope you can make a difference.