I am not a regular poster, I do not regularly comment either. Me, I am a everyday reader and have been for years. But, after yesterday, I felt a real need to write about my friend, my neighbor and her struggle.
It is a bit of a story; my neighbor was downsized in November from her job as the accountant/bookkeeper for a mid sized business here in Texas. She went to work the Monday after Thanksgiving, was handed a severance package and was back home within the hour. She, so far, has been unable to find a job in her field. She has been unable to find a job in a different field. I am not surprised; my husband, a administrator of a local government agency, says that for the first time since we moved here he doesn't have any professional vacancies; people are holding on to thier job and not looking for higher paying employment.
This is bad enough but it gets worse; two weeks ago, her partner came back from a trip and moved out. He was tired of footing the household burden on his own. They were not married, and she has a child from a previous marriage. She has had to apply for foodstamps. She had to find two neighbors who would write letters stating that her child lives with her. She was humilated. Yes, I know people commit welfare fraud, but there must be a less humilating way to determine residency.
She is alone, living on unemployment, that in Texas is capped at 300 dollars a week. I didn't know the amount was capped at such a small sum. I am not surprised this is Texas we are talking about. It is sickening to realize that someone who made 70k a year is only eligible for 1200 dollars a month in unemployment. This sum won't pay her house payment let alone buy household items and pay the utility bills. She has worked all her adult life, she has gone to school and graduated from college while being a single parent and working full time. She has owned three homes. She is not a slacker, she is not someone who should have never bought a home.She needs help, but the help avalible is not enough.
We live in a wonderful urban neighborhood, one that is being revitalized. Those of us who choose to live here do so because of the old neighborhood charm, sidewalks and craftsman bungelows. But it is not a wealthy neighborhood, yet. We are artists and public servants and teachers, who bought in a bad neighborhood and began to change the face of it. I say this because, as mad as I am about my friend and neighbor's plight; I am proud of our neighborhood. We are doing what we can to help her, we are pulling together for her and helping in as many ways as we can. I fear it won't be enough though.
I see idiots on the TV Machine screaming and yelling about having to pay for an irresponsible person's mistakes. But, my friend is not irresponsible and never has been. She is stuck treading water in a whirlpool not of her making. I know I am preaching to the choir here, but my neighbor is the face of this ecoconomic disaster we are living through. She is fighting for her life and she is frightened.