THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND THE TRUST FALL

I came from a happy but dysfunctional family. My father died when I was in college, no one ever talked about the grief (to this day I wonder how much of me died that day also.). I graduated college during a recession and “career” jobs were tough to find. I settled on a number of other “jobs” until I got a break working two decent paying jobs. I had to move because both jobs were in a different city than where I was living in (not having my father around for career advice also hurt). I got caught up in the lifestyle that these new jobs afforded me, and ended up losing one of them and finally had to declare bankruptcy. (I was working two part-time jobs, volunteering at two different places: the National Zoo and a pet adoption center, in addition to going to community college part-time). It left little personal time for myself, but I loved it and it was the happiest time of my life. By the time my bankruptcy was through, I had lost my apartment. I ended up losing one part-time job and getting laid off from the other.

While I was unemployed for three weeks, I applied for Medicaid. I ended up taking a lower paying job because of unemployment’s requirement that you be “able and available” for work. After qualifying for medical insurance from a lower paying job, I gave up Medicaid. I now had co-pays and deductibles which I couldn’t afford. I had to have my doctor write a thirty day supply of an essential medicine for me, instead of the ninety day supply because I couldn’t afford the deductible. Fortunately I reaffirmed the car loan and began living in my car.

After about three months of living in my car I got a section 8 voucher (which I never ended up using and eventually lost.). I came close to using the voucher a couple of times. What your monthly happens to be is the standard by which the Housing Authority bases your rent on. (Because my income increased more than the limit for one person I lost the voucher.). When I got a higher paying job and put an application in for an apartment, the property management company took two weeks on the application and another two weeks on the references. When the four weeks were up my income no longer qualified for a section 8 voucher. I ended up losing the higher paying job due to my hours getting cut and went back to living in my car.

One of the things that was free and I enjoyed doing was going to the library and writing on the internet. I used to have a twitter account but it got suspended for “suspicious activity” (I was campaigning for Conor Lamb and posting those ads on other people’s threads. He was one politician who seemed to genuinely care about people and wasn’t a hypocrite. Republicans had this “path to prosperity”, but being low-income they never put forth any programs to help.Trump especially is big on talk, but weak on putting forth programs of his own. He wants to end Obama care, but hasn't come up with something to replace it. One time on twitter I posted a birthday card to Bill Gates (it was around the time Jeff Bezsos had just overtaken Bill wealth wise). I remember thinking to myself after I posted the card if I only had $15.00/hr. full-time job that would be my big break and I wouldn’t have to deal with social services, live in my car, etc. In a later post on twitter to Mr. Gates I thanked him for all his philanthropic work (I would also thank Social Services and the churches that supported me, but it’s not like being independent.).

Having someone rich for a President (who is only interested in having tax reform benefit the top 1% and having a foundation as a piggy bank for himself and his family makes me appreciate people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet all the more. They actually care about helping people, not most politicians. In a country of 300 million people I know we can do better than some of the politicians we have now. What happened to compassionate conservatism?).

For three months last winter I stayed at a cold weather shelter (when I went to a food pantry I ended up donating the food to the shelter. My way of giving back to the people who have helped me.). In the time since, I have developed some health problems (I had to give up a couple of jobs because of them.). I went to DORS (Department of Rehabilitative Services), where I found out I wasn’t “disabled enough” (just one more crack in the system that I have fallen through).

My current situation is I’m in low-income housing, unemployed with no money, behind on my car payment, but I am still up beat.

If people want to know how Job can still have faith after losing everything it’s because material things can be replaced and life is what you make it.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. –Proverbs 31:8-9

I am in jeopardy of losing my car (I am behind on my car payments, I haven’t worked in two months). The loss of my car would be a great impediment to finding a good job. That (good job) would help me get out of my situation. I received food stamps, I haven't gotten Februarys’ allotment because of the government shutdown. Not everyone on food stamps likes being unemployed. I have started volunteering at a non-profit in my city. It feels good to give back again. I want to work my way through this.

The system is broken. It needs innovative programs, but mostly it needs a national $15.00/hr. minimum wage.