Donation protected
DESPERATE! The "American Dream" has passed us by and we are desperately asking for help from those who have been more blessed than we.
Next month, I will have been out of work for twelve months. Despite the "rebounding economy," and claims of record low unemployment rates, the rate in our city is still over 9%. When a job become available, there are hundreds and, at times, literally thousands of people applying for it. I've applied "in my field" and out of it. I've applied for jobs where I am qualified and jobs where I am not. People have told me to "lower my standards" and to "expand my search" and, trust me, I have. After replying to countless job postings and getting only 4 interviews, I am no closer to finding employment.
My unemployment benefits ran out in May. We have been struggling to make ends meet on my husband's $18/hr salary. His job does not include any health insurance, so we have to be extremely careful in judging how badly we need to see a doctor. We are at the point now where we are having to consider whether we can still afford vital medications
Last year, we lost our house due to foreclosure and were lucky enough to find a nice apartment with a great landlord. Our rent is half of his take-home pay, which was fine when I was working, but we have fallen behind. Our landlord has been very patient, but we are now 3 months behind and face possible eviction. With no other housing options and no "rainy day" funds to fall back on, we face the serious possibility of ending up homeless.
We have been feverishly trying to afloat as best as we can, but every time we think we are coming close and can breathe a little, some new disaster arises, like flat tires, car repairs, accidents, doctor visits, car taxes, and dying computers. We will need to start getting food from a food bank since Paul's $18 an hour disqualifies us for food stamps. We "make too much money."
We are only asking for help to get caught up. We're not looking to make money above what we need to catch up. I am happy to provide contact with our landlord and copies of our bills to anyone who questions the veracity of our situation. If you are more comfortable paying our landlord or bills directly, please feel free!
I never imagined that, at 60+ years old, we'd have reached this point. I've always tried to help anyone or anything who needed it, from rescuing, fostering and finding homes for stray dogs and pregnant cats to shaving my head for the past 13 years to raise funds for children's cancer research. I guess it's our turn to need help.
That "American Dream" we were raised to believe in has passed us by and we are desperately asking for help from anyone who is more blessed than we are. If you can't donate, will you be kind enough to share? Thank you in advance for your help.
Love,
Bette and Paul Blackwell
Next month, I will have been out of work for twelve months. Despite the "rebounding economy," and claims of record low unemployment rates, the rate in our city is still over 9%. When a job become available, there are hundreds and, at times, literally thousands of people applying for it. I've applied "in my field" and out of it. I've applied for jobs where I am qualified and jobs where I am not. People have told me to "lower my standards" and to "expand my search" and, trust me, I have. After replying to countless job postings and getting only 4 interviews, I am no closer to finding employment.
My unemployment benefits ran out in May. We have been struggling to make ends meet on my husband's $18/hr salary. His job does not include any health insurance, so we have to be extremely careful in judging how badly we need to see a doctor. We are at the point now where we are having to consider whether we can still afford vital medications
Last year, we lost our house due to foreclosure and were lucky enough to find a nice apartment with a great landlord. Our rent is half of his take-home pay, which was fine when I was working, but we have fallen behind. Our landlord has been very patient, but we are now 3 months behind and face possible eviction. With no other housing options and no "rainy day" funds to fall back on, we face the serious possibility of ending up homeless.
We have been feverishly trying to afloat as best as we can, but every time we think we are coming close and can breathe a little, some new disaster arises, like flat tires, car repairs, accidents, doctor visits, car taxes, and dying computers. We will need to start getting food from a food bank since Paul's $18 an hour disqualifies us for food stamps. We "make too much money."
We are only asking for help to get caught up. We're not looking to make money above what we need to catch up. I am happy to provide contact with our landlord and copies of our bills to anyone who questions the veracity of our situation. If you are more comfortable paying our landlord or bills directly, please feel free!
I never imagined that, at 60+ years old, we'd have reached this point. I've always tried to help anyone or anything who needed it, from rescuing, fostering and finding homes for stray dogs and pregnant cats to shaving my head for the past 13 years to raise funds for children's cancer research. I guess it's our turn to need help.
That "American Dream" we were raised to believe in has passed us by and we are desperately asking for help from anyone who is more blessed than we are. If you can't donate, will you be kind enough to share? Thank you in advance for your help.
Love,
Bette and Paul Blackwell
Organizer
Bette Jenneman Blackwell
Organizer
Bridgeport, CT