Smasharoo wrote:
We all agree that Welfare is meant for temporary assistance, not to be used as a life-long career.
I don't.
I think there should be a base level safety net of food and housing for everyone provided by the government, independent of means testing or qualification, forever.
Oh, also health care, education, and public transportation.
Sorry.
Edited, Nov 15th 2006 at 2:35pm PST by Smasharoo
Katie you best wake up if you actually think your plans would work.
I grew up in a good family going to some of the best schools in the state, I'm quite smart, well read and talented artist with other marketable skills. None of it meant a thing, once I became too ill to work.
My children were lucky my ex was able to work, while I stay home to raise them. That is until the day I realized how our lives were threaten by his violent outbursts and emotional abuse.
I left on a Sunday.
Monday, I sign up for a Displace Homemakers program, that helps women who suddenly are face with having to return to a job market due to divorce or death of their partners.
Tuesday, I called to find out where I could get temporary help with Cash Assistance and food stamps.
Wednesday, was ordination at the displace homemakers program, and getting a letter stating that I was in the program, so I didn't have to take the poorly run city classes, that were a joke at the time.
This was when welfare reform was still being debated in during the next year, before I found a job the laws changed so I ended up taking the city classes that only handed out papers on how to write a resume and try to convince women that they needed to dress for an interview properly. Things I learn in H.S.
After ten months working, while trying to adjust to being a single parent and go though a divorce, the stress became too much and all it took was a common virus to end my plans for our future, and not need to rely on a ex who also had a habit of writing bad checks, by going back to school.
It took me months of depression to face that I would not be able to hold down a job and find out why I became ill suddenly. At first I refused to go back for assistance, but my ex snapped mentally at the same time, so child support dried up quickly.
My doctors kept me from having to go back to job training, while I waited for Social Security to rule on my disability case. Since I had been able to stay at home instead of working for so many years, I don't qualify for SSDI. So here I am having to live on a fix income and food stamps, unable to remarry because I need hundreds of dollars in medical care and pills each month.
Yes I met a few women and men who are too lazy to work, if they can get a hand out, but They are the exception. Most people who are still receiving help, have need for training or health care, before they can hold down a job. Others would love to work, but need to recover come addictions and/or have served time in jails. Here in Baltimore, the city and state has been trying to help them by increasing rehab slots and realizing that with out a chance to work, you only fuel the likely chance that they just will end back up in jail.
As for the rest, well I would love a job that would pay enough to live on and cover my medical cost, while letting me take as many sick days as I need when I'm too ill to work. So pm me with any job offers you may have that meet my needs. Oh, I need access to my own private bathroom and a place I can lie down if needed during the day too.
