WISCONSIN POVERTY: "NEVER GETTING OUT OF THE HOLE"

[NancyJo]

God bless Rude, but peps need to know how bad it is for some. Just an education can and will put you in the food banks , just to make it streach a bit farther. then and big old SUV comes along and splashes mud in your face, and to find out that is the one job you picked to take the interview with, that is offering 8 per hr with no bennies! GO FIGURE! Keep on keeping on

[oakie]

Well folks I cannot let you reside in this post alone either..since I was last able to post in forum I have had the assistance of my church helping me get back rent caught up and security deposit to be able to move into Low income housing...they just happened to lower the age to get in and finally I made it...Seriously I believe our God is working here...
rent here is 30% of income...and currently they rate me as 'seriously low income'....30% puts me at $198 month now...am on food stamps...
filing bankruptcy....
like many are as well...trying for disability....oh the hoops we have to jump thru...no insurance so trying for Medicaid...found a ortho Dr (I have scoliosis..surgery at 14 never kept up with drs..this is first check up with one) mainly as I feel it is cause of most of my problems now..from neck arthritis to deformed leg with arthritis...I could go on and on believe me...
dr visit alone ran over $1000..tried and got financial asst with the hospital here...the Dr wants 2 MRI's, bone scan..have to see neurologist and get ECG done for my neck/shoulders...
am hoping the financial asst can help me get in the door for the MRI's...

also signed and got help with DVR (Division of Vocational Rehab..) have not had first appt yet but is happening on the 19th....as well as a ultrasound for the Well Woman Program...so far that program is still working for the women..

The thing that gets me..in this situation....if they do not help now...and wait...by then there may be no return to normal health as it was ...then they will HAVE to help and it will cost them even more...

NOTE: A BIG help to me is one of the FREE clinics here in the state..mine was/is in Beloit (BACHC)..there are Drs there that check us out and advise us how we are...it is % of income..sliding scale...mine was $20 per visit...does not work with specialists...but I now have a MD Dr and podiatrist (ulcerated ankle)...there...
She wants me to see a Heart Dr....however now I do not even have the $20 to see her.....

LORD may the Medicaid come thru!....

Thanks for listening....and once again KNOW that you are NOT alone in this dilemma.....

Jan


For those in Walworth county..there is an organization called THE TIME IS NOW
started by a Real Estate salesman here who grew up in poverty and made it big..he is trying to help those less fortunate...and what a job he does! They cannot help medically but they help with so much more and some cases he goes back to see how they are doing....Needless to say THIS is my new local charity..(when I can).....

[ajordan]

Does anyone remember selling stuff for their school or girlscouts when they were a kid? You know... you take a little brochure or catalog out to your friends and neighbors and collect orders and money and then your school usually put in the order for you and you delivered the goods? All that profit you made for the school or your club was made by you! Do you think the answer for some of these folks could be to do something like that for themselves?

I too have lived out of my car in the past, lived in various shelters and sometimes with friends I hardly knew. Although it's not THAT bad for me anymore, I'd like to offer some hope to everyone and let them know there are options out there. I've learned a lot of things that I could have done for myself back then and just didn't know about. The JobBank doesn't offer everything there is, nor does the Journal. I've found several ways to make income and I'd be happy to share them with anyone who'd like to know.

I mean, if your not afraid to be your own boss, then by all means, let me know. There's no reason any hard working person/family should have to live in poverty in the richest country in the world. It breaks my heart that people are living this way that don't have to be. Don't just accept it.

[rudedog]

Originally Posted by ajordan

Does anyone remember selling stuff for their school or girlscouts when they were a kid? You know... you take a little brochure or catalog out to your friends and neighbors and collect orders and money and then your school usually put in the order for you and you delivered the goods? All that profit you made for the school or your club was made by you! Do you think the answer for some of these folks could be to do something like that for themselves?

I mean, if your not afraid to be your own boss, then by all means, let me know. There's no reason any hard working person/family should have to live in poverty in the richest country in the world. It breaks my heart that people are living this way that don't have to be. Don't just accept it.

lol, how do you think i got here? Trying to be my own boss.

[megiziii]

I just came back from a human rights delegation to Venezuela. The people there are really doing marvelous things to take care of everyone, despite what US media reports. A number of people commented to us that we think we are free in the US. They said free from want, free to have dignified housing, free public education, free health care, These are things they considered a basic human right like most of the world. They see us as being "free" from such rights. I say it is time Americans rose up and guaranteed such rights for ourselves, not just the rich.
Don't vote republican!
Matt

[AJE]

Excellent video... best one on poverty in America

YouTube - Poverty in America


Little children clutching broken toys.........
Grown men with broken pride....
Grown women with broken hearts....
This is what America is supposed to be??????
This is one video that connects with me....
FIVE stars to the poster.......peace, Pers: Randy

[Karen Baby]

I think the economy as a whole took a big dip in the last few years. I consider our family to be in the average but I just don't get where the politicians get there statistics from - they say jobs are up and unemployment is down, yet my husband has never been laid off more in his life as he has in the last 3-4 years. Things were so good 3-4 years ago that we decided to buy our dream home - an old farmhouse on 25 acres. Then we could afford the mortgage payment - now we struggle and are cutting back on everything. We drive old paid for cars that we only need liability ins on - so no big car payments or vehicle ins. We don't ever go out - we stay home and play board games with the kids.

One thing that I have an issue with is when there is some sort of natural disaster in another country the US sends billions of dollars for aid. I can't imagine how that billion could help our own country and it's people. I'm sorry for others but we have to take care of our own first - then others. We do it in our family - we don't give to charities if we are struggling with our bills - but you better be sure we're out there ringing bells for the salvation army to try to get those that can afford it to help. We give when we can and when we can't give money, we give time.

[AJE]

Originally Posted by Karen Baby

I'm sorry for others but we have to take care of our own first - then others. We do it in our family - we don't give to charities if we are struggling with our bills - but you better be sure we're out there ringing bells for the salvation army to try to get those that can afford it to help. We give when we can and when we can't give money, we give time.

NICELY PUT!

[AJE]

YouTube - Working Poor

WORKING POOR FIRST PERSON PERSPECTIVE

YouTube - 7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Paul & Susan (Day 1)

[demochick23]

I moved here from Cali 6 yrs ago & if I had enough money to go back there I would.This state sucks for any kind of help. They make it amost impossible. At one point when I applied for foodstamps while making 6 dollars a hour, I was told I made too much money. It doesnt matter if your monthly bills are more than you make on your paycheck, its just the fact that you make a certain amount.

[Lost Soul]

poverty is a hugh issue all over the world, but as stated we need to stop all these unnecessary wars and concentrate on the real issue on hand. Here in costa rica, there is so much poverty and the goverment just approved the agreement with the US on the free trade agreement which may cause more poverty, some good things and some bad. I honetly feel the goverments of this world look at profits and margins and dont look at the issues we currently have and see the impact all these hasty decisions are causing. But thats just me...

[shockedonlooker]

My story sounds like AJE's story. I desperately want to leave the city, but how would I ever find a five dollar and hour job in a smaller town, plus the inevitable costs in moving? Sad part is I know there are many worse off than me

[AJE]

U.S. employers cut 80,000 jobs in March
Most jobs lost in five years; unemployment rate at 5.1 percent

WASHINGTON - It’s no longer a question of recession or not. Now it’s how deep and how long.

Workers’ pink slips stacked ever higher in March as jittery employers slashed 80,000 jobs, the most in five years, and the national unemployment rate climbed to 5.1 percent. Job losses are nearing the staggering level of a quarter-million this year in just three months.

For the third month in a row total U.S. employment rolls shrank — often a telltale sign that the economy has jolted dangerously into reverse.


U.S. employers cut 80,000 jobs in March - Stocks & economy - MSNBC.com

[ONEZ48]

It has been awhile since I posted last to this thread.
I thank my lucky stars everyday because I should be worse off than I am now but still fear I will lose my home yet. I have no big fancy car. I still help those less fortunate than me even though it is not much. I even quite smoking over a year ago for health reasons but simply a luxery I can't afford. I would love do go on outings with friends but most of the time I have to turn them down because I don't have the money to spend no matter how inexpensive but sometimes I do just to keep my own sanity. Then I don't pay that weeks bill either. Oh well, life has choices. You choose what is best for you at the time and hope it doesn't bite you in the butt afterwards. What else is there?

[pk]

Today's society is all about spending and getting the best of everything. Let's remember some of the good times we use to do that did not cost a lot of money.

Such as:

Growing our own gardens instead of buying all our veggies at the store.

Canning or freezing for the winter months.

Appreciate what we have rather than always having to upgrade to better models.

Cutting coupons and using them at the grocery stores. (remember when stores offered double coupon days??).

Vacation closer to home.

Go camping instead of expensive resorts.

Camp in the back yard for the weekend.

Drive less. Walk more. Ride bikes.

Remember when we would walk the few blocks to the corner store before we would take the car out to drive there?

Public transportation.

Buy at re-sale and thrift stores instead of expensive Department stores.

Hand me downs? Yes. All the time. Even clothes exchanges with other relatives/friends that had older kids.

Always use the clothes line in the back yard before the dryer on nice days.

NO expensive gym memberships! Walking the dog is free. Riding the bike on bike trails is free. Jogging, free. Roller blading, free. Use a jump rope, great exercise. Play basketball with your kids, priceless.


Make money on used clothes with a yard sale.

Don't buy new books, visit the library, do a book exchange, buy at used book stores, many used book sites on the Internet. So what it may have a bent page, it will look like that once you start reading it too.

Cook more at home.

Instead of an expensive dinner/date walk the beach and bring a packed container.

Parks. Free.

Finding coupons for restaurants and use them.




The list goes on and on..anyone have any ideas?

Many people need to learn to conserve and scale back. Save money and pay off high credit cards. I remember when we only had one card for emergencies. Every thing we bought had to be on either a store lay-a-way or the money was saved and then we bought the item. Wow, what a concept. But we did not have high finance charges and accounts that will take years to pay off and can't remember what it was we bought in the first place.

[ajordan]

Originally Posted by AJE

It’s a no win situation for my sister and I, especially when we are being told we don’t qualify for low income housing because we make 6 cents too much! How about since neither of us have a child we don’t qualify for Medicaid Insurance, foodstamps or welfare aid, even though we both inherited poor health and have very costly medical bills. We have to constantly choose between the high co-pays and buying food.

I hope life will change for the better soon, as this was not my childhood vision to grow up and be poor. :cry:

You are so right. I can't stand the fact that our government basically encourages single parenting and rewards people for staying unmarried. Not only that, the point that you made about inheriting poor health and costly medical bills is another big problem in Wisconsin. At 39 years old I am still learning about saving money and investing because my parents never taught me, they were uneducated in that respect too. And I don't want my children to struggle like I have to catch up with what should have been taught to me in high school.

I'm currently trying to start a women's group in the Milwaukee Metro area for women who are in the same boat as me financially. I'm tired of living paycheck to paycheck. Hopefully, my group will get better educated about their finances and help each other get in contact with people who can help.

[ajordan]

Originally Posted by pk

Today's society is all about spending and getting the best of everything. Let's remember some of the good times we use to do that did not cost a lot of money.


Many people need to learn to conserve and scale back. Save money and pay off high credit cards. I remember when we only had one card for emergencies. Every thing we bought had to be on either a store lay-a-way or the money was saved and then we bought the item. Wow, what a concept. But we did not have high finance charges and accounts that will take years to pay off and can't remember what it was we bought in the first place.

That's true for some people. But a lot of people can't even afford to keep their lights on 100% of the time. If you are renting, where can you plant a garden? If you're paycheck is being garnished for one reason or another and you only bring home a little over $100 per week, how can you live on that in Wisconsin? Doesn't work.

The cost of living and taxes are so high in Wisconsin that the average household has to maintain two jobs in order to just get by.

[ajordan]

Originally Posted by rudedog

lol, how do you think i got here? Trying to be my own boss.

lol sorry to hear it didn't work out for you but keep trying!

[ajordan]

Originally Posted by demochick23

I moved here from Cali 6 yrs ago & if I had enough money to go back there I would.This state sucks for any kind of help. They make it amost impossible. At one point when I applied for foodstamps while making 6 dollars a hour, I was told I made too much money. It doesnt matter if your monthly bills are more than you make on your paycheck, its just the fact that you make a certain amount.

How is the law different in Cali in that regards?

[ajordan]

Originally Posted by megiziii

I just came back from a human rights delegation to Venezuela. The people there are really doing marvelous things to take care of everyone, despite what US media reports. A number of people commented to us that we think we are free in the US. They said free from want, free to have dignified housing, free public education, free health care, These are things they considered a basic human right like most of the world. They see us as being "free" from such rights. I say it is time Americans rose up and guaranteed such rights for ourselves, not just the rich.
Don't vote republican!
Matt

How are they paying for all of that?

[ajordan]

This site may be of help to someone out there:
Home - Modest Needs®

[AlumniClub]

Originally Posted by aje

It’s a no win situation for my sister and I, especially when we are being told we don’t qualify for low income housing because we make 6 cents too much! How about since neither of us have a child we don’t qualify for Medicaid Insurance, foodstamps or welfare aid...

Originally Posted by ajordan

You are so right. I can't stand the fact that our government basically encourages single parenting and rewards people for staying unmarried.

What is the difference between a single mother making $18,000 a year and a married household with one working parent making $18,000 a year? They are the same thing... they are families, they are broke and they need help to feed their kids!

I don't know any single parents that choose to be single so they can get free money. They're single because they divorced the abusive father, the mother ran off or they simply decided that raising the child alone was best. A lot of them are in AJE's situation... they make just enough to disqualify their family for aid.

Poor is about income, not about marital status, race or religion. The 2008 Federal Poverty Guidelines defines poverty for a family of four at $21,200 annual income. A family of two couldn't live on that!

[dgridley]

Unfortunately, I have (and do) know single parents that do choose to be on Welfare rather than work.. as well as "disabled" individuals drawing SSI when they could do certain types of work. They're capable of partying and clubbing, but not working, even part-time.

[dgridley]

Friendly bump.. anyone have anything to add to the mix?