Reflections From a Country Girl

He didn’t drive a car. He couldn’t afford gas or upkeep for one. For the past eight years he rode a bike back and forth to the few places he needed to go.  Friends drove him when he needed to get food from the grocery. 

Now, he had recovered “completely” except for an apparent equilibrium problem that might go away as time goes on.  He was encouraged.  He thought he would be able to find work somewhere…hopefully with one of the guys that drove.  

There were a few days over the next two months when someone needed things done in their home.  A few dollars here, a few dollars there.  Not much. 

Things seemed to be drying up on the construction front.  Friends were getting laid off from their fulltime building jobs.  He heard there was a recession.  Surely, however, there would be enough work to make ends meet – to pay the rent at the place he was staying with a friend – to buy food.  

As time moved on after his recovery from a stroke and a coma, he knew he was going to be ok.  He could use a hammer.  He could work.  He adapted to his equilibrium issue and was sure he could work enough to make a living. 

One day not long ago he realized things were not going to pick up quickly enough. He could not find anything to tide him over or give him any income at all.  He began to get depressed.  He began to drink when he could bum a beer or two off a friend who did have work.  The rent continued to be unpaid.  It was well over $3,000 he owed now. 

His friend he rented the room from was having hard times financially as well.  He started pressuring him for any funds he could give him.  After all, the electricity was going to be cut off on Friday next week.  He owed $140 just to keep the electricity on and he didn’t have it.  They were going to have to do something.  

Jerry called me and asked if I could help him apply for food stamps and find a place to live.  “I swore I would NEVER apply for welfare.” he said.  “ I hate the thought of doing this but I really don’t have much of a choice otherwise. If I don’t do something I will be homeless and I can’t bear to do that.” he continued.  “I am worried about not having money for my medicines or rent and I am blinded with a catarac in my left eye.  I can’t afford to pay a doctor for that surgery and it’s becoming so bad I can’t see out of it. If it happens in the other eye I can’t work. Can you help me with this stuff.  I don’t know what to do or where to go to do it. I can’t stand the thought of this happening but I need some kind of help. I don’t know where to start.”

I drove down and for two 11 hour days we visited every place I thought he might need to apply.  

The first place we went was to get a birth certificate from the health department. He had lost that and his social security card when his wallet went overboard while he was fishing with a friend years ago.  He never thought to apply for another one.  I was sure he would need both.  The birth certificate took little time. The staff was very cordial and helpful.  

We then went to Department of Social Services to apply for emergency foodstamps.  The large waiting room was packed with families and individuals in need.  The four staff behind the desk were straightfaced and unfriendly…almost emotionless robots asking with a blank look on their faces what can I help you with.  There was lots of quiet talk between them but no information about what you might need to have with you in order to be totally prepared to talk with a caseworker.  

No smile.  No welcome.  Little eye contact.  No enocuragement or compassion for what the people were going through.  Just a job that needed to be done with people they really didn’t seem to care the least about.  It was a depressing atmosphere and very quite.  You could have heard a pin drop.  It appeared no one wanted to be there…even the staff.  When I asked a question, they replied with yes mam.  

I was the only one I heard them say mam or sir to while while we were there.  When I looked the staff member in the face as I talked there was a blank stare during our entire encounter. My questions were not welcome and it was obvious I made her feel uncomfortable.    

Jerry completed the papers and we waited.  

After four and one half hours in the waiting area, he was escorted to a caseworker.  Within five minutes he was out after being told he did not have all the papers he needed.  He was to come back at 7:15 tomorrow morning with those papers and get back in the line.  He would not be able to get emergency foodstamps.  After all, she said, they had 30 days to process the paperwork and it would likely take that long.  

“I hate this.” he said.  “ I’d rather be working. I just can’t find anything.”  

As I hugged him on the way out I said “I understand, Jerry, that this is humiliating.  But remember, we’ve paid our taxes for years just so programs like this can exist for those who need them.  When you were working, you paid these taxes and you have a right to use these services now when you need them.  It is YOUR RIGHT to be here and to be treated with dignity and respect. Don’t let the environment and circumstances get you down.  I’ll hang in there with you.  We’ll get this worked out.  Don’t give up and don’t let any atttitude or long line keep you from doing what you need to do to take care of yourself.”

“Let’s go get some lunch.” I said. “We can make a plan of where to go next.”

There was a very long line at the restuarant we chose.  We both smiled as we shook our heads. 

 

“I’m not waiting in another long line. Let’s go somewhere else.” I said.  

join me next time…

My wish for you today is that you never find yourself in this position.  If you do, remember, we all pay for these services.  People deserve them when they need them. Expect to be treated with respect and dignity if you find yourself in this position one day.  But by the grace of God any of us could be here. 

~ Joellen

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 9:27:am and is filed under Life & Events, personal challenges. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.