well, it took a long time, but I've read through all the pages. I'm another one of those 'pregnant with a couple young kids and on welfare divorced/single moms'.
lol I've been getting some form of assistance for about a year now, would have made things a lot easier if I had had help back 3-4 years ago, but oh well.
It has been like pulling teeth this past year trying to find out about programs to help me out. Ever since I left my ex I have been struggling to pay rent on a two bedroom apartment. My office of family support workers told me that the section 8 housings were all full and they weren't even taking names on a list. So I've been working so hard and going without and dealing with anxiety and stress related illnesses while having my babies in daycare and them getting VERY sick every 2 weeks(literally!)
I just found out a month ago when I attended the "job readiness course" for TANF, that there has been a section 8 list the whole time!!! And I had just signed another one year lease 3 days before the class! So, all the stress and desperation of trying to cough up nearly $700 a month for a small apartment for well over a year, when I might have been able to get help... it is frustrating to say the least.
I have just learned about lifeline for the phone and the energy assistance program is still one that is completely evading my grasp. I have been threatened with disconnect at least 5 times this year and actually disconnected once during the hottest day of the year this summer doubled over with morning sickness no less and 2 screaming toddlers. My bills were $160 to $185 per MONTH when we used the air conditioner *at all*... I cannot believe it legitimately costs so much in a 900 sq ft apartment and being as frugal within reason with the electric.
It isn't like I haven't been trying.... I feel so exhausted from my efforts that in the end seem to have gotten me nowhere. I was fired from a good job this past May for missing work due to sick children right around when on top of everything else I found out I was expecting baby #3. I got very sick and just ate up all my hard earned savings to pay this money pit of a $700 apartment while unemployed.... I applied for welfare this summer but when they told me I would get a sum total of $240 per month plus be expected to attend class with my kids in daycare 5 days a week. I laughed and cried myself out of there. It sounded so absurd to me.
So I have no money... I was on my way to a shelter in September because the money was all gone, but the guy I have been seeing bailed me out.... also for October. Then in October I had to start putting the kids in daycare again, and they got sick again right away.. found a decent job and was feeling so hopeful ... and they loved me there and said they were definately going to hire me on permanantly...till it came out I was 4 months pregnant at the time, and they fired me through the temp agency within a few days. Where is the bitter laughing smiley? Even the temp lady told me she would be willing to *see about* finding me a temp slot *as long as* I wasn't SHOWING. WTF -- we're talking low stress office job, light filing and basically just answering phones and e-mail.... why does the pregnancy have to be an issue? I had no complaints about it none... they found out because I needed to leave a few minutes early one day to make my monthly appointment, and I didn't think I'd be fired for being honest.
I am waiting to hear back from unemployment, but am not sure how it will go since I had received warnings about my absences(which were ALL due to very ill[pneumonia!] children w/doc notes).... but got my fingers crossed.
Till then... I don't know what I'm going to do... my children do not do well in daycare, I honestly think it has more to do with anxiety than with actual germs. I have always been the same way -- stress makes me come down with whatever bug is going around. As long as they are with me even going to germy play grounds and grocery stores, they virtually never get sick.
We get food stamps and WIC which are lifesavers right now, I make a lot of things from scratch and try to buy as healthy as possible.... hard with these pregnancy cravings though.
Oh and my family looks down on me for my situation... my parents brag about qualifying for $200 worth of food stamps back in 1980 but not taking them.
As a child I recall them verbally bashing welfare recipients... for buying *steak*(omg!) with food stamps. Like what since we're struggling we should all be living off of white bread and water???
I don't feel bad about it at all... this is what the programs are here for -- to help people who need it... my parents seem to think one should sooner put their kids up for adoption than collect any kind of state/government assistance.
Sorry so long, guess I just had a lot to say after reading so many pages. Thanks for starting this topic!
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