Prayer request

[Philothei]

Job Corps in HD's area has dorms where people can live while they receive free job training. HD is going to call them tomorrow, and she also has the numbers of a few other relief/social services agencies that should be able to get her on track with some job training. Hopefully this will get her on the right track.

Once things have settled down and you are living somewhere, what would you think about enrolling your son in something like judo or karate? Some places have scholarships for people who can't afford the fees. This would give him a way to be around kids his own age, and give him some self-confidence - if the only thing he knows how to do is watch TV, he probably has none. Developing a skill like that could really help him.

Orthodoxa I think that would be great it is really wonderful news. God works indeed through people ...And HD please consider Orthodoxa's offer. God will not come down to help... people will... By asking is when we recieve... putting down our pride and insecurities and ask. I am glad Orthosdoxa knows all these agencies..

Lord have mercy
Philothei

 

[icedtea]

God will not help on His own? I have been taught differently. If we do all we can, then God doesn't need to be in the picture and what happens is thanks to us, not Him.

 

[Thekla]

God will not help on His own? I have been taught differently. If we do all we can, then God doesn't need to be in the picture and what happens is thanks to us, not Him.

He sometimes uses the "hands" of others ... (community)

 

[icedtea]

Yes! Have lots of calls to make tomorrow. There is hope.

 

[Orthosdoxa]

God will not help on His own? I have been taught differently.

I don't know what you mean.

Never mind - I think Thekla's answer cleared it up.

 

[Thekla]

Yes! Have lots of calls to make tomorrow. There is hope.

more prayers

(ya got me in tears ...)

 

[icedtea]

Sometimes we need verbal support from brothers and sisters. Thank you guys.

 

[heart of peace]

Sending you warm and fuzzy thoughts, HowardDean. I'm so happy to hear that you are taking some proactive steps in your situation. I just want to encourage you to channel your protective mother energy as I always believe human mothers are very much like mother lions. I can sense the deep love you have for your son and I want to suggest that you focus on this love and sense of protection when you make those calls tomorrow!

 

[icedtea]

thank you warm hearted (and cat headed) friend.

 

[Anhelyna]

This sounds a great idea [ well both of them ]

Go for them HD - everything to gain from them.

Prayers it all works out

 

[heart of peace]

Thinking about you and hoping something hopeful came out of the phone calls today!

 

[icedtea]

Called Jobcorps. They take people ages 18-24. I am 49.

 

[Orthosdoxa]

Well, pardon my language, CRAP! I wasn't aware of the age limit. So sorry.

Who else have you called, and what happened?

One more idea - apply for college - they should have some community colleges around there with dorms, and there's no age limit there. My little 4 year liberal arts college in Nebraska had people of all ages living in some of the dorms. If your son got his GED, they might take him too. You never know. The money for your job training and living would be borrowed, and able to be paid back once you graduate.

http://www.tri-c.edu/Pages/default.aspx Even if there aren't dorms, you might get enough in financial aid to pay for a cheap apartment - that's how it worked for my DH when he went to school several years ago.

My last idea is - are your parents alive? Brothers? Sisters? Old friends from high school? Anyone in your late husband's family? That you could call and just bluntly ask to stay there while you're job hunting? I'd rather eat glass than go back to live with my parents - but if the only other choice was that my children would be homeless, I'd go live with them.

 

[heart of peace]

What about your local unemployment office? I've been collecting benefits since Januray (I just nabbed a temp position with a definite end date and will be going back to collecting benefits after it ends) and the services and grants offered through your local Unemployment Office are very valuable! If you PM me your city and state, I wouldn't mind finding out what the number is for you.

 

[icedtea]

Unemployment! How does one qualify? Last job was years ago and it wasn't more than a few months long.
I will check.
Also am contacting the local Lds church.

 

[Orthosdoxa]

Unemployment! How does one qualify? Last job was years ago and it wasn't more than a few months long.
I will check.
Also am contacting the local Lds church.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but people who don't work don't qualify for unemployment. Definitely feel free to call your local unemployment office to check, but I'm positive you don't qualify- it's generally for people who work but have been laid off, and they have to prove they're job hunting in the meantime, to continue qualifying. DH was on it briefly a few years ago, and the paperwork every week to prove he was looking for a job was a total pain.

Are you interested in working at all? Surely there are some waitressing jobs in your area - with tips that can be good money, and most aren't going to care if you're not dressed to the 9's in your interview, or if you don't have a ton of experience. A college buddy of mine used to make around $400 every weekend working the night shift at Perkins Fri/Sat/ and sometimes Sun.

 

[heart of peace]

Orthosdoxa is right, you must have worked within a certain time frame prior to collecting. I suggested them to inquire about any services that may be available to you (like interviewing skills, job leads, career courses and possible grant programs). There are many grants out there in the US. I used some to go to college and I'm currently enrolled in a program to buy my first home.

I definitely would not classify it as a pain. Without the assistance I receive from them, I would have to have gone back to the classroom as a substitute in order to supplement my spouse's income. Yes, I had to report my information (online) weekly by answering a few questions. I've been in to the office once and received a TREMENDOUS amount of help. It is by far such a blessing that this has been set up in our country. I'm grateful for programs like these.

I'm going to say that waitressing is a great choice for the current situation to keep you afloat (as I said earlier you can do this during the evening, allow your son to study at the library and be in a safe environment while you work). It can be until you find a more suitable job situation.

Btw, did you check ou jobs like Live Ops on that site I suggested?

 

[Orthosdoxa]

I'm currently enrolled in a program to buy my first home.

What program is this? Is it only for first time home-buyers?

 

[icedtea]

Long long ago I used to work at a pizza joint (its still around) but the waitressing didn't net anything as it was mostly take out. I enjoy it. I've asked every pizza place within 10 miles.
As for the library, we don't go to our local one (few blocks away) as there was just a gun fight there a few days ago.
No, not an excuse.
We both applied downtown though! They take 14+ so that would double our income.
I've wanted to work at a library since grade school.
Yes, I do want to work, what a question.

 

[heart of peace]

What program is this? Is it only for first time home-buyers?

The program I am enrolled in is for first time homebuyers, defined as never owned a home or have not owned a home within the last 3 years. I found out about it at my local bank --- it is called Home Club or something like that. From there I discovered a host of other grant programs some offered through the US Dept of Rural Housing and some through HUD. There is an income limit to these programs. For homeowners who qualify there are other programs out there like home repair loans, help with avoiding foreclosure, etc.



HowardDean, I wanted to suggest these two sites for you.

US Dept of Labor. I linked you to the unemployed page.

Grants.gov site Here are all the grants offered through the government.

The library is a great place to work. It was where I got my first job as a teenager and I loved it. I wish I could be a librarian but you need a BS in Library Science.

Do you have any diners or IHOPS, Friendly's or Denny's in your area? These are great choices as well. Also, what about a local bookstore?