Good News

Finally some GOOD NEWS! I have gotten food stamps, assistance with utilities ( which kept me from being shut off) and an increase in child support. This means I will have enough money to pay my rent on time, pay for my utilities, and have enough money to buy my son shoes and clothing.
We haven't gone hungry, but I have been very creative in stretching the food to last. Food stamps will mean that I can buy fresh fruits and vegetables weekly and stay on an eating plan that will allow me to lose the weight necessary for my health. I can relax and bit and enjoy the holidays too.
The last of the anxiety lies in the stress of needing a job by the end of February, when my unemployment is exhausted. I am praying and accepting the many prayers of others on my behalf. I have never been desirous of wealth but rather just to be able to pay my bills and have a nice place to live and decent food to eat. My car is 15 years old and on it's last legs. I need it to last until God provides a way for me to buy another one. God is in charge but I am doing my part- I am actively seeking a job, going to college and getting A's and B's. The rest is in His hands.

Land of the free?

I spent my morning trying to get things done and ensure my kid and I won't starve or freeze to death. I am behind in my utilities and made payment arrangements to get caught up. Because of bureaucracy, I have to go most of December without any unemployment. I am eligible, but the State of Michigan and the Fed's can't get their acts together so I have to wait. Now I have had to default on my payment agreement. After spending an hour on the phone to DTE Energy, I found out that all I have to do is go to ADC and file paperwork to get in the emergency programs for utilities, and I'll get food stamps too. Gee whiz, I haven't gone to college for business, but it seems to me that everything to do with helping the poor is run so inefficiently, that I'm surprised that there aren't poor dead people lying in the streets. The friggin state knows that my only income is child support and unemployment right now, so aren't all of these programs streamlined for me? Why do I have to inform each friggin branch what the other is doing? I spend so much time sitting at welfare for 3-4 hours ( not kidding) and filling out hard copies of forms, instead of online, and making phone calls (only to find out that my case worker should already be doing this for me),instead of looking for a job or doing my homework to get a degree and a job, that I could SCREAM!!!!!!!
I am trying to stay positive but stupidity reigns, and it makes me crazy. I would much rather have a job but they're rather scarce right now.Why does this country penalize me for the state of the economy? The U.S. is so screwed up that it is tempting to leave- maybe to Canada- where they at least take care of their citizens.