[If you'd prefer not to read my rantings, just jump to the bottom to see this week's links - your editor]
July 10 2009
I hope everybody had a less hectic week than I had. I've been trying to find some part-time work, for the reasons previously explained. Along with that, I have this blog to write, three articles to write and post on another website, and come up with a plan of action for a new writing group I'm co-mentoring. Of course there are always the bureaucratic hoops to jump through. I met with my legal counsel to sign a bunch of paperwork for my SSI/SSD calim. At least someone has decided to represent me on that. Thanks Lori Johnson.I applied for unemployment insurance this past week. I figured my chances were good, since they approved it for me after the last full-time job I had, back in 2007. it was the first time i ever won a wrongful discharge claim. I've worked nothing but temporary jobs since then, which I thought you could not collect unemployment from, but perhaps that's changed. I'm hoping so, since they sent me paers to give me information about those jobs. Since i mentioned a back injury that caused me to be discharged from a temporary position in December, they also sent a medical form for my "physician" to fill out.
Whoever I talked to got the facts all wrong. They had me quitting both my last two temporary jobs, which was incorrect. I had circumstances that made it necessary to leave the temporary job I worked at the beginning of this year. I contacted the employer about the issues, so it was an amiable parting. That should work in my favor. The staffing agency that let me go in December - two days before the end of the assignment - did so because my back went out when I arrived for work on the next to last day of the job. Because it was necessary for me to go to their work clinic, they also withdrew me from any future consideration. Nice, huh? I guess they were afraid I'd file for workmen's comp. Since their doctor said the injury wasn't work related, I don't know why they freaked. Of course that month of standing for hours at a time on concrete in foul winter weather probably in no way contributed to my back injury. (In case you misssed it, there's some heavy sarcasm in that last sentence.)
So I had to write a lengthy letter to the unemployment people explaining where they had erred, why I had left my last position, that I hadn't quit the other job, and that they had not allowed me enough time to get in to see my medical provider. That's ten days from when they mail you the letter.
So, it's a shaky case, but I have my documentation in line, so at least there's a chance. I have a meeting with a lady middle of next week about a work program through the same state agency that dispense unemployment money. I'm hoping that will produce some result. As I've expressed before, I'd much rather be working. It's just that I can't do alot of the kind of work I've done before that makes job searching difficult.
I'm discovering many things in my attempts to procure employment. First, 46 is a bad time for a carreer change. Second, life experience counts for nothing, and you'll play hell getting taken seriously if you don't have at least an Associates Degree or some tech school trianing. I wish someone had let me in on all that when I was younger. I guess I didn't posess the wherewithal to figure it out myself.
Actually, I would have love to have gone to college straight out of high school. Unfortunately, I was told unequivocably, "You're not going to college." I did manage to go to U of U for a year back in 1988-87, but "real life" beckoned, making a "real job" mandatory to survival. I've never been able to make it back to finish a degree. Now, even if I got the funding to go back, I'd lose my housing if I did. Can you believe that? Full-time students don't qualify for housing assistance! Who needs it more?
At my age I guess it makes little sense to go back, go tens of thousands of dollars (or more) into debt to graduate at 50. Not when I have years of life experience in writing and journalism. I actually made a few bucks from it one year. Never enough to make a living though.
Anyhow, to get back to the job search thing: out of the 20 or so applications I filled out on line, resumes I e-mailed or faxed, and phone calls I made, one responded. By the time I got back to Colby at U-Haul, he'd hired someone. It probably didn't help that the numerous times I tried to contact him, I was either put on hold, or left to listen to an answering service's recording. Four times I waited on the phone for at least 30 minutes. I guess I should have just gone down there.
That's another thing that's frustrating about looking for work in our technological age: you rarely get to talk to a person. The majority of job listings I found amenable instructed you to "click here" and fill out an application on line. More and more businesses are taking this route, especially nationwide corporations. I don't know how any HR manager could possibly sift through the thousands of e-apps they must get for every position they have open. I'm guessing it's just a random thing. Whatever the case, I find it very dehumanizing and impersonal.
Another problem that arises is that the unemployment people require that you make two personal contacts - which I take to mean face to face - per week. On line applications, e-mails and faxes don't count. I think in the 21st Century, some dispensations need to be granted in regard to that rule. Just goes to prove my point about how clueless and out of touch government bureaus and agencies are.
If any further proof of that is necessary, they actually thought I could get in to see my regular provider at the free clinic in 10 days or less. Ain't gonna happen, folks! Being unable to show up at said clinic every morning at 8:00 - since I am required to look for work - I tried calling to get an appointment. Each day, when someone finally answered the phone, usually about half an hour after they open, I was told, "We're all full. No more appointments today." They do not make future appointments. I plan to be first in line Monday morning, job search be damned. I have that job appointment thing on Wednesday anyway. I'm probably an idiot to be counting on that to lead to gainful employment.
I must come across as pretty bitter and ungrateful sometimes, but I'm not really - just frustrated. I really want to take whatever steps I can to improve my life. It just seems that those who supposedly exist to be of help in hard times are the ones who stand in your way the most. Rules and regulations seem designed to make it harder, often next to impossible, to meet qualifications or deadlines. The amount of paperwork is mountainous, often asking for the exact same infromation over and over. It's hard not to just throw your hands up and surrender. It's like they want you to fail rather than succeed. It's like they're counting on you giving up.
All I have to say to that is they don't know this boy very well.
---your editor
Here's some helpful information to those struggling to house themselves, or pay high rents:
Low Income Housing ProgramA Website Dedicated to low income housing program.
HousingForLowIncomes.com
Low Income Apartments For RentIf you need low income apartments fill this 30 sec form, Find it fast.
lowincomeapartment.xorgx.com
Here are this weeks links to articles of interest to homeless people and their advocates:
from Salt Lake Tribune:
Vets and criminals
Public Forum Letter
Updated: 07/10/2009 06:15:58 PM MDT
"...in today's world, where more than 250,000 veterans are homeless and without any health care..." http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12812441?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
[I thought that letter was interesting, and will try to link to the original letter cited. I'd like everyone to submit comments on this...It's all about what you think.]
Pride walk raises awareness of homeless LGBT youth
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12768023?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
Water, food, insect repellent needed for homeless http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12768546?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
Food and dining notes: Food and wine benefit
By Kathy Stephenson The Salt Lake Tribune: "A Toast to Good Health, a fundraiser for Salt Lake City's Fourth Street Clinic, will be Thursday, July 16..."
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12787327?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
Fourth Street Clinic hosts fundraiser
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12676758?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
Man accused of groping girl committed to state hospital
By Stephen Hunt
The Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12771253?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
Picnic and a flick - at Pioneer Park
By Derek P. Jensen The Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9687279?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
from the Deseret Morning News:
W.V. man arrested in cigarette thefts
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705315967,00.html
Help sought for homeless
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705315424,00.html
Suspected cigarette burglar nabbed
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705315683,00.html
[Many don't realize that many homelss people work, and many more are just one paycheck away from homelessness - you editor]
People with jobs see pay shrinking
Americans may put wallets away and zap any recovery
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705314577,00.html
from New York Times:
Summer Brings a Wave of Homeless Families
By JULIE BOSMAN Published: July 6, 2009
"As the school year sailed to a close last month, Arielle Figueras crossed the stage in her cap and gown and proudly accepted her fifth-grade diploma. The next day, she was homeless."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/nyregion/07summer.html?_r=1
Homeless Families Increasing, U.S. Finds
By ANDREA FULLER Published: July 9, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/us/politics/10homeless.html
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