Express-News
Susan Jacobs thought these would be her golden years. After all, she's worked since she was 11 years old — albeit mostly in low-wage jobs — and she figured her 60s would be a time to kick back and enjoy life.
Her reality is entirely different. She fell seriously behind in her rent earlier this year, prompting her to contemplate suicide. She said the only thing that stopped her was the thought of abandoning her five beloved cats.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd find myself in this situation,” said Jacobs, 66, who wears a silver cross around her neck, a cherished gift from her son. “Now I'm just piling hope against hope.”
Jacobs lives alone in a low-rent apartment in a dicey complex, the reason for the three double locks on her door. She screens her calls because of bill collectors. She takes a bus to the grocery store, lugging a heavy metal cart, but sometimes she can't even afford $12.50 for a monthly senior bus pass.
And sometimes Jacobs has to decide between paying her phone bill or her utility bill or buying the medication she needs for a heart condition and arthritis, which require seven pills a day. keep reading
Goodmorning, I can completly empathize with Jacobs. I also live month to month cutting corners, paying a bill over another bill, I also fell behind in my rent. My monthly check was levied to pay back taxes. The goverment who is supplementing my income chose to take money away at this time. I don't want to be homeless and fighting for my body back at the same time. I couldn't physically handle this or emotionally handle this at this point in my life. I have found I fall between all the cracks as a single female with no children. Even any programs that are to set up to help you pay back rent I don't qualify for, today I was told: I don't make enough money to qualify to have my back rent paid. I find myself in awe, yet i have come across this more than once, if my income was greater i wouldn't be in the need of assistance. I don't want to be homeless and going through treatment.
I can certainly understand her emotional depression, fear and sense of giving up.
There has to be many others like myself that are embarrased to say they need help. I don't understand who decides these guidelines, I am to poor to qualify for rental assistance, I am sorry but this is just ridicoulously insane to me? Who decides when poor is to poor?
thank you.
Posted by: Holly M. Longbottom | December 09, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Unfortunately, in my opinion, this is what happens with such an open, free-market economy. The rich won't police themselves and the politicians won't either due to kickbacks and this amazing 'freedom' that we all have in America. Brainwashing everyone into thinking that a true free-market is the only American way is what keeps our poor so poor and prevents them from having the basic necessities in life. As long as we continue to allow them to the large companies will continue to grow larger off the sweat of the poor.
Posted by: Eric | January 16, 2009 at 03:18 AM