Are there any way out ? (Seattle, Tacoma: low income, section 8, apartment)
Seattle areaSeattle and King County Suburbs
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I live in the US for over 10 years now and I am citizen. When I came to this country I did believed that my opportunity will be endless as long as I will not stop searching and work hard. But I was wrong, the longer I lived the more I saw that good jobs been taking between families and friends, and only those people could make through school who helped them out while they were in school. When I came to this country I had to take any low pay job in order to survive and even that was not enough. Since I have no family or close friends I have to support only myself. Sometimes, all my check would have to go to pay crazy rent. I went though so much hell. Many jobs when they know you have no one they take even more advantage of you because they know how disparate you are, even I am white female I had to put up with so much discrimination and still do.
I lived in battered woman’s shelters, then I had to move on with my life and find a place to live which was not easy, so I was homeless, then I had two broken legs while I was homeless. I survived only though the mercy of strangers but then I had to move on again. Every job I would get was low income, for years I couldn’t even afford to buy a junk car and I had to walk every day for miles or take buses or even rollerblade to work. Many jobs don’t even want to hire people with no car, they always treat you like something wrong with you but in the reality there is nothing wrong with me. I am far more advance with my intelligent mind then those who think of me low. I am just a person who try to survive without anyone’s help or even advice and learn this life on my own as my life keeps going.
After 7 years of living in the US I have decided that I need to go back to school now in this country if I want more respectful job. So, I did. I took a loan and took part time Esthetic program.
After I got my license I couldn’t get a full time job, because of the economy. So, I had to take second part time job to pay my loan off and be able to pay rent and bills as custodian at the church. I didn’t care that I had to clean toilets, I knew it’s all will be temporary. But unfortunately, I injured my back on this job and can not able to lift more then 10 lbs. now I am only 5’0 with 98 lbs. Labor Industry Insurance playing their own games to avoid spending $ on retraining. I am constantly in fear that I will be homeless again, I live with the drama people who drink every single day after work to the point that I am scared to come out of my room. Their psycho dog is very aggressive too and bite me last year to the point that I have a scar now and I couldn’t even report because they gave me ultimatum that I will be living outside . They want me out but I have no idea where I can go and how can I afford this crazy rent this days. When Labor Insurance will stop paying me compensation I am not qualify for unemployment because the job of injury is non-profit organization who choused not to pay taxes.
Every day I am looking for advice and find way out of this survival mess I am in. I think many people don’t realize how lucky they are even to have someone next to them who can just tell them that everything will be ok. No, one does it for me. I don’t even remember when was the last time I had a hug or cry on someone else shoulder. I never done any drugs or alcohol in my life but sometimes I feel like I have been treated worse then drugatic. And now when I am partially injured and have to be very careful with my health not to make it worse people started to treat me like I am lazy. It’s hurts my feelings so much, because if I would be lazy I would never end up to be injured at work for working so hard.
I have no idea what to do with my life now. My school career is gone pretty much because of my medical restrictions. I can not do low income jobs because they mostly all physical and I don’t have $ to go back to school.
I am asking myself more and more, WHAT IS THE POINT OF LIVING ? I feel like I am here on Earth to struggle just to make someone else life better like I have been used. Who said there is no slavery today ? You work hard until you fell apart and then no one needs you after that, no one wants to give you a chance. You only good while you young and strong or have money.
So, I am in my 40th and I feel like my life is already over.
The recent economic meltdown has really changed things in America. There are some that think it is only going to get worse since the US is over 16 Trillion in debt and moving to 20 Trillion soon. This is NOT meant in a bad way at all but you seriously might consider moving back to your homeland. I say this only because I understand that it is almost impossible for you to live off of minimum wage in this day and age unless you have a situation in which you are sharing a rental apartment with 2-3 other friends and can split costs. Whatever you decide I do wish you the best and please remember that being alive is such a wonderful thing. The state of Washington has so many natural and free things to do if you enjoy nature and exploring nature.
The recent economic meltdown has really changed things in America. There are some that think it is only going to get worse since the US is over 16 Trillion in debt and moving to 20 Trillion soon. This is NOT meant in a bad way at all but you seriously might consider moving back to your homeland. I say this only because I understand that it is almost impossible for you to live off of minimum wage in this day and age unless you have a situation in which you are sharing a rental apartment with 2-3 other friends and can split costs. Whatever you decide I do wish you the best and please remember that being alive is such a wonderful thing. The state of Washington has so many natural and free things to do if you enjoy nature and exploring nature.
Thank you for your advice. Yes, I have thought of going back but the question what am I going to do there ? I have not been living in my native country for over 18 years. Things really has changed and people struggle all over the world because of the economy. At list here in the US they don't let you to starve to death, they have food banks and etc., but other countries you have to find your own food even if you without the job.
And like every where companies prefer younger people, after 30th insurance goes up for worker and it's makes harder for people to find a job.
DO you know how hard it is keep moving all the time ? And start a life from 0 and feel like you are looser even if you are not. I am not 18 anymore and I don't have those strength like I used to do.
I just can not believe this country has so much programs even for people who are lazy and do drugs but they would not help citizens to get back on their feet and have a basic life everyone deserve. I paid taxes all of this years, I messed up my health here for working so hard and now I just have to leave to the native country and tell them HELP ME ! You know what the answer will be: "Where have you been all of this years ? Go back to that country where you lived mostly all your adult life" (which was for me mostly UK and US) P.S. as have said I don't have a family.
You can not make people leave. US was build on immigrants and every one who lives here immigrant even if you were born here, it's' doesn't matter. What it has to be done is to use $ wisely to change and run system differently. People have to get together and talk about it and speak to the government. But because no one care until it's personally touches their lives it will be like this forever or even worse as you mantioned earlier.
Thank you for your time again. I think it's takes a lot of kindness and care to reply to this topic with advice.
Go to Seattle Housing and get on their list. You only pay about 1/3 of your income for a place to live, regardless of how much you make.
Apply for the SNAP program (food stamps) if you haven't already.
You can't lift, but what kind of work can you do? Can you become an interpreter? Can you do office work? Can you put an ad on Craigslist offering interpreter services or tutoring in your native language? Tell the pastor or priest at your church that you are looking for work and they may be able to help if they hear someone else in the church talking about needing some help.
If you need more education go talk to an advisor at one of the community colleges and see what your options are. There are programs out there to fund your education to get you back in the job market and the advisors might be your best shot at finding out what they are.
There are a lot of programs out there to help people back on their feet.
Go to Seattle Housing and get on their list. You only pay about 1/3 of your income for a place to live, regardless of how much you make.
Apply for the SNAP program (food stamps) if you haven't already.
You can't lift, but what kind of work can you do? Can you become an interpreter? Can you do office work? Can you put an ad on Craigslist offering interpreter services or tutoring in your native language? Tell the pastor or priest at your church that you are looking for work and they may be able to help if they hear someone else in the church talking about needing some help.
If you need more education go talk to an advisor at one of the community colleges and see what your options are. There are programs out there to fund your education to get you back in the job market and the advisors might be your best shot at finding out what they are.
There are a lot of programs out there to help people back on their feet.
Sean, thank you for your advice.
Actually, I already did ALL of that stuff you suggest. I did applied for housing for section 8 and other programs. Section 8 doesn't take anymore applications. I talked personally to their office and they told me that they did opening for applications for only two weeks and they got more then 4. 000 applications which is more then they ever would expect. He said that economy is really hurting many people right now and his suggestion was to ask churches for help. Other Housing mostly is for people over 65 and woman with small children. And since I am single with no kids and a dog is all my family I have I do not qualify. The church were I used to work is not even helping their own members who worked for them and got laid off by them. When I had to explain pastor my situation, all they said I am sorry to hear you have to go through this and we hope God will take care of you. We will pray for you. I asked them to help me with the light duty job but they said they don't have any since most of the jobs they keep for their members of family.
If I could afford even a cheap RV while I am going through this survival time I would but I heard that it’s not easy for people to live in RV since they have so many rules toward them.
I do get food stamps and I do try to get license as certified interpreter in my native language, I already past writing test BINGO ! and have to take oral still. I was told that Spanish in big demand in this country and Spanish interpreters are doing well all other languages not as much and it mostly on call and I would have to have another job. I have tried to get a job as front desk to work in a office somewhere but I do not have luck. I have sent over 200 resumes. No one wants to train this days at work, they all expect you to come experience with at list 3-5 years.
Of course I am not going to give up and I will continue to try through Work Source and DSHS how to get retraining in my situation or fight with l&I insurance who is incredibly difficult to deal with but it's all takes time and while I am gona go through retraining I have to pay a bills and support myself.
If I would not work for non-profit organization where I got injury I would be in much better position today, because I could get unemployment till I get back on my feet again.
One thing I have not tried is advisor at the Community College. Thanx for the idea, I will definitely take that into consideration !!!!
My grandmother came here by herself when she was 13 years old. She did have a job waiting for her as a maid with someone from her village. That helped, but what a struggle.
I believe you can do anything you set your mind to. The community college is a good idea. You might find a class there on barriers to employmnet, how to deal with them. Get some emotional support, you deserve to be happy.
I would also suggest you look how far you have come.
There might be some odd jobs here and there too. Good for you for taking the tests in Spanish.
Just keep on. Times are harder than usual, but things will get better. You are doing the right things.
My grandmother came here by herself when she was 13 years old. She did have a job waiting for her as a maid with someone from her village. That helped, but what a struggle.
I believe you can do anything you set your mind to. The community college is a good idea. You might find a class there on barriers to employmnet, how to deal with them. Get some emotional support, you deserve to be happy.
I would also suggest you look how far you have come.
There might be some odd jobs here and there too. Good for you for taking the tests in Spanish.
Just keep on. Times are harder than usual, but things will get better. You are doing the right things.
Mclauren, thank you so much for your kind words. It's mean so much for me to hear support from others I barely ever get around me except my dog.
Sorry, you misunderstand, I am not taking test in sanish because I am not spanish but originaly from Eastern Europe. I am saying I wish I could speak spanish because there is more demand for spanish interpretor. My native language is ukrainian.
It looks like you've already got lots of good informed advice and you are in a very difficult situation. I know there are countries with even worse safety nets than the US but there are those with better ones too. Have you considered talking to the consulate for your country here just to see what options they might be able to present you? They might present options back home or help you to connect with others from the Ukraine here who might be able to help. I know you feel it is unlikely but you cannot afford to leave any stone unturned. Another thought that occurs to me is that you might have better luck in a different city than Tacoma. There's always a balance between the services a city provides and the number of people needing those services. Perhaps Tacoma is more overburdened than another city in the area might be like Edmunds for example. One nice thing about the Seattle area is that it is a vast metro area with multiple cities side-by-side so moving to a different area with better opportunity will be easier than if you were stuck in a small town hundreds of miles from the next town. I hope you find unexpected and helpful opportunities.
I have noticed that many of the caregivers at adult family homes and retirement centers are from your area and from Romania. It seems that the culture there is very respectful of the elderly and they are attracted to that kind of work. With the growing numbers of retiring people and the longer lives this is likely to be a bigger demand job in the near future. It may not pay all that well but in some cases can include room and board.
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