Emily: Submitted by Her 14 year old son
The Working Poor
This is a true story an example of a Motel Family.
Based in Norcross, Georgia 2011
Submitted 6/2012
By: Emily
Emily a 37 year old single white female with 4 minor children ages 6, 8, 14, and 16. Four years ago Emily’s husband of 8 years and father of her four children decided to stray, the results he has a child with another woman and Emily was left to raise her children as a single parent.
Another kick in the butt, her ex-husband quit his job so he could start classes, with his new love, the courts which was suppose to benefit the children – modified his child support payments to $23.42 per week because he didn’t have an income.
ALL TRUE SO FAR!!! Emily was at point where she not able to feed, clothe, pay bills, or even buy gas to get to work. Her options;
Quit both her jobs and receive welfare, food-stamps, energy assistance, food pantry etc...
Find a relative which would allow her and 4 children to live with them for a couple of months- Free so she could save money.
Give her children away- when times are tough throw out the baggage.
Start doing illegal transaction such as selling drug or self to supplement her income.
Start using drugs to qualify for government assistance programs and to free her mind momentarily from her problems
Go back to school or take trade
What do you think she did? If you though she would do anything other than find another job, you truly don’t understand the WORKING POOR!!!
Emily "literally" sent over 1400 resumes via Careerbuilders and completed over 621 applications in a 9 month time frame. Emily wants to go back to school and or take a trade in the future but for now her focus is providing for her children,, the only way she knows how - By working!
Despite do the “right thing” – getting married, having children, working, striving for“The American Dream” – She lost her home because the battery on her car died. When she purchased a new one that left her short on the rent, along with the extra food she had to buy because the kids were on vacation and the tax payment, car insurance, license renewal, laundry money, personal hygiene expenses and etc……
Emily was evicted and forced to take her children to the local motel, so they would have shelter and children can continue in there school.
Emily gets paid weekly so she placed all her belonging in a storage facility before going to the motel.
Emily found a cheaper apartment but they want two months security deposit -weekly motel payments does not allow for savings.
Emily was turn away by friends and family.
Emily still has her two jobs.
Emily can’t go to a city shelter because she would lose her job because of the time restrictions and because of the overcrowding and her children would be split up.
Emily and her 4 children pray for an apartment every night.
Emily has to pay for the room every Friday before 10am (check out time) or they will be removed!
Emily has to buy food for herself and four children every night because the motel room only has a small fridge and a microwave, there no place to store any food.
Emily has to supply all the basic necessities for herself and her children, If a motel knows the families is homeless or staying
for a long period, they reduce their services – and no more housekeeping.
Emily’s children hide the fact they live in a motel, Emily doesn’t talk about it she must remains focused on getting her family out.
Emily doesn’t want a hand out – she NEEDS a helping hand!!!