[butterfly_effect]

This is a copy of an email I recently sent to many government agencies and the response I keep getting is the cordial "Thank you for your suggestions your opinion is important to us." I need answers quickly before I lose everything.

To whom it may concern,

Hi my name is _______________. I am a stay home mother with 3 children, one of which is chronically ill and is unable to attend daycare. We have a total of five people in our household, my husband is the only one able to work, he grosses $2560 a month (which, in the real world is 4 weeks) but according to government standards is 4.5 weeks. Which means he grosses $2880 per month. I am not sure why gross matters, we don't see anywhere close to that. His net pay, his actual bring home, is $555 a week which is going to be dropped $98 because of insurance ,so his bring home each week goes down to $457. Now lets see our actual amount of money that we have in our possession at the end of each month $1828. Okay, now lets take away things like gasoline to get to the job $60 a week or $240 a month. That brings us down to $1588 per month of USEABLE income, now... lets add utilities, Power $291 a month, brings us to $1297 a month, Telephone; which IS a necessity when you have small children who are sick, $60 per month, brings us to $1237. Then we have mortgage, which is $563 per month that leaves us with $674 per month, Our natural gas was disconnected last year because we couldn't pay it so we can't include that. Then due to all the illnesses in our family we had to file debtors court ( debt repayment)<---- notice REPAYMENT . So that is $310 per month, brings us to $364 per month of USEABLE INCOME. Then there is the medications that I HAVE to take each month for a diagnosed mental condition, that is $ 214 per month which brings us to $150 per month then there's doctors visits that usually requires about $50 a visit, so for instance like earlier this month when we all got sick with strep throat. I have to chose who needs to go to the doctor worse, so guess what... That leaves NOTHING. $0.00, for food, clothes, entertainment, and heaven forbid an emergency happens. BUT here's the kicker, we make too much money to qualify for any type of assistance. The assistance that we pay with our tax dollars. WERE IS THE HELP WHEN WE NEED IT!! Maybe I need to start screaming discrimination against the state and federal public assistance programs, because that's exactly what's happening, we are being discriminated against because #1 We work. #2 were honest Do you know what is fixing to happen to my family? We are about to be another homeless statistic. We are currently behind on our mortgage. Our power was shut off for 3 days last week. Now you tell me how this happens to an Honest hard working American family in this day and age. Have you ever tried to explain to a 4 year old why they are sleeping in the dark? Or explain to a 10 year old why she can't play soccer like all her other friends? Or explain to a 9 year old why you can't afford the gas to go to her program at school? How about explaining to God why you can't afford your tithes? <------that's a tough one, let alone be able to afford to attend church. As far as us needing to try harder , lets see. Well I got a job last year to try and help. I put my son in day care which cost $100 a week. My son got hospitalized twice in one month, which made a total of 11 times that year, with what the doctors thought was staph infections (which it actually was something totally different). But because we had limited insurance for him he wasn't given the proper diagnosis... 11 different times. I finally found a good DR. who cares more about getting my son well than the money and correctly diagnosed him with an immune deficiency. By the way did I mention I lost that job due to absences because I had to be at the hospital with my son and my girls had to stay with there grandparents, my husband had to sleep between visits and still go to work. You want to know another great fact. The last time he was in the hospital ,Children's Hospital reported us to DHR for malnourishment and neglect. They said all his vitamin counts were way down and he was malnourished, when actually they had miss diagnosed him. DHR investigated us and cleared us of ALL charges, but Children's Hospital put him on a special diet, which included 4 glasses of milk a day, 3 eight ounce bottles of pediasure, 3 DIFFERENT fruits a day, at least, if not more 3 FRESH, NOT CANNED, NOT FROZEN, but FRESH vegetables a day ; I told them with a family of five I do the best I can. Anyway the DHR case worker said she would help us get food stamp assistance to cover it. Well I went and applied , went to the interview, a week later we were denied. They said we made too much money. I called the DHR case worker and she told me there's nothing that she can do, that they have guidelines and she couldn't make them approve us. So me getting a job right now is not possible with my son being sick, because his immune system can't handle being around other children. Do you want to know what else we've done to try to improve the situation? Well I am going to tell you anyway... Section 8 there's a 6 month waiting list, food stamps - we make too much money, Government home improvements- there's a two year waiting list, energy assistance- head of house hold most be disabled. Family assistance- You can't have a job. Child care assistance(when my son was going to daycare)- a one year or longer waiting list. I have been to EVERY government grant website and everyone of them is a scam. My husband has gone as far as working 2 full time jobs, 16 hours a day, he lasted one month before he fell ill due to exhaustion. I am angry, extremely angry. I have beautiful smart children who could become anything they want to be, but I can't give them those opportunities. My oldest daughter has been an A honor roll student must of here time in school, my 9 year old has been an A B honor roll student. They have never been in trouble.They get awards for their conduct and what do they get in return? All my 10 year old wants is to play soccer, she could be in the Olympics one day, but that dream want happen because her mama and daddy can't afford it. My 9 year old is the best artist you have ever seen.. She could be the next DeVinci but the world will never know, because mama and daddy can't afford to send her to art school. My 4 year old, the one who is always sick wants to play football, or baseball.He can't because he is sick. He probably could be cured if instead of worrying about money, doctors worried about him. *He's a human being for God sakes* but NO, "what kind of payment will you be making" is more important than getting a happy 4 year old well. He could be Bo Jackson one day,Do you know last year when my girls started school; I couldn't afford their school supplies, their school fees, I couldn't even get them new school clothes. All three of them need new shoes, they are wearing flip flops because they are $2 dollars at the Dollar Store. You want to know another fact about my family? When Children's hospital reported us to DHR they reported "possible drug use" do you want to know why? Because my husband and I have horrible teeth. Its not because of drugs, which by the way we are and where and always have been drug free. The reason our teeth are so bad is because I have a vitamin deficiency, and my husband has severe acid reflux which we can't buy the meds to treat. My 9 year old needs braces and my 4 year old his teeth are turning clear-- as in translucent, probably because of his sickness. The thing is: I am out of options. I don't know what to do anymore.We are so far behind on our mortgage, I don't see how they haven't kicked us out yet. I'm tired of my kids being sick. I am tired of feeding them whatever I can find under $10.00. They need fruits and vegetables, vitamins just don't work the same. I want them to be able to succeed. You know I quit school when I was 16, worst mistake of my whole life ,but even thou I quit I am extremely intelligent. So is my husband. We are not choosing to live this life ; this life has chosen us. You only have one life, It makes me angry that this is how my one chance is turning out, and there's nothing I can do about it. You would think this being the land of opportunities, We would have more opportunities than this. . The only reason I have this computer that I am writing this e-mail on, is we felt it was worth the risk to try and find help. By the way its from a rent to own place, and it's a used computer. All I want is help. PLEASE, someone help. Give me answers to why our government cares so little about us when we are the ones who put them were they are.

Contact info:



Sincerely,
Tammy

[Saltymomma]

Life is not fair. And no one wants handouts. We will always have the poor and we will always have the rich and those in between. Put your trust in God and continue to depend on him. Hook up with a good church. You say you tithe or have tithed. God owns everything anyway. I am surprised your church has not stepped in to help.

That is what Christians should be doing. If the so called "right" people would just do right and help and not fund their own slush funds and buy jets, boats, and toys that will eventually rot and get old and start looking out for their neighbor, then this world would not be in this situation.

We get what we get in life. We marry who we want, we bring children into this crazy world hoping to protect them from the craziness. It is hard. Get involved at school. Get involved at church. Get involved in the community. Start helping other people. Volunteer and serve others. I promise you, when you get that attitude, doors will open up for you. Give and get the spirit of giving even if you do not have much to give. Give what you can. There are others worse off than you. God will not put more on you than you can bear. You are bearing it.. That means you are still in the game and fighting the battle.
Keep the faith. Get creative.

Start your own team for your children. Take them to library, spend the time with them. Read scripture with them, Children do not care about having things or stuff as long as they got mom and dad and see love and get that time in with you. Don't be depressed around them. Do not put a guilt trip on them about what is happening. Stay up beat. Do not blame the government. You really do not want government handouts with strings attached. Things do get better.

You may have to work. One work a different shift. Get someone to care for the youngest child so you can get some sleep, The school age children are in school. THere are scholarships out there for free after care or a big discount. You do have to fill out the paper work and get involved so you will know. Go back to school, there is free money out there. Once you are doing something for yourself, others will see it and will want to help.

If you are just sitting around waiting for a gift, that is wishful thinking, But if you have a positive attitude and not blaming the government or people and you are working towards something positive, and you have invested your energy and time in it... others will see it and help you reach your goal.

"When your back is against the wall...don't turn your back on GOD "

[daphnye]

I'm sorry for your situation. I went through a similar situation, and still lost my house, but here are a few suggestions that I hope help. The salvation army will help with either mortgage or rent a month or two. Nothing excessive, but you have to prove bad circumstances. You can get on programs for electric, which yours seems really high to me. (I can't imagine having to pay that much every month) The program allows you to make reduced payments based on income. They also came to my home and provided me with those low wattage bulbs, and a new toaster oven. You can also go to the salvation army for food. Hey, anything helps, and pride won't feed the troops. Anyway, good luck.

[Fr_Chuck]

I am surprised you even got any response, Each government agency works within itself and has to have speicif forms and requests,

Social services, work with food stamps, courts work with court orders,
Insurance is through private companies. State law makers make garnishmet laws. Taxes are set by our law makers. Your new insurance should take care of a lot of the medical bills now, and bankruptcy is a chose if you have to, to clear old debts.

You always pay food and housing before you pay anything else