Unemployed Friends: Jobless Find Support Online

Unemployment can be lonely. "It's isolating to be unemployed and at home while most of the rest of the world is working," said Jennifer Hong, a mother of three in South Carolina. So she did something about it.

"I've been unemployed for two years. I couldn't find a forum or a place for people like myself to discuss unemployment issues so I created one," said Hong, who launched www.unemployed-friends.com last July. "I didn't think it would take off, but people started coming and it really grew."

Hong said the site gets about 5,000 unique visitors a day and that there are 200 to 300 members online at any given time. People write in the forum not only about the frustrations of the jobless life, but also about what's going on in Washington, D.C. with extensions of unemployment benefits -- and how they can get involved.

Hong's may be the only site specifically designed as a forum for casualties of the recession, but the unemployed pool their emotional and logistical resources in lots of places online. At www.opencongress.org, a Sunlight Foundation site that enables readers to track legislation, bills regarding unemployment benefits frequently top the "most viewed" box on the site's "issues" page.

"One of the things that surprises us is the number of people who comment on and follow closely bills to extend unemployment benefits," said Sunlight's Bill Allison. "Some of whom are almost like self-organizing self-help groups where people share information on benefits in their states."

That's certainly the case with the page for a previous unemployment benefits extension -- the page has 57,000 comments, many of them from people explaining to each other how the law might affect them where they live.

Before adjourning for its two-week Easter break at the end of March, Congress failed to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which provides up to 53 weeks of unemployment benefits on top of the 26 weeks provided by states. The program lapsed on April 6, and some benefits recipients have been told they will soon stop receiving checks (though it's unclear that state workforce agencies have actually stopped their EUC programs since people generally expect Congress to get its act together next week).

HuffPost readers: If you prematurely lost or expect to lose access to Emergency Unemployment Compensation because of the lapse, tell us about it -- email [e-mail].

Mike Thornton, a freelance writer in Rochester, N.Y. has been blogging for the Examiner about every incremental development since Congress began its game of chicken with unemployment benefits before the break.

"It just happened to hit me that what Congress is doing is using the unemployed as pawns for their political battles," said Thornton in an interview with HuffPost. (Thornton himself is not receiving unemployment benefits.) "I get a little obsessed with things and I found a niche."

Thornton said his readership has grown steadily and that he receives 15 to 20 emails a day from people desperate to know what Congress might do -- and also just to tell him what's happening on the ground. "I'm getting some really heartbreaking stories from some people who are really going through some difficult times, and it would seem to me I'm more of a venting source," he said. "I respond to every letter I get."

Hong said that at www.unemployed-friends.com, readers are most interested in whether Congress will add an additional "tier" of benefits to the four tiers (consisting of several weeks each) available under the Emergency Unemployment Benefits program. In some states, laid-off workers can get 99 weeks of benefits.

Just before the break, Sen. Tom Coburn, the Oklahoma Republican who has led the party's stand on deficit reduction and blocked Democrats' efforts to extend benefits, said that Congress would push the lifeline to 103 weeks and beyond -- but neither Democratic nor Republican leadership has confirmed that that will happen.

Hong said she ran out of benefits last week. Fortunately, her husband found work after they both lost their jobs in the Michigan automotive industry and moved to South Carolina. They have three young children. "I don't know how long I can hold on," she said.

Comments

[NEWNEWDEAL]

09:52 PM on 04/21/2010

Dear Congress,

Has your staff told you or showed you the thousands upon thousands of calls and letters in regards to TIER V UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSIONS for the 2 million who have used 99 weeks and need a lifeline emergency extension? All house and senate are getting them in volume. Democrats and republicans.
But the silence on TIER V is amazing!!!

It seems to be falling upon deaf ears in congress!!

A march on Washington is being planned now.

Lives are in the balance on this!!!
These Americans by no fault of their own
Cannot find work after nearly two years!!!

We are in an economic depression not seen since the 1930’s.

An economic tsunami is coming to every shore in America soon.
Economist will call it a double dip recession That was unexpected.
I will call it a part 2 depression.

The jobs that were added in March were federal census jobs that last only a few weeks so please for your own credibility do not play that card.

This economic crisis was caused by the republicans and some democrats as well.
Also the banks wall street and the rich are to blame.
Then they were to big to fail and we bailed then out insteads of the working class and unemployed! shame shame shame.

Please inform your fellow congressmen on both sides this TIER V greater than 99 weeks unemployment extension issue WILL cost them the election.
Not health care not the rest. This TIER V will.

[mark1958]

04:12 PM on 06/01/2010

Where and when is this march on Washington being planned?

I am interested?

[e-mail]

[NEWNEWDEAL]

09:51 PM on 04/21/2010

Tier v people,

Remember NELP.
They have been silent and invisible on TIER V as
each day week month goes by where we cant pay our rent buy groceries pay basic bills lose our houses our hope our dignity.

When i went to the UNEMPLOYED FRIENDS websight and posted my thoughts on NELP I was immediately banned from the sight?
WTF

with unemployed friends like that who needs enemies?

Tier V people do you notice that we seem to be coming up with our own ideas- march on washington
petitions
calling and emailing president press congress?

We are fighting this alone from square one when an organization has all the tools and options and contacts with press and Washington like NELP. This is wrong.

I get the impression that NELP thinks we should have found a job by now
When jobs have never been more scarce!!!

Keep calling and emailing the president and congress and the press!!!

Fight the good fight do not go gently into that good night.

[catbert]

11:05 PM on 05/04/2010

Dear NewNewDeal,

We feel the same as you that NELP sold us out come visit us at
http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2010/04/23/unemployment-extension-2.htm#comment-60165

you are very welcomed!

[docwatt88]

07:08 PM on 04/13/2010

so this new extention they are fighting about will not help the long term unemployed

[MyVesta]

07:34 PM on 04/15/2010

Nope.

Long-term unemployed official no longer exist.

[DJInBoise]

03:40 PM on 04/12/2010

Friends helping other friends find a job:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Find-a-Job/109564345740280

Find a Job is for those Americans who are unemployed and looking for work. Share job listings with your Facebook friends who are looking for work.

[NEWNEWDEAL]

11:26 PM on 04/11/2010

Oh by the way in regards to the so called friends of the unemployed;

your no friend of mine or the tier V folks.

I posted my comments about NELPS lukewarm efforts for the TIER V unemployed Friday on the friends of the unemployed web sight..

With friends like that who needs enemies.

My post were removed and I was immediately barred from the websight.
What happened to freedom of expression in this country?

VERY INTERESTING>>>hhhhhhh mmmmmmmm

What happened to

[NEWNEWDEAL]

11:20 PM on 04/11/2010

To continue our battle for TIER V EUC 99 weeks long term extension…

We must all call and write at least 7 calls per day and 7 letters;
Mix the letters between your state house and senate leaders;
Add in Pelosi and Reid plus Obama and BIDEN;
Dont forget Bunning Coburn Kyle and Demint.
Flood them they are starting to wake up!!!!

We are making progress but we are fighting this on our own.

Fight the good fight Do not go gently into that good night!!!!

[NEWNEWDEAL]

11:18 PM on 04/11/2010

Here is NELPS last blurb:

“But Democratic and Republican leadership offices in the House and Senate were unaware of any plan to add a new tier of benefits. Judy Conti, a lobbyist for the National Employment Law Project, told HuffPost that the idea of an additional tier has no traction even among the most liberal lawmakers.

“When it has come up to congressional offices, they said ‘We’re not there yet, there’s not the political will for a Tier 5,’” Conti said.

Hey Conti wake up. Its your job to get us that traction along with all your other buddies at NELP.

Put the rubber on the road Conti so we can get some traction.
Respond back to ANYONE ANY POLITICIAN PRESS ETC that isnt aware:\

1) Lives are in the balance on this Tier V 99 week plus extension.

2) Tier V needs 4/7/13/20/26 weeks NOW>

3) We are in an economic tsunami; The bad part comes next.
The economy is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

4) CONTI you must be cruel to be kind with these politicians.
BURN BRIDGES NOW if you must.
For the long term unemployed you must go the extra mile now.

If you keep on doing what your doing we will keep on getting what we are getting.

Your so respectable . NELP turn up the heat on these polticians press etc now.

They claim to be fighting tooth and nail for us. REALLY?

[NEWNEWDEAL]

11:13 PM on 04/11/2010

NELP IS worthless.

They are in bed with the same politicians that cannot extend benefits and sat on the fence while we suffered for three months last year with no benefits.REMEMBER?

The NELP staff has done nothing on TIER 5 long term unemployment for greater than 99 weeks.

The entire staff of NELP needs to be fired and unemployed. They need new blood so they can do what is required to help the long term unemployed.

Check out the web sight for NELP.
This TIER 5 and long term unemployment should be on the main home page. But its not important enough to them. Where is NELPS priorities. Fisrt things first NELP>

with friends like Nelp who needs enemies?

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

01:26 PM on 04/11/2010

A lot of internships too. Most are unpaid. Even at HuffPo... Kinda feel like ya just can't win most days.

[wutzurbeef]

01:59 AM on 04/11/2010

I was unemployed for 4 years due to a medical condition, which had many similarities to the plight of someone unemployed due to job loss. The internet was such a wonderful source of support and inspiration during that time. The people I have met online truly helped me to stay centered and focused when it would have been so easy to sink into depression or self loathing over my own condition. And ultimately I built several long term friendships through the net. These friends were my sounding board and gave me the final push and encouragement to make my way back into a full time job.
I know not everyone can find the same situation as I did. But for those who look for it, the support is out there, waiting.

[enl8653]

06:39 PM on 04/10/2010

I have been umemployed over a year now, lost my job due to a medical leave. The ageism is very real I'm 56 and I'm sick to death of hearing in the media how employers want the older worker because of their work ethic its a bunch of BULL SHIT they don't want to pay for your experience and know how. Here in SoCal job postings want a bachelors degree for a crappy 9.00 an hour position???. I tried a few temp agencies what a waste they screen out the older workers. GOOD LUCK to all of the unemployed who are still searching.

[wutzurbeef]

02:11 AM on 04/11/2010

Yeah, I hear that too! I am 53, was out of work 4 years. I ran into some of the reverse age descrimination, mostly from when I was interviewed by people allot younger than myself. But I found work finally through posting resumes online. And I think everyone should seriously learn how to update their resumes, especially if they are older. My list of work experiences was the critical piece that finally placed me in a job. Not my age. I think we just have to keep trying and not give up.

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

01:15 PM on 04/11/2010

All these jobs posted by Randstad, Appleone, Officeteam etc... seem to really bear no use. I've applied to Lord knows how many jobs, run my resume' past a multitude of professional colleagues and well employed friends and... nothing. I have far more experience than it takes to be an admin assistant (of which they want a 4 year degree-which is CLEARLY a means to weed applicants) and I can't even get face time to try and convince them that I'm right for the job.

I want to work. I rarely encounter someone who is unemployed who would prefer to worry day in and day out about how they're going to make ends meet as opposed to work a full time job with benefits. Sure, nobody can argue that having a more flexible schedule is nice-for a short time. Because all of that goes away once you realize that there is literally no end in site.

Nothing feels as good as being full employed and knowing that you will be able to pay for even the basic necessities.

[castlerider]

01:51 PM on 04/10/2010

Something that Congress should DO AWAY WITH, and reverse out of our laws is The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, which are the Bush tax cuts that reduced the tax liability for the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. These tax cuts resulted in the greatest concentration of wealth since 1929 with the richest one percent of Americans holding nearly half of the country's wealth.

Why in the world it was called the "Jobs and Growth Tax Relief" Act, since it did VERY LITTLE to EVER bring in more jobs. Jobs actually DECREASED under Bush, and everybody knows this, making this Act very little more then a mask, a disguise which was very helpful in actually taking from the middle class and actually destroying more jobs.
.

[blewvelvet]

10:28 AM on 04/11/2010

Like "Tort Reform" which put "cap amounts" a person could sue a company..which benefitted the corporations. They could now "calculate" how profitable it was to harm to a town or group of people (i.e. pharmaceuticals - ephedrine) While knowing a product was harmful, they could multiply people x the "cap amount"..and determine if it was still profitable to mass produce.

Worded, packaged and sold to average "joe voter" made it sound great while using words like "fair and balanced" (another "opposite term" the Republitards use to coerce the voters) This is a fact of the past 12 years of Congress Republican rule from 1994-2006. You can still watch them lie to your faces today as we watch packaged people like Palin, Beck and Hannity. If Republicans are promoting it "it's bad for you!" - NOT in your best interest.

Tort Reform, pushed by Republican controlled congress and G.W. Bush, made tort reform a centerpiece of their agenda. Both claiming people were frivolously making lawsuits and it's causing high costs of the Healthcare systems, which wasn't the case. In fact, the Healthcare companies knew back then they were going to "not treat" in the future and needed tort reform to completely screw humans out of money. They were calculating it back then.

The corporations got MORE than they dreamed under the GW Bush administration. And that's just one case out of MANY!! Everything is against the American worker since 1994...which was the year Republicans swept congress.

[humanbeing-rick]

11:40 AM on 04/10/2010

Why do we have such high unemployment with no relief in sight?
Because the executives and business owners have successfully broken the labor unions in most industries. The gains that labor unions made for the American work force over the last century have been shredded. The executives and owners took their industries and ran to foreign labor, selling out their own fellow Americans. They could not get their own way, so they took the ball away. The neo-con movement subsidized these efforts, and have created a market model and business system that encourages more of the same.
It is time to level the playing field for the American workers, and the workers rights and protections we have gained by our forefathers. It is time to put a stop to the race to the bottom of cheap labor from foreigners. Rather than race to the bottom, we should help raise the world to our level. We need to keep our dignity and respect, we deserve a decent living wage and safe working conditions. We do not deserve to be unemployed while the executives and owners profit from foreign labor and unsafe working conditions of other poor countries in the world.
It is time to do the right thing!
Save America!

[pbinh]

03:09 AM on 04/11/2010

The unionization rate in this country is under 10%, around what it was prior to the Flint strikes in the 30s. We've come full circle. No Glass-Steagall, no unions, miners being killed by corporate greed...

[blewvelvet]

10:31 AM on 04/11/2010

Well..did you vote Republican the past 20-30 years?...Then you all got what you deserved!

By the way!!!
How's that 30 years of Republican damage and deregulation workin' for ya!!!?/

[humanbeing-rick]

11:24 AM on 04/10/2010

The unemployed and under-employed need to organize and mobilize their forces together to affect change, and improve the job situation. Support the March on Wall Street being organized by the major labor unions. Write your congressmen and senators.

Every single job that is outsourced to a foreigner is an American job lost, and another American family that goes hungry. The old school business leaders have sold out their fellow Americans by sending our industries and jobs to foreigners. Our current laws are structured to encourage the outsourcing behavior, written by the business lobby. We need to change that, before our jobs will come back!

[sugarf35]

10:38 AM on 04/10/2010

I have been employed since I was 15 Now 50 years old. I have never in all my years of being employed collected unemployment.
Does it make me lazy, NO...
Do I want to be on unemployment, NO..
Do I want to wait to see if the politicians will vote to see if I can survive another few weeks, NO>
Do I want to worry day and night to see if I can pay my bills, NO

Do I look for a job everyday, YES

I have read so many comments about the unemployed being lazy, weak, and taking for granted we are waiting for our checks.
Well to all of you out there that have a job, make ends meet, and are worry-free, I say walk in the unemployed shoes. We worry everyday..
I have since lost my house to foreclosure, my credit is shot, and did not plan for the future, "as I should, what I did take for granted is that "I would have a job all of the time." I thought I was very employable all of the time... I thought that I would have money all of the time.
So to those that are demeaning the unemployed, I say to you, "Do not take what you have for granted, as many of us did, you may someday be in the same boat."

[andiannj]

11:25 PM on 04/10/2010

I'm amazed at all the stories coming from the unemployed 50 and over who worked all their life then lost their jobs, used up their life savings, lost possessions, and homes. It's hard to find jobs when you're over 50. Companies aren't suppose to discriminate, but they do and age discrimination is very hard to prove. How are all these people who lost everything and don't have many years left in the work force going to survive retirement? The government needs to give a tax break or some sort of incentive for companies to hire those over 50.

[blewvelvet]

10:46 AM on 04/11/2010

Because it ALWAYS the Republican tactic to separate. This is why Reagan used the term "Welfare Queens" and it stuck like fly paper. A lot of people were hurt by this tactic..single and abused mothers in the 80s had no way of getting out of their situations.

Tort Reform used the same tactic to frivolous lawsuits..which of course, every good person wants to pull their weight and not be a slacker...it sounded good to them...but was connected to how much corporations could profit on damage and harm they could do to you without you suing them. With a capped amount..they could now calculate "potentially hurt people" x "cap amount"...and still see if it was profitable.

Corporations were good to go when Republicans swept up congress under their control in 1994. Until 2006, they pushed bills through that were against the American worker up till until Democrats got control in those mid-term elections....the Republicans couldn't do it so quickly now.

Now, with a Democratic President..it will take years to undue the damage and get corporations back in check. So far, I've seen some flyers come back from my bank..saying they "can't screw me so much anymore" and my health insurance cannot drop me now .

It's working..let it work....and keep conscious of it all!!!

When u hear that "it's the victim's fault".. you know who's side they are on.

Republicans, the bad side..or the devil..take your pick.