Alexandra Jarrin, Who Organized 'Letters to Bernie,' is Nearly Homeless and Needs Help

During December 2010, Alexandra Jarrin, an unemployed Vermonter, organized the "Letters to Bernie" campaign, where she encouraged the long-term unemployed to send their unemployment stories to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Sen. Sanders had courageously filibustered President Obama's and the Republican's tax cut compromise as well as supported the extension of unemployment benefits to all unemployed. Ms. Jarrin's appeal was in response to the proposed extension of unemployment benefits for those who had not exhausted all unemployment benefits. The unemployment extension did not include millions of 99ers, some who have been without any financial support for up to one year and desperately need financial lifeline. Ms. Jarrin collected those letters and hand delivered them to Sen. Sanders' Vermont office.

Her appeal received a strong response from the unemployed and her efforts were featured on a CNN segment highlighted on The Huffington Post. Ms. Jarrin unselfishly mounted this campaign to encourage others to share their unemployment experiences with a senator sympathetic to their plight, hoping to convince Congress to extend unemployment benefits to the long-term unemployed, the "99ers".

During that December 2010 campaign, Ms. Jarrin's life was stressful, but she had a place to live and was hoping for better days ahead. Unfortunately, those better days have yet to materialize in 2011. She is still unemployed, although she has applied for more than 3000 jobs. A friend of Ms. Jarrin contacted me and relayed that Ms. Jarrin was nearly homeless. I contacted Ms. Jarrin and asked how she was holding up and she replied:

I am sorry that I didn't get a chance to get back to you when you emailed me last week; things have just been blowing up all over the place in my life. That whole issue was I just had knee surgery, and fell right afterwards which caused issues. The surgery was not successful really and I am still recovering from it. I have several health issues that I was aware of before but not to the degree that I am finding out, that is what happens when you go years without health insurance.

So on the heels of all this, my friend -- the place I was staying -- told me that I had to leave immediately because her landlord would not allow her to have someone live there any longer. On Wednesday he threatened her with eviction if I didn't leave that day. So I am homeless again. I am so stressed out and I came down with some version of the flu even after getting a flu shot this past fall. UGH, just miserable.

Ms. Jarrin received some much needed assistance from a Good Samaritan and "Letters to Bernie" reader who graciously paid for a one-week hotel stay. After that paid-week Ms. Jarrin will again face the prospect of homelessness during a brutal Vermont winter. Ms. Jarrin's car will likely be repossessed, which will put her in an even more precarious situation; unable to visit a doctor, unable to look for work properly, and unable to live in the car in the event she can no longer pay for her hotel room.

Since Huffington Post has taken more than three days to publish this post, the situation for Mrs. Jarrin remains grim as her following update indicates:

I have one more night here that is paid for after tonight. I have to be out by noon on weds if not paid. The loan company has called me all day long about my car. They are relentless. I am so stressed out that the medical tests they tried to do today couldn't be done. They are trying to do a glucose tolerance test but you are supposed to remain calm. I don't remember calm and what it feels like.

What makes Ms. Jarrin's situation even more troubling is that she is one of millions of long-term unemployed who have been abandoned by a disconnected and near inhumane Congress and executive branch and left stranded without any means of support. Even Vice President Joe Biden quipped clueless to the unemployed, "Hang in there." How can someone "hang in there" who has nothing?

Many people doubt that the long-term unemployed are anxious to get back to work and simply want to collect benefits. The job openings data show that assumption couldn't be further from the truth. The latest BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary showed "3.1 million job openings on the last business day of December." When considering that there are nearly 26.5 million unemployed and underemployed who want full-time work, 3.1 million job openings is not nearly enough to make a significant dent in the unemployed/underemployed population. That's more than 8 people seeking each available job. And many of those job openings are part-time, seasonal, or temporary, which puts full-time jobs in even greater demand. The bottom line is that there are not enough jobs to meet the demand for jobs and until that situation improves, the unemployed, such as Ms. Jarrin, cannot simply "hang in there" without some assistance.

With the backing of a compliant Congress, corrupt bankers and failed corporate executives now are receiving record compensation after robbing the American Treasury of trillions of dollars, but that same Congress can't see fit to help those most in need. This American tragedy won't improve unless Americans demand more accountability from their government. Unfortunately, even if the American public finally opens its eyes fully to the fact that the middle class and poor are being financially disadvantaged and hustled for the benefit of the most well-to-do, change will take more time than people in Ms. Jarrin's position can wait.

Since Congress currently seems incapable of acting responsibly for those most harmed financially during this Great Recession, the American people will have to step forward and take up the slack. One person cannot help everyone, but everyone can help one person.

Since this post was released, there has been a generous response to Ms. Jarrin's situation. Ms. Jarrin can accept Paypal contributions and communications at [e-mail] from those who wish to help. If you have any questions or concerns about this process, you can also contact me at [e-mail].

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

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Comments

[tbrdfx96]

07:42 PM on 02/20/2011

We all complain and worry about the homeless but very few of us do anything about it. I keep saying that I want to go to the shelter to volunteer and do stuff but I've never done it. I do give money to the local food bank but not nearly as often as I should. If we all got off the computer and went out to really help someone it would be a start. I am just as guilty as anyone. I know there are people that do a lot and I commend them.

[Susan Osterhout Troiano]

11:24 AM on 02/16/2011

How about this one. I had to quit my job to take care of my husband who was the bread winner and he died 7 months later. I can not get any help and no I can't get his social security because I am not 60+ yet. No do not qualify for unemployment. I get $200 a month for food and that is it. No can't get welfare no children under age and I am not disable. Yup been looking for almost 2 years and now loosing my home. To me, it seems our country wants all of use to roll over and die...bottom line.

[MrsMissouri]

09:10 AM on 02/16/2011

It's evident two points of view drive comments on the unemployed and rapidly sinking: the still-employeds' fear of "Oh but for the grace of God," and the disgust of those personally experiencing a friend or loved one's ongoing economic tightrope walk. Ms. Jarrin represents the boogeyman the former is terrified of, thus disbelief, even denigration provides comfort. Her story is horrifying and not unique. It's doubtful Mike Thornton can keep pace with the stories he hears. But for some to admit how dire the economic situation is, and worsening, is to admit they, too, could passenger the same boat someday. The largest lie is the misnomered Great Recession. It isn't. It's the Great Wall Street/Bank Robbery for which we all paid for and continue to, while the criminals of all stripes who machinated it are immune, if not profiting from. Evidence is as near as your local fast food restaurant. Notice, if you dare, the average age of the employees has risen a couple of decades in the past few years. Think that's coincidence? Think again. It's called underemployment or, more realistically, slower bankruptcy. And all thousands of skilled, experienced, educated people now have to make basic ends meet--as if minimum wages can. Think it's coincidence a full time, minimum wage paycheck pretty much equals average unemployment benefits? That average income has remained static for thirty years should be a national disgrace in itself. And is, for all not fearfully, willfully lying to themselves.

[Julepandme]

01:46 PM on 02/16/2011

Well said.

[Fiona54]

11:25 PM on 02/15/2011

Great article Mike and I must say it is very troubling. I did not think I would ever see an atmosphere like the current poisonous political one in which Congress runs rampant over the old, the poor and the unemployed. It is indeed a very dark time in America and I don't see any relief in sight. Where are the real Democrats?

[RafaleMirage]

10:23 PM on 02/15/2011

Declare an immigration moratorium--and suspend the job-stealing H1-B program--until unemployment is reduced to 5%. Needless to say, illegal aliens should be deported and their treasonous enablers (employers) jailed.

[Zilo]

08:26 PM on 02/15/2011

What a dark period in America. I wonder if this is what the Great Depression was like. Oh sure, it was much harsher, but the mentality of people claiming to be be "patriotic" "Christian" Americans...I can't fathom how they don't see their own hypocrisy. Now I really know what Steinbeck was talking about in the Grapes of Wrath. I never really knew until now the depths this country had sunk to. But now I see it.

[Rasalom]

05:51 PM on 02/15/2011

Don't landlords have to give notice of eviction well in advance of a deadline?

[loveofphysics]

08:16 PM on 02/15/2011

Thank you for letting us know you are an insensitive human being

[Rasalom]

09:26 PM on 02/15/2011

... Where do you reach that conclusion?

[MelisNJ]

05:46 PM on 02/15/2011

I guess I don't understand how someone who has the wherewithal to organize a letter-writing campaign can't manage to parlay that into a burgeoning career or even her own business. I feel for her, and I'm sure many here will help her, but I do hope that after her hopelessness subsides that she realizes that all gumption she needs is inside of her.

[jamenta]

08:04 PM on 02/15/2011

Economic exploitation is not some fantasy - nor is the fact this woman applied to a heck of a lot of jobs and still hasn't found one.

This clearly shows the failure in "individualism" or the "every man for himself" philosophy. Civilization depends on the cooperation of the people in a country - and the regulation and control of those who would make slaves and serfs of us all - if given the chance.

[caveman1313]

08:13 PM on 02/15/2011

all fine and dandy but we don't have an "individualism" system. not even close.

[MiddleMolly]

01:41 AM on 02/16/2011

It's called "5 jobseekers for every job" and this woman has health problems. Put the economy together with her particular situation, and she's plumb out of luck. Letter-writing campaigns don't add much to a resume.

[butterfly218]

04:41 PM on 02/15/2011

I do hope the dem's are learning that they need to get organized and get out the vote . The dem's need the house and the senate to pass the legislation America needs to survive . The captain of our team needs all the players to show up and win .

[TresJolie7]

09:47 PM on 02/15/2011

No thanks. We expect Obama to do everything by himself.

[MiddleMolly]

01:42 AM on 02/16/2011

Exactly. Most of the Dems have their hearts in the right places, but they have been butting heads with the Republicans for the past two years.

[4TJefferson]

03:53 PM on 02/15/2011

Sounds like the 99'ers need a "Day of Rage" of their own.

[Carlariz]

03:51 PM on 02/15/2011

Does anybody know where we can help or donate to her??

[JeffreyGold]

06:37 PM on 02/15/2011

Yes, you can go to http://www.paypal.com and send her money. You can send money from your credit card or from money in your PayPal account, should you have one. The recipient email address you need is [e-mail].

[hopeforchangenow]

06:41 PM on 02/15/2011

End of the article gives the information.
"she can accept Paypal contributions and communications at [e-mail] from those who wish to help. If you have any questions or concerns about this process, you can also contact me at [e-mail]."

[ghostpigeon]

03:50 PM on 02/15/2011

I was a carpenter for twenty years and 15 years ago returned to school following the advice that we future opportunities would be found in service sector and or public sector jobs because of the new demands of the "information" driven economy. I obtained a masters and ABD in history to be able to teach college. I was diagnosed with MS during that period and everything pointed to the idea that I made the right choice to get out of the construction business. For about four years everything was going well, except that even with a fulltime teaching load, I couldn't quite make ends meet to pay of my debt, but I was less than 100 dollars short a month and put the extra 100 on credit cards, thinking a full time position would be open eventually. Then the economy collapsed and funding for colleges along with it. My teaching load dropped to four classes, then three over the course of two years. I am now in default across the board on credit cards, my car has been -impounded and lost due to registration non-payment, and my school loans are also out unpaid for the last year. I still can pay rent and food, and take public transit to two teaching positions 50 miles away from home and 90 miles from each other. I spend 7 hours a day on BART and busses to go to work to keep up three classes. Not even this can last.

[jamenta]

04:05 PM on 02/15/2011

I think you are in the same boat many ordinary Americans have been on now ... where in order to even survive, for the minimal essentials - they've had to rely on credit cards - and the usury rates charged by the Financial Sector Robber Barons.

But now - now, you can't even find a job anymore. And I mean - any job. For every five unemployed Americans, only one job is available, and usually one with low exploitive wages and little to no benefits.

I'm not sure what the eventual outcome of all this will be. There will be more desperate and broken human beings we will all see on the streets of our cities and neighborhoods. 11% of homes across our nation are empty, and 100,000 Americans had their homes foreclosed on last month. Our political leaders say the economy is reviving - since Wallstreet is booming and corporate profits are better than ever. But IMO that only means the wealthy are doing great - but for a vast majority of ordinary Americans life is getting worse - and for millions much much worse and desperate.

[joeyzasa]

03:49 PM on 02/15/2011

America has become a haven for the rich, built on the back of the poor who under the illusion that they are free.

[Julepandme]

03:58 PM on 02/15/2011

and under the illusion that one day they, too, will be rich

[caveman1313]

08:14 PM on 02/15/2011

no. the illusion is that one day they, too, might get rich

[joeyzasa]

11:55 PM on 02/15/2011

yup, the good ole "american dream" there. I once held that concept; that Id go to college and get a nice job, have enough money to do what I want; then I woke up. Everyone calls me a cynic, a pessimist, yet those are the people with jobs. I call myself a realist, an over-educated, under challenged, white male who has realized that even if I get a job, I will not have the same standard of living the baby boomers had, or be able to retire at age 65 ect ect ect...

[anothermavoter]

03:44 PM on 02/15/2011

People have to STOP staying that those who are out of work have paid into Unemployment Insurance. It's wildly inaccurate. Unemployment Insurance is paid by the companies that we work for and is paid at the state and federal levels by EMPLOYERS not by Employees.

[truchicagogal]

12:12 AM on 02/16/2011

Do your research! In some states, the employees as well as the employers pay into the system. In others the employers are supposed to pay in for their employees - even though many don't until forced to - but the fact remains that the money has been paid for that employee. Saying that someone has paid into unemployment is a catch-all phrase that has become widely accepted by everyone except the nitpickers of the world. Not everything has to be explained to the nth degree every time it is said. So please just stay out of the conversation unless you have something positive or proactive to say. This is a horrible situation that millions of us are facing and you're not helping!

[ShelbyWright]

09:10 PM on 03/04/2011

truchicagogal, He did his research! And so have I. The working have NEVER paid into the Unemployment Insurance Fund unless you live in "WASHINGTON STATE". It is not "Some States" As you have suggested. It's WASHINGTON. And they (workers) only pay in a very very small portion of which the rest is paid by the Employer. The reason we correct people/blogs on this is because it's a clear misunderstanding with most people. Everyone is very quick to correct us on blogs pertaining to just about anything. Just because your a 99er or one to be, does not give you the right to decide who corrects who. Get over it! BTW, it's only paid at the rate of about 56.00 per year per employee. In 30 yrs working, not much is paid in period! You do the math. All this extra has to come from someone/somewhere. It doesn't come out of the unemployeds! Never has, never will!

[TresJolie7]

03:31 PM on 02/15/2011

3.1 million job openings that employers are taking their sweet time to fill. What exactly are they looking for?

[DanBeach]

03:52 PM on 02/15/2011

They need thorough background checks for all who manufacture and serve widgets, too bad the bankers don't get the same treatment

[Decorina]

04:53 PM on 02/15/2011

Someone to work for $1/hour and no benefits. Of course that person is in China and the job is here - so they'll keep looking.