A Sad Story...

A sad story...
I had to go to Self Help today to try and get some help paying my gas bill. While I was waiting I overheard the man there before me. He didn't have the proper paperwork needed to complete the process. The worker that was assisting him was extremely rude...In fact, she was so rude that he burst into tears! He then told her while crying that he lost his job over 2 years ago and cant get unemployment benefits anymore. He said he is 50 yrs old and no one will hire him. After reducing the man to tears, this woman then changed her attitude and comforted him. She told him where he could find support groups, etc. (at this point, I was crying too) She also said that age discrimination is a huge problem and that the government is starting to investigate ways to stop it.

In the end, after all the tears, she said they would help him pay his utilities.

I realized something while sitting there. Its people like this man, who need our help. We need to keep advocating and fighting for help for people who cant or dont have the means to fight for themselves. I have decided that after this fight for HR 589, I am not ending it there...I will keep fighting until we see improvement. I don't know if my efforts will make a difference or not but I am more sure of this now than I ever was, this is what I was meant to do!!!

That is a very sad story. Im glad they were able to help the guy at least.

I hope the lady that made him cry thinks twice before she is that rude to someone again.

It kills me to think there are that many desperate people out there. It is awful!!

Sick & Tired wrote:I hope the lady that made him cry thinks twice before she is that rude to someone again.

It kills me to think there are that many desperate people out there. It is awful!!

People like that should not be in those types of positions. She needs to be in a back office somewhere, not in direct contact with humans.

JaneWI wrote:

Sick & Tired wrote:I hope the lady that made him cry thinks twice before she is that rude to someone again.

It kills me to think there are that many desperate people out there. It is awful!!

People like that should not be in those types of positions. She needs to be in a back office somewhere, not in direct contact with humans.

Better yet, she needs to be unemployed. People like that deserve to see what it is like to be in our position!

People like that is why I fight so hard and do what I can. I am getting burnt out and I start work next week and I could walk away now and go on with my life.

I choose not to because people like need my help. Thanks for sharing I needed to remember why I picked this fight in the first place.

You may see less of me but not the end of me.

gettheminNOVEMBER wrote:People like that is why I fight so hard and do what I can. I am getting burnt out and I start work next week and I could walk away now and go on with my life.

I choose not to because people like need my help. Thanks for sharing I needed to remember why I picked this fight in the first place.

You may see less of me but not the end of me.

gettheminNOVEMBER wrote:People like that is why I fight so hard and do what I can. I am getting burnt out and I start work next week and I could walk away now and go on with my life.

I choose not to because people like need my help. Thanks for sharing I needed to remember why I picked this fight in the first place.

You may see less of me but not the end of me.

thanks getthem, good luck with the new job!!

Jeez, can you imagine the guy's self-esteem. Lord save our country because the idiots in Congress can't.

I was just thinking...someone should try to get a mini cam and go into these places and expose them! If media wont pick it up we can do it ourselves and put the videos on youtube. I am so sick of seeing good people getting kicked when they are down!

Sick & Tired wrote:I was just thinking...someone should try to get a mini cam and go into these places and expose them! If media wont pick it up we can do it ourselves and put the videos on youtube. I am so sick of seeing good people getting kicked when they are down!

Some people have cell phones that record. I use to have one when I was a "real person".

Sick & Tired wrote:I was just thinking...someone should try to get a mini cam and go into these places and expose them! If media wont pick it up we can do it ourselves and put the videos on youtube. I am so Sick & Tired of seeing good people getting kicked when they are down!

I fixed your post for you.

LOL!!! thanks I like it

JaneWI wrote:

Sick & Tired wrote:I hope the lady that made him cry thinks twice before she is that rude to someone again.

It kills me to think there are that many desperate people out there. It is awful!!

People like that should not be in those types of positions. She needs to be in a back office somewhere, not in direct contact with humans.

I agree but she is doing her job so she is not unemployed.. and changed her tune. I had the same with IRS she was so mean and I was crying thinking now what? AFTER she went through what I almost bet was a line for line script.. she told me to relax and then gave me the name of Project Angel and other places to go for help.. I almost think they have to talk the way they do.. but they do have compassion deep down and after biz is done they show it. Not an excuse but i can feel just a little for her and the man it is tough for all,
So dont come yelling I get the man was upset and she was wrong.. But she is doing her job one I would take.. I would take any job.. BUT bill collector that job I would never take or call anyone unemployed and treat the way they do.. OK double standard...

Sorry, but the man was there trying to keep the lights or other utility on and it's a big difference because it's so basic.

No, they don't "have to talk the way they do". I've worked in non-profits with the homeless, the homeless mentally ill, addicts and seniors. I treated each person with respect and dignity. The best testament to this is that I felt completely safe walking anywhere late at night in San Francisco. While the homeless are invisible to most, I knew I was being watched over & protected.

Well, she might have been harsh at first but she immediately made up for it. For all she knows he could have just been a guy trying to get out of paying and her job is to collect payments. I don't think that means she deserves to be unemployed or there should be an investigation. Try seeing it from the other side.

she wasnt a bill collector, she was a worker at fuel assistance. But I agree, she made up for it in the end.

^ Oh... "fuel assistance"... meaning like aid? I think I didn't get that part, sorry. Then yeah, she should have been nicer considering everyone who comes is in some sort of bad situation, but I've been there in service industries and it's easy to get hardened. But good for her for realizing her mistake. Not a lot of people would care to do that.

MissRi wrote:Well, she might have been harsh at first but she immediately made up for it. For all she knows he could have just been a guy trying to get out of paying and her job is to collect payments. I don't think that means she deserves to be unemployed or there should be an investigation. Try seeing it from the other side.

I do agree with you. When I first read the original post in this topic I was furious. I retract my statement she should be unemployed.

People need to remember that Human Services were cut drastically. No only in funding the resources that are so desperately needed right now, but staffing in non-profit and state agencies have been cut to bare bones. This goes back to 2007. I worked in this field. I managed to hold on to my job until March 2008.

Employees that are still left in this field are overwhelmed. Their caseloads have quadrupled. They see the devastation this economy has done to human lives everyday on a first hand basis. They are burned out, and don't have the luxury of just walking away from their jobs. I can't imagine what that burn out must feel like today. I know having survived the first round of cuts 4 years ago, how I felt at the time. Social Service workers deserve some respect for having the strength to stay in this field while listening to hundreds of heartbreaking stories everyday.