Po, you are a good guy, no matter what everyone else says!

I too, have been homeless, on food stamps, and without power, etc. I know how it feels. I was raised to believe that the man was expected to be the breadwinner. Expected to provide. And if he didn't, he was looked down upon.

Took me a few years to accept that I wasn't going to be able to do that, and that my wife was gonna have to carry me.

She accepted it and I keep house, do dishes, laundry, etc.

I had a boss once, didn't know that I was on food stamps, and he once said to me that people on Gov't. assistance should be shot. It was all I could do not to take his head off. But then, no job. If he'd paid me better, I wouldn't have needed food stamps.

I would go to the end of the world and back to help our fine community members. As you say, Po, some of the finest guys and gals there are are right here, in this community.

Best guys around, all right here.. 

I guess misery loves company, I fit right in with this crowd. Jim I've got so much in common with you I could be your mentally challenged little brother.

DP, I'm so sorry.....

Thats because you are both my illegitimate,abandoned children,conceived while on a weekend bender. DP and RND LEE! Happy birthday kids. Glad I left when I did, sounds like life was hard, lol.

RND, about a new wall. Could you make it a globe, like earth,  and when you hover it rotates and you can select and zoom in to that members position on the globe, seems how wc is world wide. Get me a rough up by end of the day please.

Po & Jim are my real super heroes!  Jim takes action & Po with wise supporting encouragement. I too have been thru this and I am not in a very good position either at the moment. A lousy landlord , kids laid off & living at home, but good news is a couple of them are now working and one will be back to more time at work. But I'm afraid that may come to late. So I make ends meet, and plans to move to a more financially affordable living situation. Times are tuff & one moment I have work or promises of work then it evaporates. I get the air let out of me quite often, so I believe that the good Lord will always provide and yes he does. I spent 2 winters ago living in a car & with my girlfriend & 2 dogs, it was 20 to 40 below zero. I'm in Minnesota! I wouldn't go to a shelter because I would have to give the dogs up! Once in a while we had enough to stay @ a motel while looking for housing but that ate up our moving funds. It was very hard & you all wondered where I went for so long. took me months to get situated and still I too am living from paycheck to paycheck. I got some help from YWCA, and a couple of other churches and they helped us manage the bills for 6 months. I am very grateful for the help & kindness I received. We still struggle but I can't give up, it's not me. I want to encourage you to stay focused and it's not easy to ask for help, but it has to happen. I used to give money away years ago, I even have  lots of money owed to me, I'll never see it. I got scammed here and lost 150.000.00 in a business venture. So I got stranded in Minnesota. I could go on & on but the point is Wiz we all here for you & understand I know I really understand. I have no funds available @ present but I have my prayers that I know you will come out of this ok. If & when I can I will send some money or if down the road as we know things don't just suddenly get better there are still bumps to getting back on track, all you have to do is let me know. Food I have, many times we help others by providing food & other items. Let yourself be helped, it will benefit you greatly. We're all here for you in many ways! 

Thank you Stramp, I really appreciate that. I hope smoother roads are ahead for all of us, these speedbumps are killin' me.

I say Occupy speedbumps! That'll learn 'em. 

here's hoping for a smoother road for you.... and maybe a few curves....  

My best wishes and hope go out to you!

I'll be out of work next month and I fear that what is happening to you will also be my fate. I'm 61 years old with just a High School education and in my business those kind of credentials are now worthless. I'll do all I can to prevent it but still that cold sick fear settles right in the gut. It eats at you and you have to be strong to just keep that fear at bay. If you let it gain control of you that's when you are doomed. All energy spent has to be positive as hard as that is to do.

I wish I could help you and I truly feel for you.

I take it you are too young to get Social Security yet. At least I can start on that next May so getting to May is my number one objective.

Somebody told me recently that while not losing sight of the long term you have to survive one day at a time.

Keep your sanity and health is number one because without them you can't function.

Redneck is a Saint is all I can say.

No saint. Just a friend trying to get help for a friend. Any of you guys would do the same for me....I'm sure.

The community deserves all credit.

I wish you luck, Chasbo. I am currently trying to get my disability. I haven't been healthy enough to work in 9 years.

I have an appeal hearing coming in a few weeks, wish me luck.

Luck RND.

Man that sucks! $17!? WTF? I wish I could do something for ya but I'm still reaching up to touch bottom myself. I'm basically waiting for the landlord to raise my rent...and then that will be it for me as well.

I hear ya Noah! Been there...still there.

Speaking of speed bumps...when life gives you lemons...well...you get the point!

It really is hard to ask for help.The world does look to the man to do everything.When my husband lost his job we stretched my small salary as far as it would go.He was the one to go see about food stamps.I never thought any less of him he did what was needed for our family we had 3 small ones at the time.They grew up taking a page from their fathers book they all work hard when they have work and still help us out when they can.

Take heart guys you are all good men who just happen to need a leg up at this time no shame in that lots of love

lol @ Giz

Nice bumps!

Mega Bump!   ^^^^