Unemployment Diary: I Write Letters

Below is the letter I sent to both my Senators regarding the November 30 expiration of extended unemployment benefits.  If you'd like to help the millions of us out of work, please write or phone your Senators right away. (Please see resources below.) (Paragraph 2 was edited for my 2nd Senator to reflect that I visited his office a number of times as part of a lobbying delegation, not shown)

Dear Senator:

I'm writing today to urge you to vote to extend unemployment insurance. Like many, I have been out of work for over twenty-six weeks.  While I continue to search for work, the benefits that I receive are critical to the health of my family.

A few years ago, we met while I was the Executive Director of the (redacted).  (Redacted) and I came to your office to present you with (name redacted)'s Legislator of the Year award.  You were very gracious, as was your staff, and we enjoyed the opportunity to chat with you about your views regarding (redacted).

Since then, I moved to a position with the (name redacted), a trade organization made up of (redacted) in Georgia and Alabama.  Unfortunately, many of the (redacted) had to leave the association as the real estate and construction industries collapsed and they struggled to keep their businesses afloat.  As a result, the Association's budget was cut and my job was eliminated.

I've been laid off since December 2009.

While I've used a number of resources to seek new employment, I have had no success to date.  The (redacted) market in Georgia has shrunk, reflecting the overall health of the economy and business.  I've applied for all types of job from entry level to management and I continue to seek work both in and outside of my field.  

The reality is that there are too many of us seeking work.  Moving out of Georgia isn't a viable option at this time.  My husband and I have children in schools in (redacted) and (redacted) Counties and our oldest daughter is a sophomore at (redacted), attending on an academic scholarship and working two campus jobs to cover expenses.

My husband's job, while relatively stable, is stretched to the limit of its ability to support us.  He teaches for (redacted) County.  To make extra money, he is the Math Department Chair at his high school and coaches three sports.

We have cut our expenses to the bone.  We have depleted our savings.  The unemployment insurance buys our groceries and gasoline and helps pay our utilities.  Over the course of 10 months, we've learned what it is like to have our electricity, our water, our phones and our gas cut off.  Thankfully, those things didn't happen simultaneously.  But each month, we basically rob Peter to pay Paul and when we get caught short, we end up having to pay extra fees to have services restored.  This results in yet another shortfall the following month.

The most important part of this long email is this  - our family is not alone in this crisis.  There are many of us out here desperate for jobs.  While we look for work, the unemployment benefits keep the lights on and keep our families from going hungry.

Thank you for your time and attention to this message.  On behalf of the long-term unemployed in Georgia and across the nation, I urge you to vote to extend unemployment insurance right away.

Best regards, 

Lisa Golden

P.S. If, by chance, you've been considering the addition of a token liberal to your staff, my resume is attached.  Thank you.

Contact info for Senators
Sign the petition to extend unemployment benefits

And if you think that this is a slam dunk because Congress is going to be oozing some trumped up concern about upcoming holidays, I give you this.

Thank you.