All I Want Is a Fresh Start

— Mary Vervan

As I a write this, it’s been over five years since the terrorist attacks of Sept.11. I’m now 45 and I have a seven-year-old son. Since the attacks, I have worked intermittently for a total of 19 months.

To put this in perspective, I began working when I was 14 years old, and before 9/11, I always worked; sometimes two or three jobs. I have done just about everything possible: babysitting, cleaning offices and homes, managing a team of warehouse workers, running a large machine in a factory, executive assistant to a VP of a major corporation, receptionist, waitress, etc. I can no longer accept many of the jobs I used to do because of health issues that have surfaced over the past four years. There is also the problem of childcare for my son. Daycare centers are typically open M-F, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Many low wage jobs (like cleaning, retail and restaurants) require an applicant to be available nights and weekends to even be considered for a job.
On 9/11 I was working at a warehouse in Dayton, NJ that handled freight containers from overseas. My position was eliminated when the post-9/11 security measures at the ports made it nearly impossible for my employer to get the containers to the warehouse. Since then, I have had a few temporary assignments and one part-time position (10 hours a week) in a doctor’s office, which lasted only six months.

After being laid off at the warehouse, my son and I moved from NJ to Louisiana where I was able to secure a position as a contract worker in an oil refinery. However, after the U.S. invaded Iraq, this also ended in a layoff, which prompted my return to NJ. I am currently living with family members in a situation that is considerably less than workable. (The original agreement was for us to stay here for one to two years. This was extended due to my lack of employment and continued training. As of June we will have been here for a total of four years. I can’t justify staying any longer since things seem to be getting progressively worse.)
Since returning to NJ in 2003, I completed a program to become a medical office secretary. This course was recommended, and the tuition financed, by the local Workforce Investment Board. It did not result in my finding a job. In the meantime, I exhausted two unemployment accounts, both NJ and Louisiana, and had to apply for TANF and Food Stamps in order to provide for my son.

In June 2005, the NJ Department of Labor began a new program. I have been allowed to attend college to pursue an AA in Early Childhood Education. All money received in the form of TANF and Food Stamps while I’m attending school does not count toward my allowed lifetime 60-month limit. However, this time I had to obtain my own financing for tuition. I should be graduating this May with a GPA of 3.86. My 60-month clock begins ticking again the day I graduate.

I didn’t go to college after high school because my father told me, “You are NOT going to college. I won’t allow you to waste MY money when all you’ll end up doing is getting married and sitting home with your kids. Don’t waste your time even thinking about college because I will NOT allow it.”
In addition to being jobless (and soon to be homeless), I am buried in debt. Since I haven’t worked in over 5 years and receive only $290 per month in TANF (with $300 due to my relatives for rent), I have a number of creditors suing me for balance due AND late charges, legal fees, etc. After 9/11, I heard of many banks and lenders that allowed alternate payment arrangements for their customers. Although I tried to deal with my creditors in this manner, I was not allowed to make any arrangements other than those included in the contracts I signed when my accounts were opened. I contacted Legal Services but have not been able to get any help because they are currently overwhelmed with clients. If the judge decides in favor of my creditors, this will result in garnishment of future income (leaving me, once again, unable to provide for my son).

Once I’ve completed my degree, will I be able to find employment and a place to live? So many factors are out of my hands — like whether or not a potential employer or landlord will check my credit rating. All I want is a fresh start, a chance to raise my son to become an honest, productive member of society.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 13th, 2007 at 1:21 pm and is filed under blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.