Economic times turn desperate for some metro Atlantans

[marmar]

Economic times turn desperate for some metro Atlantans
Unemployed, under-employed get help from charities, handouts from family, friends

By RHONDA COOK, MICHAEL E. KANELL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday, December 03, 2008



Roger Anthony cried.

Facing eviction from a four-bedroom house in Henry County, it was all Anthony could do when he learned his plan to buy a used mobile home fell through, and then a full-time job prospect with a moving company disappeared as well.

“I just want … to be able to have a good place to stay and to be able to have a full-time job,” Anthony said.

Things brightened a bit this week when he found a place to go, although he said “it’s not even worth living in” because of electrical problems and water system leaks.

Anthony lost his $8-an-hour job at a car dealership late last summer. A job at a car lube business paid $8.50 an hour but lasted a week.

He said he’s applied at dozens of places since early September, but all he’s gotten is a two-day-a-week job at an auto auction business, netting him $156 after taxes.

His live-in girlfriend also recently lost her job at a warehouse.”I don’t know what else to do except pray,” Anthony said. “We’ll just stay at the house until they show up. Why does this happen to people?”

Stories like Anthony’s are an extreme but growing part of some discouraging data. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/12/03/atlanta_unemployed_.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

[onehandle]

1. Whatever we do, we better not re-elect Bush-economy loving Saxby Chambliss again.

oops.

[NC_Nurse]

2. My thoughts exactly. Oh well...

[gratuitous]

3. "Why does this happen to people?"

Because we bought two wars, Mr. Anthony. That means all our money is spoken for. And even crappy little eight dollar an hour jobs is something we can't afford anymore. Keep this in mind the next time our Wise Old Men of Washington tell us that what we need more than anything else is a war.

[arcadian]

4. Front page of our rural county paper had article about the new food pantry opening up.

It's gonna be a rough ride.

[Subdivisions]

5. Why does this happen to people?

Because you elect assholes like Saxby Chambliss.

[RebelOne]

6. I live and work in the Atlanta area.

My job is with a large publishing company. We publish outdoors magazines for 48 states monthly. Now the company has cut the magazines to just 10 months a year. I fear that we will be downsizing soon.