- Joined
- Mar 27, 2008
- Messages
- 2,205
- Reaction score
- 2,607
- Location
- California
- Resorts Owned
- Hyatt Highlands Inn, Hyatt Pinon Pointe
The lead story on 60 Minutes last night was entitled "The Jobless" and detailed the heartbreaking reality that--though the president and Congress have approved billions in immediate aid for the unemployed and struggling small businesses--a relative few are being helped, at least so far. Why? Because of a wicked combination of a) the massive number of unemployment claims filed in the past six weeks or so; b) state agencies charged with distributing monies to those affected which are severely understaffed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Essentially, it's like trying to pump a million gallons of water through a garden hose. The hose is working, but not nearly fast enough to help people in need NOW.
The story cited sources saying that nationwide only about 1 in 7 people who have filed claims are actually receiving help.
We have seen this in our own neck of the woods. Last week, our local NBC affiliate interviewed a woman who was laid off from her restaurant job in Sacramento. She called the California Employee Development Department a total of 358 times over a three-day period to find out whether her unemployment application had been approved and when she might see her first check. The lines were jammed. She got through to a live person on only 2 occasions and each of those times the person put her on hold so they could check her status and...the line hung up on her.
A USA Today article from last week detailed a woman in Maryland who attempted to apply through the state's online system. When she signed on, she saw that she was number 88,971 in line. Three days later, she was in the 50,000's.
Today, we contacted the employees we have laid off since COVID-19 struck. We offered all who have not yet received funds (which meant all but one) a stopgap $300 loan that could be paid back anytime between now and next September. We also told them we were lining up delivery of food boxes to their homes filled with donated food from my church. All we talked to were incredibly gratified. One lady was in tears.
There are so many who are suffering. And though all of our lives have been affected, we need to remember those who are literally making decisions about whether to buy groceries or pay the rent.
The story cited sources saying that nationwide only about 1 in 7 people who have filed claims are actually receiving help.
We have seen this in our own neck of the woods. Last week, our local NBC affiliate interviewed a woman who was laid off from her restaurant job in Sacramento. She called the California Employee Development Department a total of 358 times over a three-day period to find out whether her unemployment application had been approved and when she might see her first check. The lines were jammed. She got through to a live person on only 2 occasions and each of those times the person put her on hold so they could check her status and...the line hung up on her.
A USA Today article from last week detailed a woman in Maryland who attempted to apply through the state's online system. When she signed on, she saw that she was number 88,971 in line. Three days later, she was in the 50,000's.
Today, we contacted the employees we have laid off since COVID-19 struck. We offered all who have not yet received funds (which meant all but one) a stopgap $300 loan that could be paid back anytime between now and next September. We also told them we were lining up delivery of food boxes to their homes filled with donated food from my church. All we talked to were incredibly gratified. One lady was in tears.
There are so many who are suffering. And though all of our lives have been affected, we need to remember those who are literally making decisions about whether to buy groceries or pay the rent.
