Things I Have Learned Today. . .FYI

In the past, I have looked at people who were standing on the street corners holding signs and trying to solicit donations as people who were trying to take advantage of goodness of others. For a long time, I have been led to believe that there are organizations out there who will help people with basic bills if they are truly in need. Therefore, I believed that those who really needed help could get it, if they would apply through organizations designed to help the needy. Thus, there was no true need to stand on the corner, holding signs and trying to get people to feel sorry for you.

Today I have learned differently. After almost a week of calling different organizations looking for help to pay utilities, mortgage, basic bills, I have met with dead end after dead end. Either I don't live in the right zip code, or I don't meet the criteria for that particular organization (i.e., I have discovered that if my husband and I were a highschool drop outs or drug addicts, there would be plenty of help available to us.). I have found a Catholic church that paid my water bill for the month of September, and I have finally received a phone call from DHS scheduling an appointment with me for next Tuesday at 11am. This is all that has happened as a result of hours worth of calls.

I have received conflicting information about whether or not I can get Medicaid to pay for my pregnancy if my husband loses his job. According to the social worker that I spoke with this morning, my husband had some income in August and, since I submitted my application Aug 27th, they are making their decisions off of this income. He told me that even though my income allows my children to be on Medicaid, that for me it is a different number and I am not eligible for August. I asked him if I should withdraw my application and apply again now that it is September and we have no income whatsoever, and I was told that now that the application date was in the computer, that was not possible. Thus, I am unsure if I will be able to walk out of the appointment next Tuesday with food stamps and/or Medicaid to pay for the baby. The social worker also spoke to me about the cash assistance offered through DHS. Since I have a bachelors degree, and they cannot aid me with job training, I am not eligible to receive these cash payments--in other words--if I was a highschool dropout or cocaine addict, they could give me money, but I cannot receive any because I am "overqualified".

I am starting to understand why people stand at the street corner now, and I guess if anything, God is using this situation to teach me a few things and give me compassion on those who do this. I wonder how well I would do standing on the street corner with a sign?!?! :-)