What Goes Around Comes...Around?
So, we were flipping through an old copy of Building America (from the Building American collection, Frances Foster, 1942)...
And I'm just noticing something. Something kinda familiar.
Here's some interesting information about the decade when the house was built...1910's
Here's some interesting information about the 1920's...
And the 1930's....whoa there....
An accountant's weekly wages were $700 in the 30's...$36,400/year. That was during the DEPRESSION! And a cook? $12,272 per year.
Now, we'll gauge that against the cost of a gas stove which was $19.95 in '30's.
Now! A General Accountant makes about $56-57k without their bonus. (via Accountix)
And the cooks? Around $14,500 - 19,500 a year (no bonus) (via Career Builder)
The gas stove? $280 at Sears.com.
So, what on earth does this all mean?
During the Depression, the Accountant could afford 1825 gas stoves in a year. And now? Before the "bonus"? Only 203 gas stoves...OH NO!!
During the Depression, the cook could afford 615 gas stoves in a year. And now? Only 77 gas stoves...holy smoke! Or no smoke at all, really.
And I'm wondering why, at this moment in our country's history, it has been impossible to find a small, AFFORDABLE studio apartment for a woman who:
a) has never broken the law
b) has never abused substances or other people
c) likes to work and is very loyal to her employer
d) had the back luck to become a widow before the age of 60, having spent life savings fighting husband's illness
e) also has had bad luck with a recent injury and having current housing situation going away...within 20 days
On her meager salary of $8500 a year, I'm shocked she's gotten this far at all with no credit card debt, no outstanding loans, and a few donated items (she has even volunteered for the food and clothes she "earned" from the local Social Services Center to make it up to them), no benefits and no reliable transportation. No family support either. She won't let me get her the "wheat free/gluten free" groceries she needs for her health without paying me the exact amount that they cost. (Food pantries do not stock this stuff.) She takes the receipt and pays me in dollars and pennies!!
I feel the clock ticking. We're both getting extremely nervous. A has been writing letters and coordinating possible resources (he is a amazing man). I've been on daily support detail, taking her to occupational and physical therapy, helping her to pack and move, and trying to counsel her financially through a jungle of red tape.
Tonight, the stress of it became overwhelming and I sat on the kitchen floor and cried. I'm not ashamed of that. It's just the way it is.
Why do so many people turn away or let the folks who walk the straight and narrow fall through the cracks?
I'm lost here. I'm looking for good options and not finding them. How do I let her retain her independent living arrangements, even with a studio apartment, when it would cost her more than one paycheck per month to keep it?
I don't know what is happening out there. But I am catching glimpses of it in parks and on street corners. We are fighting for our lives and we don't even know it. The programs that offered rent subsidies or Section 8 vouchers are filled to overflowing. Resources have dried up within the last 3 years.
How can history be repeating itself when it is worse this time around? I can't be calculating these numbers right. It's much too late. Alice from Gaper's Block...help! Emergency Librarian needed!!
p.s. Sorry for the rant. I don't usually sit on the kitchen floor and cry. But that can't go without a mention because it has been our whole night...well, our whole existence instead of the house for 4 weeks or so. Just get out and vote this year...okay? Exercise that right. And if you get married, get life insurance, save money and don't stop paying for benefits. The alternative is far, far too scary to contemplate.
p.s.s. I promised myself that when I wrote in here, I would try not to let the other parts of my life (politics, relationships, work, etc.) derail the writing about the house too much except when they crossed paths. It's difficult to do, especially when real life derails your house plans. But I do have strong feelings about trying to keep them separate right now...for many reasons. Anyway...back to our regular programming soon.
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Comments
Well, you're in Chicago, right? Have you called Oprah? She's amazing when it comes to helping those who truly need it.
Just my thought for the day since it appears you've tried every available avenue for this poor lady.
I feel for her. I'm very sorry you're having to deal with this.
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | March 24, 2004 12:26 PM
Actually, Jean I think there is a bit of apples and oranges. It sounds to me like the wages are being expressed in 2003 dollars while the prices of goods are being expressed in 1930s dollars.
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/pol_sci/fac/sahr/sahr.htm
Converting the $19.95 price in 1930 dollars to 2003 dollars gives a price of $220.
Posted by: blue | March 24, 2004 9:58 PM
actually, the oprah idea isn't half-bad...if not oprah, then maybe a newspaper or tv station might be interested in a "people who fall through the cracks" story...or a politician looking for some positive publicity and a photo op might be able to cut some red tape for you...just a suggestion from a pragmatic liberal. : )
Posted by: mary | March 25, 2004 8:17 AM
blue--You're a gem. When it is late at night, I forget everything I've learned about value of a dollar conversion.
I wonder, since it is a ratio in the same year (stoves/salary) if it still is good? I don't know. I'm hopeless without a spreadsheet.
Lisa--You are also a gem. Oprah certainly has been a kind, generous person on the Chicago (and International!) scene. I think the most interesting part of our task at hand (finding this woman affordable housing) is that she WANTS to make it on her own. She is practically desperate to avoid gifts or handouts. All she has right now is her dignity and she is grabbing for that with both hands...I can't say I blame her. One a hopeful note, there is some possible assistance with food she could qualify for that she could "purchase" with credits from a regular store. The affordable housing scenario is still looking grim. It is amazing what people are expected to pay for rent...it really is. It was a little better back when I was a renter and making little money in the hotel industry (the 1980's...my neighborhood was a bit scary, but still near public transport). And I am hearing the same from all of the housing assistance programs...funds have dried up, there are waiting lists for public housing (which I helped to maintain when I was a volunteer for Chicago Street Project...big rats are no joke). To be fair, EVERYONE I have spoken to in community assistance centers and government programs have been kind and apologetic. They have really tried to help me brainstorm. Except for the SSA. I'm not enamored with them right now.
Which also reminds me, if you are married, get your yearly copy of SSA benefits for both of you that you can request from the SSA (what you have paid in so far). Once someone is deceased, even a wife or child does not have access to that information to do any financial planning for survivor's benefits.
As someone who works in not-for-profit and is renovating her own home to (eventually, hopefully) help out some low-income urban seminary students when we finally have a habitable and safe space...having affordable housing within neighborhoods where people can easily access school or work without cars is an important issue to me. I took it for granted growing up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh...now I see the time and energy it takes to sustain a real living wage. I've read government figures that set this at $18,000 a year for a $500 studio apartment. (Lowest rents I can find on the Northwest side, DHS requires no more than a third of income go to housing before taxes and SS/Medicare are deducted.) That would require someone to make about $8.65 per hour for a 40 hour week if you are single. We're lucky...in Illinois, our State Minimum Wage is higher than the Federal Minimum. It is $5.50 per hour, or $11,440 for 52 40-hour weeks.
SO getting the laws changed seems pretty important to the independence and dignity of members of low income communities. And that it is what is all about: Give a hand UP, intead of a Hand Out. Preserve their dignity so that they can work and afford a place to live...however small.
Posted by: jmo | March 25, 2004 9:32 AM
Hey, just getting caught up. Finally got our stuff moved into the house this weekend...
I would tell this lady, as sweet as she is, that she would be making it on her own if life hadn't handed her a lousy deal. It wasn't her fault or her husband's that their savings were decimated - and that it is possible to receive a gift and still retain dignity.
She can make it on her own - she just needs a little boost to get started... to get back what was lost.
I hope you find her the best solution possible - I just keep thinking about her.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 29, 2004 4:42 PM
Ooops, forgot to put my name on that last entry. My apologies.
I also work for a not-for-profit corporation. I know *exactly* what you mean.
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | March 29, 2004 4:44 PM