It can be frustrating trying to find help and resources when you have lost your job. Your main focus is trying to figure out how you will pay your bills, explain the layoff to your family and how to keep your sanity instead of being depressed or resorting to drugs or alcohol.
The key to surviving unemployment is to set goals that can help you gain employment again. Let everyone you met or know that you are looking for a job. Eliminate the negative thoughts and negative people in your life. Don't give up hope. If you believe you will find a job you will. Here are some free resources to help those who are currently unemployed or will become umemployed in the near future.
Career Services
1. Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) – mental health services, home health & hospice care, career services, adoption services, etc., 301-816-2683
2. Career Service One Stop, servicelocator.org
Vocational Counseling & Job Placement
Contact your local YMCA at ymca.net/maps/ for services for divorced, separated, widows and disabled including educational & vocational counseling, job aptitude testing, resume writing, job placement assistance, life skills, computer classes, additional programs for women and families
Women's Clothing for Interviews
Dress for success locations in 30 cities in the U.S., dressforsuccess.org (click on locations)
Men's Clothing for Interviews
Career Gear locations in the U.S, careergear.org that provides clothing, career counseling and workshops with offices in NY, DC, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New Haven, CT
Job Training for the Elderly
1. Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), Office of Special Targeted Programs, Employment & Training Administration, 202-219-5500 or 877-872-5627 – the program provides training and employment assistance and transition support
2. Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), 877-872-5627 (877-US2-JOBS) – provides counseling and training and places elderly in part-time and full-time positions
Free Computer Training – check with your local libraries or visit
1. servicelocator.org/, click on Education and Training to find computer training
2. intelligentedu.com/cat1.html (scroll to the middle of the page), intelligentedu.com/blogs/index.html
Free Computers
1. freebyte.com/free_computers/
2. freecycle.org
3. California, Yellow Network Coalition, ync.org
4. Dallas, Texas, Texas Center for the Physically Impaired (TCPI), handicapability.org/computers.html, provides computers, free of charge, (with a $100 donation) to the visually impaired
5. Raymond, Ohio, Student PC's, studentpcsonline.com/ computer repair and used computers for handicapped children
6. St. Louis, Missouri, WITS, witsinc.org/Free%20Computers.html, provides free computers to children and the elderly.
Special Government Projects for Retirees Senior Environment Program (SEE)
1. American Association of Retired Persons, 202-434-6153
2. National Association for Hispanic Elderly, 213-487-1922
3. National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, 202-637-8400
4. National Council of Senior Citizens, 202-347-8800
5. National Council on Aging, 202-479-1200
6. National Pacific and Asian Resource Center on Aging, 206-448-0313
7. U.S. Forest Service, Dept. of Agriculture, Human Resource Programs (SCSEP program), 703-235-8855
Journeyman (Apprenticeship) Jobs
Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, Dept of Labor, 202-219-5921 or 202-693-2700, with offices in each state, doleta.gov/indvi/apprent.htm
Free Money for Re-training or additional training under the Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance Act (Dislocated Workers), (202) 693-3500 - provides retraining and assistance for employees including those who worked for the Dept of Defense, Dept of Energy and Defense contactors.
Unit Coordinators by State, doleta.gov/layoff/rapid_coord.cfm, doleta.gov/layoff/workers.cfm
Training for Veterans, Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), 202-693-4701
Showing posts with label help for unemployed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label help for unemployed. Show all posts
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
6 Tips to Help Ease a Layoff
Basic life necessities seem even more expensive when you are employed. The unemployment rate is 10.2% and will probably increase before it decreases. Some experts say the worst is yet to come. For those umemployed – that is not good news.
I have been unemployed twice and it was not a good feeling. The first time I got about a three week notice that my position was being eliminated and was totally unprepared, I was in debt up to my eyeballs and was renting a room from one of my friend's parent's home. I did not have a car and had no savings. I was completely lost, embarrassed, angry and felt dejected.
I did not tell anyone that I was unemployed and kept pretending to go to work. I would return phone calls in the evening around the same time I would normally return phone calls. Luckily I was single with no children. It got so bad that I did not have even one dollar to buy groceries or catch the bus to go to an interview. I finally broke down and told my godmother that I had no food and that same day she brought my some food. I thank God for her; I probably would have starved to death because of my pride.
My second unemployment we had heard rumors but weren't sure if the rumors were true. We were notified the night before that some of us would be let go. Luckily I learned from the first layoff and paid off all of my debt and the only bill I had was my mortgage. I also had an emergency fund to cover all of my bills for 4 months. I applied for unemployment which was only enough to cover my utilities but every little bit helped. I mention this because if you do not work enough years for an employer and are laid off you will not be eligible for unemployment benefits and laws vary state by state.
Here are 6 tips to ease the pain of a layoff:
1. Plan for the worst. Create "what if" scenarios and develop a plan for each, i.e. if you lose your job how will you pay your bills, if you get sick. etc.
2. Create an emergency fund. Save enough money to cover your bills for 9-12 months. Start small and work your way up if you have little or no savings.
3. Pay down debt. In the event that you are laid off and don't have any savings or have used all of your savings you can use your credit card in case of emergencies. If you credit cards are maxed you don't have this option.
4. Create a support network. Having support during a financial crisis is one of the best ways to get through it. Talk to friends, relatives, other laid off co-workers, your pastor, a counselor, social worker, or other person you trust to get advice and support.
5. Further your education. If you do not have a college degree, one option is to go back to school and obtain your degree. If you already have your degree you may consider going back to get your masters degree. If you experience a financial crisis in the future you can always go to your local college and teach a few courses as an adjunct professor.
6. Contact social agencies. Contact your county, local or state government social agencies to obtain free help for those unemployed, dol.gov
I have been unemployed twice and it was not a good feeling. The first time I got about a three week notice that my position was being eliminated and was totally unprepared, I was in debt up to my eyeballs and was renting a room from one of my friend's parent's home. I did not have a car and had no savings. I was completely lost, embarrassed, angry and felt dejected.
I did not tell anyone that I was unemployed and kept pretending to go to work. I would return phone calls in the evening around the same time I would normally return phone calls. Luckily I was single with no children. It got so bad that I did not have even one dollar to buy groceries or catch the bus to go to an interview. I finally broke down and told my godmother that I had no food and that same day she brought my some food. I thank God for her; I probably would have starved to death because of my pride.
My second unemployment we had heard rumors but weren't sure if the rumors were true. We were notified the night before that some of us would be let go. Luckily I learned from the first layoff and paid off all of my debt and the only bill I had was my mortgage. I also had an emergency fund to cover all of my bills for 4 months. I applied for unemployment which was only enough to cover my utilities but every little bit helped. I mention this because if you do not work enough years for an employer and are laid off you will not be eligible for unemployment benefits and laws vary state by state.
Here are 6 tips to ease the pain of a layoff:
1. Plan for the worst. Create "what if" scenarios and develop a plan for each, i.e. if you lose your job how will you pay your bills, if you get sick. etc.
2. Create an emergency fund. Save enough money to cover your bills for 9-12 months. Start small and work your way up if you have little or no savings.
3. Pay down debt. In the event that you are laid off and don't have any savings or have used all of your savings you can use your credit card in case of emergencies. If you credit cards are maxed you don't have this option.
4. Create a support network. Having support during a financial crisis is one of the best ways to get through it. Talk to friends, relatives, other laid off co-workers, your pastor, a counselor, social worker, or other person you trust to get advice and support.
5. Further your education. If you do not have a college degree, one option is to go back to school and obtain your degree. If you already have your degree you may consider going back to get your masters degree. If you experience a financial crisis in the future you can always go to your local college and teach a few courses as an adjunct professor.
6. Contact social agencies. Contact your county, local or state government social agencies to obtain free help for those unemployed, dol.gov
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