With job cut, woman loses home, savings, life as she knew it

[UpInArms]

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/10/26/local_news/doc490547386caa0941727244.txt

RACINE — Four years ago, Racine native Pam Lamb was living in a townhouse with her aging mother and working for a local phone company.

Today, the former finance specialist is on the doorstep of losing her home to foreclosure. And that’s only a fraction of what she has had to endure since 2005. In less than three years, Lamb has tumbled from a middle-class life to being jobless, destitute and no longer a homeowner.

Since January 2005, Lamb, 56, has:

-— Seen her job eliminated.

-— Failed to land work despite half a lifetime of varied work experience.

-— Used up her retirement savings. For doing that, she now owes the government approximately $4,600 in taxes, penalties and interest.

-— Tended her mother, 87, through major heart surgery and a difficult aftermath.

-— Seen her mother, Mary Selbach, descend further into dementia, complicating Lamb’s full-time caretaker role.

-— Learned that she had cancer — twice.

The next blow will be the loss of her home at 2400 Gillen St. Technically, it already belongs to the mortgage holder, PHH Mortgage Corp. of Mount Laurel, N.J., although Lamb’s lawyer has been able to delay her eviction.

...more...

:sigh:

this is just so sad :(

[shireen]

1. people deserve a safety net

It's what community is all about, and government is the mechanism that allows a community to function effectively. Ms. Selbach is the victim of a failed community and failed government. I hope we can change that when Obama becomes president. It's time to give people a hand when they fall, help them get back on their feet towards a good life. Something about the "pursuit of happiness" ... whatever happened to that?

My heart goes out to Ms. Selbach and her mother.

[Berry Cool]

2. What a horrible story.

Losing your job to outsiders brought in from another company, and not being able to get a new one because you made too much money at your last one. If I were her, I would have said to any of those potential employers who was afraid she would "jump ship" for a better-paying job as soon as she could, "Look. I need money. I need a job. I don't care that this one doesn't pay as much as I made before. I will sign a multi-year contract if you want me to, to prove to you I won't leave for a higher-paying job. Just hire me."

I don't know where these companies get off second-guessing what a prospective hire will do.

[UpInArms]

3. in the 80s I had 2 resumes

one that I took to jobs that I was qualified for and one for jobs that would just help me pay my bills

[Doctor_J]

4. But she listens to Rush every day, so she knows this is the fault of Ted Kennedy

I hope she was watching the infomercial tonight.

[bertman]

5. This is sad beyond description in so many ways. I don't think government is here to solve all

of our problems but there certainly are a lot of them that it could help with.

Obama for President.

[InkAddict]

6. Maybe you think this is far away just because it's in the news?

Read it again from a closer-than-you-dare know prospective.

DAYTON — Four years ago, Dayton native InkAddict & spouse were living in a single-family home with his aging father and working in a doctor's office and a self-storage facility.

Today, the technology-minded medical wordsmith and IT specialist husband are not far past the exit pain of losing their home to foreclosure and bankruptcy. And that’s only a fraction of what they have had to endure since 2005. In less than three years, the InkAddict family tumbled from a middle-class life to being jobless, destitute and no longer homeowners.

Since January 2005, InkAddict, 57, has:

-— Seen the whole family's jobs eliminated one-by-one or lost in required moves to stay afloat. (All now working at something for the time being).

-— Watched as spouse failed for over 24 months to land any work despite half a lifetime of work experience, settling for PT hours without benefits and/or short-term contracting assignments

-— Used up retirement savings, insurance, home equity, and most cash-on-hand being "optimistic" over chili and spaghetti dinners four times a week and brought to owing regional taxes of over $1,000 and on-going IRS payments despite a full tax "rebate" not to mention undischargeable school loans taken to assist each of two children attend college.

-— Tended her FIL, 86, through ESRD and 3 years of dialysis, radical bladder cancer surgery, sepsis, early-stage Alzheimers, and failing hearing. Doctor visits and hospital stays for every body system

-— Seen her fundie parents disown her destitute and desperate family, further complicating InkAddict's role as sole support person to her spouse, the only-child caregiver of Gramps.

-— Learned that InkAddict did not have cancer but did have a DSMIII diagnosis that warranted observation and hard-to-come-by-without-insurance doctor visits and medication. Watched as a one-time "trusted" health provider gloated about military service while occupying a nation and serving the troubled and commanded commando torturers of those they imprisoned without counsel.

The next blow could come at any time. The kids are evicting them and leases only last until one can't pay the rent. It's so difficult to job hunt effectively without a roof over one's head, electricity, a phone, and Internet/e-mail at home these days.

:sigh:

You got us through so far DU! So many thanks! NOW GO VOTE FOR CHANGE!

[raccoon]

7. Sorry to hear that, InkAddict.

"there but for fortune" as Phil Ochs said. We could any of us end up like the woman in the article.