Single mom works on getting out of near-poverty

Judith Allee, Parent Support Coordinator

I love success stories, don't you? Here’s a story about one of our first graduates (Spring 2006) from Getting Ahead classes for low-income parents.

On her own, Marilyn was raising a teenager and her other daughter's little girl, age 4. Marilyn’s diabetes was out of control and her depression was making it hard to get through each day. Marilyn's car was--how shall I put it?--a piece of, um, doo-doo. Without reliable transportation, she was in the position of frequently begging for a ride to work. Seeing a doctor for medication to help with depression was last on her long list of survival "to-do's." She just had to let some things go and that was one of them.

Marilyn joined the Getting Ahead classes that I teach (well, facilitate, actually) for people who want to learn how to escape from poverty or near poverty. By the end of 18 sessions, each class member creates his or her own personal plan for becoming financially stable. Class members help each person break down their "big hairy audacious goals" (BHAG's), like owning a home, into baby steps. . .like a phone call on Tuesday or picking up an application for a job on Wednesday. Those tiny Tortoise steps are the only thing that can move you forward, even if they are imperceptible at times.

Marilyn worked in a deli for about $9 an hour. During the course of the class, she got a 25-cent-an-hour raise. Good news, right? Except that the $10 a week raise triggered cuts of over $200 a month in--

• food stamps
• child care assistance
• housing subsidy

Then things got bad. Because of her raise, she also lost her medical card, which she depended on for diabetes medication. Her job provided no health insurance yet, although she had been working there for over three years.

When this woman earned a little more, it left her worse off than before. To escape from near-poverty, she’ll have to earn a lot more and somehow survive the transition. This chasm between poverty and middle class keeps people trapped. Every time they try to swim to shore, it feels as if someone pushes their heads under water. Some people accept their plight and stop trying.But what Marilyn did was drive 25 minutes each way to Newark--after a long tiring day in the deli--to take Getting Ahead classes. Then she put her Getting Ahead plan into action. One of her goals, for example, was to work on her health—physical and mental. Here's what she accomplished during the 18 months following graduation:

1. With determination and hard work, she lost 25 pounds and carefully monitored her blood sugar. Eventually she was able to control her diabetes with diet—no more insulin!
2. She called her mental health clinic and inquired about transportation. Although they often can't help with that, Marilyn was able to work out a ride to see a doctor to get back on anti-depressant medication and to start seeing a counselor.
3. Slowly, she caught up her bills. When I last talked with her, she hadn't used a payday lender in over a year.
4. Marilyn became a volunteer with Mental Health America, tutoring other parents as they complete their Getting Ahead workbooks, and facilitating parenting classes based on the book "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Faber and Mazlish. Marilyn has helped other parents a lot--and learned a lot in the process.

She was also excited about finally fulfilling another of her goals. Once she got out from under the payday lenders, she opened a savings account for emergencies with an automatic deduction of $5 per paycheck--in her case, $10 a month.

It's a "baby step" in the right direction, but it is also huge! Her plan to get out of poverty is alive and well and living in Licking County. There are setbacks. She picks herself up and keeps going.

One of the goals for Getting Ahead, locally and nationally, is that when communities make decisions that affect people in poverty, that people in poverty are "at the table." Although in our culture, people in poverty are often seen as lazy, stupid or deficient in some way, studies show that they typically excel at problem-solving. We need their expertise on poverty. (Reality check: In their decision making process does your church, city, township county, or other local helping organizations include representatives who are in poverty or are in transition?)

Fortunately (yay!), we received notice that Job and Family Services and the Women's Fund of Central Ohio anticipate continuing the funds for Getting Ahead. We expect to start classes in August or early September, but we are hosting information sessions now. If your family is a member of the "working poor" and you are ready to make significant changes in your life, contact me about coming to one of our information meetings, starting in late July. People who participate in financial classes, or one-on-one financial coaching, will receive first priority. If you are selected to participate, you will receive gift cards you can use for gas, diapers, Christmas, or other expenses. The gift cards serve as a stipend for your work in investigating poverty and solutions in Licking County and sharing that information with the community. It can also help you manage the long commitment of attending an 18-session class.

If you are in middle class or wealth and would like to get involved, let's talk! You can make a real difference with as little as three hours a month, not only for the low-income family that you mentor, but also in your own life.

Contact me at 788-0300 or at JudithAllee@MHALC.org. Enthusiasm is contagious and we've got plenty to share!