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Kay O. - Iowa

During the majority of my adult life, I have been a single mother, working from one full-time job as a teacher/counselor and at times one or two part-time jobs in the private sector in order to support my family and to help my kids go to college. Although I can still pay my bills, helping my mom, my kids/ grandkids, and my life partner, it means that I am once again, postponing making sound financial decisions to take care of myself in my old age. While that worries me, in my work as a family outreach counselor for the schools, working with at-risk children and their families, I see on a daily basis the very REAL struggles for those who do not have family to help them stay afloat. Those families who were hanging on by a thread two years ago, have now gone over the edge. Many of those who were low-middle income two years ago, have now lost their businesses and their homes to bankruptcy and foreclosure, and they are the new poor. Every time I hear you speak of hope, and of a brighter future for our children and grandchildren, I don’t hear generalities, I see the faces of my own family, and of those children and families with whom I work. I pray that you will have the guidance, support, and wisdom to get our marvelous nation back on track. I believe you do, and consequently I continue to do my part in my own community.

Angie R. - California

Hi. I am a woman who is 54 years old and I have been working since I was 13 years old. In July 2008 I was a laid off from a job I loved and planned to work at until I retired. I had to use my retirement money to help my daughter and son-in-law pay their rent, because my son-in-law is a construction worker, he hasn’t been working and my daughter gets unemployment. I can’t afford cobra so I have no health insurance, and I have kidney disease but I haven’t gone to the doctors lately. I do work part time at a hotel as a desk clerk, I worked there even when I had my other full time job. I have tried to find work but with no luck. I am really worried about myself but especially my kids and my grandchildren. I really hope that this stimulus package gets voted in so we can start on the road to recovery. I don’t think it will solve all the problems but it is a beginning. I think President Obama cares about the people and is trying to do the right thing. I hope he is allowed to do that.

Matthew D. - Joliet, IL

My wife and I began the process of buying a new home in January of 2007. The builder offered us a discount on the construction if we financed with a well-known bank. We did and closed on our home in July of ’07. Three months later the builder filed for bankruptcy and the whole economy really started to take a noticeable nose dive. We got a fixed rate on our mortgage, but we knew that even with the fixed rate, things would still be kind of tough.

We were told that in a year, we could refinance for a smaller rate with the equity we would gain in our home’s value. Well, that never happened and we’re upside down on our home by about $80,000. We’ve tried to work with the bank but it’s just scary not knowing what’s going to happen. We’re one bad illness or job loss away from losing our home. We’re really hoping something can happen positively for us. If the bank won’t work with us, we hope the new stimulus plan will be passed in time and be able to give us the relief we desperately need!