What was your living situation like before COVID started?

I had to bury my sister, so funds were kind of low. My job at a fast food restaurant released all but two employees once around mid-March. I didn’t have any money to buy gas, food, or household supplies. It was kind of rough.

What has your living situation been like during COVID?

I was having a hard time paying my bills—like my light bill. It’s just been hard period for the simple fact that I haven’t been able to work, and that’s how I usually provide everything. Me being laid off wasn’t helping me at all. My family helps me as much as they can, but they’ve got their own lives and their own bills to pay. I can’t keep calling on them. I’ve tried getting assistance from other programs like MIFA and CSA, but they were saying their programs were already full. Luckily, I ran across the HIRE Cares assistance, and y’all helped me.

How has COVID impacted your job search and/or career progress?

Before the virus even came, I was in school trying to get my high school diploma. They halted classes once the virus hit, and that has posed a major setback. I was trying to build my skills, and now I can’t because the virus messed a lot of stuff up. I was also in the process of getting my CDL certification through the Excel Center, and those classes were halted as well.

How has the HIRE Local program assisted/not assisted you with the hardships faced due to COVID?

The HIRE Cares assistance helped me pay my light bill and the Visa gift card assisted me in purchasing household supplies and groceries.

What other resources are getting you through COVID? — Unemployment? Stimulus?

I was able to receive the stimulus check, but had to spend the majority of that money on paying my sister’s funeral costs.

Outside of local and federal resources, what else has been getting you through the pandemic?

My kids—especially when I’m feeling down. We haven’t been going out to prevent from getting the virus, but we do enjoy time together in our yard. We’ll play catch or hide and go seek. We spend a lot of time having movie nights and cooking. They’ll help me cook breakfast, lunch, or dinner and we occasionally bake. Usually, they’ll be on their phones 24/7, but we’ve spent a lot more family time together since COVID hit.

What do you think about our federal and local government’s response to the pandemic?

They should have gotten the money out faster than they did. There are still people who haven’t gotten a stimulus check and are still struggling. They are struggling to pay their bills. A lot could have been done with the proper budgeting and a timely response, but that is not what we’re experiencing.

What would you say your next steps are for yourself and your family?

Right now, I’m still looking for employment. Most of the companies that have called me are nursing homes and hospitals with COVID-19 patients. I’m not trying to put myself or my kids at risk by getting sick, so I’m still trying to look for a job where I know they are following the proper safety procedures to prevent COVID-19 transmission—requiring masks, providing hand sanitizer, and regularly sanitizing their buildings. I’m trying to work somewhere where I’ll be safe and I know I’ll come home and be safe. I’m currently in search of customer service, hospitality, and food service positions. I’m going to get a job because work is the only thing that’s going to help me to provide for my family.