I've got a friend who has been hit hard by the economic crisis. She had been going to school full time in The Woodlands while working 2 jobs. She recently was fired from one of her jobs over a technicality and now she is trying to survive making only 600 bucks a month part time bartending while still going to school 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Well, now her best friend and roommate who she had been living with for 2+ years is kicking her out for not being able to pay her utility bills for the past couple of months. She doesn't really have anywhere to go now, or anyone to turn to. Also she can't afford to take time off from school or she'll risk getting kicked out and losing her financial aid... Are there any forms of government assistance she could be taking advantage of? Maybe the HUD Office of Houston? She's turned to me for help because she's desperate now and has no one else, and I'm trying to do all I can to help her out, but my knowledge is limited on this subject... any suggestions / help would be appreciated. thanks.
Is this "friend" you? I know, I am a genius, It was nothing... On a serious note, well, that is tough man. I hope you find the right situation for her...
Awesome friends... when your best friend kicks you to the curb over 2 months of utility bills. [an apartment shared by 3, can't be more than $60/month per person] Schools offer assistance for good students, since your friend is on financial aid her grades must be alright. See if they show clemency.
What was the technicality she was fired for? She may still be able to get apply for unemployment. I don't know Texas employment law but I had a friend in MN who was fired on a bogus sexual harrassment charge whch he contested. The company backed off on pressing it and while they didn't rehire him he was able to draw unemployment.
Oh yeah Moes.. this may not be the appropriate thread, but can you unban me from that room now? Thanks.
She's only making $150/week? I'm not sure where she is bartending, but I'll assume she works only 1 night a week for that pay. She needs to get some more shifts, or get a better bartender job. From there, she needs to lighten her school load. If she's really desparate, she should go to her counselor and see what her options are. She might have to drop, get incompletes, etc. I will say that my girl is working five days a week, and she's been taking 6-9 hours a semester including summer courses. (nights, weekends, etc.) I know this isn't a magical answer, but it might be the most realistic solution to her predicament. I think lightening her school load is the most viable answer.
It's tough enough to go to school 40 hours a week, and try to work 20 more. I did that for two years, and it was horrible. And I lived with my parents. I have great respect for what your friend is doing. I admire those types of people greatly, Moes. Here's to everything turning out alright. Sorry I can't offer her any advice...
I gotta agree. Why such a heavy school load if she can't pay her bills? I understand the need to graduate as soon as possible, but sometimes you just have to take a step back before you can take 2 forward. 8 hrs a day/5 days a week has to be at least a 20 hr semester. Cut it back to 12 or 15 and have more time to work. That way, she's still full time and eligible for financial aid.
judoka - she was working for this place for about 2 years, and got fired over something trivial like not soliciting some stupid "card" thing to a secret shopper. She said many of the other people this happened to didn't even get written up for it. Fatty - Its not that simple, I think I told you a little bit about it, but she's in a cosmetology school so she pretty much has to be there 40 hours a week like it was a job. She only has a few free days to actually pursue finding a new job as it is, and that hasn't been going well.
Yeah, the beginning of the story sounded familiar. So she is essentially "working" at this cosmetology school for no pay? Full time? How long do they do that? Certainly not very long.
I don't think she can because she has a SECOND Job. So she technically not unemployed. HUD/Section 8 has a waiting list that is years long - I beleive She can probably do food stamps but at the end . . .the 1st priority is the housing situation maybe a woman's shelter or something until she can get herself on track beyond that time to apply for those school loans Rocket River
This...err, these. People need to realize they make more money after school than while going through it. So it'll be easier to pay off school loans instead of studying and working at low paying gigs.
Just looked up the curriculum on one of these schools. It says that it is 1,500 hours total. However, it says that after 250 hours, they can work on patrons. Surely, they get paid something as the levels go up. Also, how long has she been going? It would seem at this rate, it is 9 months for the whole thing.
The landlord was going to let her stay if her roommate was fine with it, but she doesn't want her around anymore apparently. As far as the school situation, I guess it is like she works there full time and cuts hair, does nails, etc.... She was supposed to be on track to graduate in September. I figured the government options would be dead ends, she doesn't want to drop out of school but I guess she might have to until she can get a job in order to make ends meet.
I don't know anything about Texas law but from my understanding of MN law if she was earning very little at her second job, and if it is a bartending job she might've been paid under the table, she could still apply for unemployment if she qualified.
For that short of a time frame? Hmm. She doesn't have anyone she can stay with for 6 months? Parents, etc.