Rapid Response Services For Laid Off Workers!

For those that have been experiencing trouble getting a job, still, I’ve gone to the department of Labor to bring forth the information below.

It seems that there are services that are geared towards getting people re-employed in a timly manner. The service is called “Rapid Response”. It offered via One-Stop Career Centers/Workforce. I’m sure that for those that are still having trouble getting a job in this rough economy, the mentioning of this service may aid in the placement of a job.

Good Luck!

Being laid off from your job is one of the most traumatic events you can experience in life. However, you do not need to go through this transition alone. Working with your employer, there are services and resources that can be brought to you, on site at your company prior to your layoff date. These services and resources are part of a program called Rapid Response, which will customize services and resources to your needs and the needs of your company, with a goal of getting you back to work as soon as possible and minimize the disruptions on your life that a layoff will cause. The Rapid Response team will provide you the means to maintain an income (unemployment insurance), information on health insurance options, access to skills upgrading and training resources, and much more. This service is extremely valuable: the earlier services are begun, the better. Services and resources vary, so be sure to attend Rapid Response sessions when they are offered so that you are aware of the full array of benefits for which you may be eligible.

Department of Labor

Grant opportunities to help unemployed workers avoid foreclosure‏

Dear Mr. Shaw:

Thank you for contacting Governor Charlie Crist. The Governor appreciates your request for information about grants and asked me to respond on his behalf.

The Governor’s office does not maintain information about available grants. There are several Web sites on the Internet that provide information about grants. Many people look to the government hoping to find out how to apply for a grant or to get “free money,” which they have seen advertised on television or in various publications. However, grants usually go to state and local governments or nonprofit organizations, which then use the money to operate assistance programs locally.

The Web site http://www.usa.gov has information about legitimate grant and loan opportunities.

Individuals looking for government grants and loans may wish to visit the Web site http://www.GovBenefits.gov, the official government benefits Web site, encompassing more than 400 federal and 600 state programs funded by various agencies. This site allows you to complete a confidential questionnaire and receive a list of programs that may apply to your situation.

States and organizations seeking grants may wish to visit http://www.grants.gov.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact Governor Crist. I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,

Office of Citizen Services
Citizen Services Hotline: (850) 488-4441

Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Affordable Housing, Florida Response

Dear Mr. Shaw,

Thank you for your recent email regarding funding for affordable housing in Florida. As your State Representative, I appreciate learning of your concerns.

The fiscal challenges we’re experiencing in Tallahassee are a symptom of a slowing economy nationwide, not just in Florida. We are facing an unprecedented $6.3 billion deficit for next fiscal year and will be forced to make tough decisions regarding Florida’s budget.

Let me be clear – I don’t relish the fact that we are being forced to make these tough decisions, but we were elected to serve in good times and in bad, and we are constitutionally mandated to balance the budget. Unlike the federal government, we cannot spend money that we do not have.

As you are aware, over the last ten years we have appropriated $2.8 billion for affordable housing programs. Unfortunately, with continued decreases in state revenues we do not have the resources to fully fund these programs this fiscal year. After much deliberation and consideration, the House’s budget proposal returns $123 million from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to General Revenue in order to offset reductions to education, health care and public safety. This is a onetime transfer for the 2009-10 Fiscal Year and funding can be restored for next year. It is critical to understand that even though the House isn’t proposing to fund affordable housing this year, Florida will receiving over $559 million in federal stimulus money for affordable housing programs.

Our reductions to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation are not because we do not recognize the importance of affordable housing programs, but rather because we believe Florida is in a unique position at this time. For example, Florida currently has a surplus of 385,000 unsold homes on the market, which is 20 months of inventory. At a time when home prices are plummeting and there is an abundance of affordable housing, adding new housing can actually exacerbate the State’s economic problem. Home prices have also fallen about 20 percent in the past year, making it more affordable than ever to buy.

There are also federal, state and local housing programs that can help buyers purchase existing homes. In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit was increase from $7,500 to $8,000 for purchases on or after January 1, 2009, and before December 1, 2009. The Florida House also has legislation this year, House Joint Resolution 97, provides an additional homestead exemption for a homeowner the first time he or she establishes a homestead in Florida.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your concerns regarding affordable housing funding. As we continue through the budget process I will keep your thoughts in mind. If I may be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Representative Baxter G. Troutman

“ACTION AGAINST HUNGER” blog posting

I chosen to allow the information directed towards the services of the action against hunger network to being provided on my blog. Feel free to use some of the information posted to become aware of how you may participate.

Aaron Shaw

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER | ACF-USA
http://www.actionagainsthunger.org
Phone: 212-967-7800

Join our online network:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Action-Against-Hunger/13885075114?ref=ts
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/acfusa
Change: http://www.change.org/actionagainsthunger
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/acfinternational

Unemployment Risks!

14 states have run out of moeny alltoed towards unemployment claims.

http://uspoverty.change.org/blog/view/hows_your_states_unemployment_insurance_doing

Sadowski Housing Trust Fund

Florida continues to face its greatest housing crisis ever, despite having prepared for such a crisis in 1992 with the establishment of the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund.

Yet, in 06/07, when the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund doc stamp tax generated more nearly $940 million dollars, only $545 million was allocated for housing and hurricane housing recovery programs in the state. Housing costs have increased by at least 77 percent since 2002 while the median income has risen just 1.4 percent. Homelessness in the state is at record numbers and each family needs significantly greater assistance than they would have needed six years ago. Coupled with our state’s innovative housing programs, we have enough resources to address this housing crisis, but only if the cap is removed and Sadoswki fully funded.

These small grants are provided to 28 local coalitions to fulfill the myriad of responsibilities assigned to them under state law and help equip them to mobilize and coordinate the local response to homelessness.

Attention towards a rural provision is expected to being met as counties in Florida such as Polk are becoming aware of the threats of homelessness.

“Homeless Person” refers to an individual who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.
The term does not refer to any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to state or federal law. Why?

Understanding the living wage!

As of July 24 2009 the federal minimum wage will change to $7.25 per hour. As a nation that is in turmoil when it comes to understanding the balance between credit and cash assurance, the cost of living that people are falling under is focused.

We do not make enough to maintain bills, food, transportation, etc.

As a response to this consideration of not being able to afford the basics in life, I’ve brought forth an action to the legislators of this nation to enforce that this topic be noticed and handled in the manner of increasing the minimum wage across america.

I’m hoping that this action we bring forth the understanding that as the nation struggles financially so does the people. As the cost of living raises in each state so should the minimum wage.

Urge your Senator or House member to support this action.
Use this link: ( http://uspoverty.change.org/actions/view/understanding_the_living_wage ) to send your Senator/House Member a letter of action.

Thank You!

Eating your way to a healthier budget.

I recently asked the question of how much do you and your familiy spend a week on snacks via http://bit.ly/Twjwa. During this current time in which this recession has people searching high and low for ways to keep money in thier pockets. Could eating habits be a factor to reason with?

As a single man that received Food Stamps for a spell, $137 a month seemed like a lot to live by due to the fact that I’m a gut that loves to eat and will cook my own meals, however, on the other hand i don’t need much to get me by so to speak. Maybe a hambuger here or a couple hotdogs there to get me by the day.

As a family member of a large family growing up however snacks seemed to be the alternative method to pressuading mom to advance in cooking or the simple after school munchies. Snack foods were a necessity that my family needed to stretch the stomach rumble in anticipation of moms Tuesday night fried chicken and johnny-cake dinner.

So What are snack foods?

Cookies, Lil Debbie Cakes, Apples, Oranges, Microwave Pop-Corn, Hot-Potckets, Pop-Tarts, Pizza-bites, and so on. Moms are fitted with the notorious job or having the ability to suit the taste buds of their child with assorted goodies and snacks not only designed to soothe a childs imaginary hunger pains but also as another method to rip of pockets. I could remember Mom spending anywhere from $50-100 a month alone just in these sorts of items and coming home stating that certain of these items were off limits and not to be disturbed. Yeah right mom. I’d say that the snacks at my house even to this day get no mercy. These are the first items opened and tasted for the savory satisfaction of being pleased with the wasted hard earned dollars spent.

These days snacks are everywhere. Fast food chains are becoming to notice that snacking is a trend to reckon with as they now offer items that are inexpensive to them as the dollar seeks revitalizing by fast food franchises. McDonalds fries $1, yogat parfiat $1, mandrin oranges $1, apples pies 2 for $1, ice cream cones $1 . Wendys frosty $1. Sonic $1 ice cream cones, sundaes $1. The list is becoming endless as the method of snacking is sought out to be easy and lacking a monetary value as instant appetitte appeasing is noted as being convient and inexpensive.

Is it.

To be honest I’m still a favorite of the ole’ sit down meal in which in this day and age is losing its appeal as time and morals are over-looked due to the impact of staying employed. Altough these meals are rather cost efficient and money saving due to the fact that what is not eaten just then can be served as left-overs. Mmmmm, leftovers. Theres nothing like left-overs straight out the microwave,espically when its your favorite dish.

Not saying that i don’t enjoy a nice handful of doritos and a fresh tuna fish sandwich with a nice and iceed root beer to accompany. Just not from the Deli shop from down the street that is trying to charge me $4.75 plus tax and tip every time I open the door and say hello. And bag luches tend to give the appeal of having the routine down pack to option to trade with others due to the change of craving in a sudden, we all have had them.

At some point in time, it does seem more price conserving to resort to the left-overs of last nights country fried steak and cream corn dinner over the the $5 footlong rush when the pocket pinching theory is in effect. An increas in wieght or the pleasure of saving money, you decide.

Weekly snack allowance!

FiLife: Your Financial Lifeline

The American Dollar!

How valuable is the american when considering the current economic situation that this nation is facing.

As an american this is a very valuable question that bothers me due to the fact that all around me the importance of being financially stable seems to bring forth bothersome subject as day in and day out unemployment and the increase of home forclosures are erupting into a modern day fiasco of unexplainable situations and circumstances.

The effect that the dollar take into consideration as the standard instrument of trade and financial status is attacted constantly due to the fact that every-one views the dollar with different aspects when survival in this modern day american society is determined.