Job training
I haven’t had any job training at this time because I had signed a waiver because I had a baby at home…I had a daughter return after 5 years. I felt like I needed some time to get my relationship established with my daughter, which she just returned on the 21st. She’s 16…so I felt like I needed some time so I signed a waiver so I wouldn’t go to work immediately…so I establish…but it is available and I feel like whenever I’m ready for it, then it will be provided for me…whenever I need it.
Have you received job training recently? No
Employment
For me getting a job is kind [of] difficult because I’m illiterate and I was never sent to school and now it’s very hard for me to learn. It seems like I would know something right then…but then 10 minutes later it’ll go back and I won’t even understand it or know what it was. So they want to do some type of testing to see if I do have a disability ‘cause I have a child with a disability…a learning disability. So the jobs are very limited that I can…could get and they would not pay enough for me to be able to pay rent and doctor bills and so forth and so on. So it’s very difficult for me to find a job with my education…which is near none…be able to support a family right now.
Have you gotten a job, increased work hours or earnings in the recent past? Not applicable
Child Care
Well, I haven’t had no child care ‘cause I really haven’t needed it as far as work ‘cause I haven’t been working. And they did tell me if I did need it…if I wanted to start work again to a job training program that it would be available for me. It’s basically up to me what daycare I pick…I’m very picky about who watches my kids. I’m very picky about who watches my children so when that time comes I will make sure that place is suited for my needs and my children’s needs.
Have you received child care assistance to help you get to work? Not applicable
Transportation
That’s miserable for me to go anywhere ‘cause I don’t have a vehicle and I do have 3 kids. Paying for all 3 of us to go on a bus…you know…and then the time consumed on a bus is ridiculous. It takes so long to get to where you’re going and then to get home…it’s very difficult…it really is…and you try to save enough money…well I might have an emergency…you know…to have bus fare…sometimes I don’t. That part is real difficult for me because I’m not…I don’t have a job…or in no type of training so I’m not eligible for a MARTA card…just to get to the store…doctor appointments that I need to go to. So that part is very hard for me to get around…so it’s real difficult.
Do you have adequate transportation to get to and from work? Not applicable
Health
Well, my health…I’m going through some things right now. I’m HIV+ and here lately I noticed changes…just real tired…no energy…the lack of really wanting to do anything. It’s just…some depression…it is affecting…I can tell where it is affecting me ‘cause I don’t want to get out and days I don’t want to be bothered with anybody. Of course…you know I take care of my kids and all…but…I take medications…but they’re getting ready to change it to see if maybe they can put me on some type of medication to help me with some of that and I am seeing a psychiatrist to see if they can help me with some of my…with the depression that I have from time to time. They gave me some medication…made me sick and made me felt worse than before…so I quit taking that….I was like…that’s not for me. But I’m trying to deal with it the best way I can. But I can tell it does…it is affecting some areas in my life. Having to get up, go and want to do…I want to get up and go, but some days I just don’t feel like it…I don’t feel good.
Do you and your family have a regular doctor who normally provides care? Yes
Health care
We all have Medicaid…thank God for that….without it I don’t think that we would have doctors or health care. Everybody goes to Grady or either Hughes Spalding…me and my youngest child which is 8 months…we go to the IDP clinic on Ponce de Leon and I get very good care there and thank God that I do have Medicaid because it covers basically everything and I haven’t had no problems with it. I am thankful for that.
Do you now have health insurance of any kind (including Medicaid)? Yes
Additional Information
Well…I think that there should be a little more help [for] homeless people. I have been homeless myself…even right before I moved in here I became homeless at nine months pregnant. The shelters turned me away because I was nine months pregnant and because I was HIV+…they did not accept me. And so me and my child…my 7-year-old child was out [on] the street with nowhere to go. I went everywhere they were…the Homeless Task Force…nobody would take me in…so…thank God that I did know a few people and I went from here to there…which took my child out of school for a month…she could not go to school because we were shifting around from place to place…just to have a roof over our heads. And I think that something needs to be done for homeless people and more things for HIV+ people…that we’re not discriminated against…because I felt very discriminated against because of that and it hurt but I got through it and I got a place to live now so…
Last question:
In the next year, I expect things for myself and my family to: get better.
Demographics:
Author’s community or neighborhood of residence: Delowe Village
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Last year of school completed: I never went to school
Race: White
Ethnicity: N/A
Number of own children at home: 3
Household size: 3 Children; 1 Adult
Does Author’s partner or spouse live in the household? No
Author’s gross cash earnings for previous calendar month: $280 TANF
Does Author currently receive any cash public assistance or welfare? Yes
Manner: Tape recorded and transcribed