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A couple of days ago, I sent out an email to some well-known state and federal politicians asking why my family couldn't receive any assistance. The only thin we needed help with was the electric bill. The rent was no issue because I explained my plight to our landlord and he understood. since he didn't want the house to be empty, he assisted me and my family by offering to let us stay until i started back to school and started receiving my veterans benefits. Mind you, he did not have to do this. This guy is definitely a winner in my book.
Below is the email that I sent to each politician that wasn't sent via a cookie cutter website contact form:
05/19/09 11:09 AM
To the Honorable Thomas Anderson;
As a disabled veteran, I find it appalling that My family of six is constantly being turned down for cash assistance until my wife and I are back on our feet. I am an echocardiography student in between classes and gainful employment and not looking forward to having our electricity turned off. You see, social services has no problem with giving us, a family of six, food stamps. But we need a couple of months of cash assistance to tide us over until my veteran's benefits start back up again next month.
No one at the local social services office can give me an answer. What do I tell my four children when a refrigerator full of food goes bad and the air conditioner doesn't work. Too bad?
Please help us. We are only asking for help for couple of months. My vocational rehabilitation allowance will start on the first of July. Until then, we have nothing coming in to keep our electric on.
This was the only email that replied back the very next day. Below is the response that I received in return:
Dear Mr. Greene:
Thank you for your correspondence to Rep. Tom Anderson. On your behalf,
our office has asked the Pasco County Human Services office personnel
and the Department of Children and Families for assistance. You will
either be contacted by those agencies or they will respond directly to
us.Sincerely,
Evelyn M. Haas
District Senior Executive Secretary to
State Representative Tom Anderson
2236 US Highway 19
Mount Vernon Professional Center
Holiday, FL 34691-4351
I did get a call from the agency that was sent in the email and we are now in the process of attempting to get the funds that could assist us with paying the electric bill. Even though the agency could only legally help with $125, it is a start. The person that I talked with on the phone also gave me the numbers to three more assistance groups to call in the morning.
Stay tuned to find out how this all goes down. BTW, the total in arrears was for 2 months of service totaling ($452.00).
UPDATE: Looks like it is all going down hill from here. All of the information that was given to me turned out to be shit. The agency wouldn't release the funds because we didn't show we could get the rest. Meanwhile the State Rep's office called me to check on status late Friday afternoon. told her that we got nowhere. Thanks alot. Maybe is I was from another country we could have got something more than a door slammed in our faces.
Preparing the family for the next few days of darkness. More than likely the power will be shut off after "Memorial Day" - how ironic,huh?
If you're reading this please support us while I will most likely be offline for awhile. We just ask that you visit some of our sponsors by visiting their links as they show up.
God bless.
Can't locate the Veteran but noticed the Politicians address as northwest of Tampa. I would recommend the Vet go to the local associations such as DAV, VFW, Amer Legion for some cash assistance. Their Bingo operations should be able to spare a few bucks.
452 bucks could almost be bummed from motorists on the street-corner.
2 ideas put forth not knowing the full details.
Continue the debate.
Sorry for stepping on your toes.
I say those politicians should help you out but like you mentioned you have to be from another country in order to get assistance. Oh and to that smarty pants guy I do not think the comment you made was very nice especially about standing on a corner bumming from motorists and how exactly to do you know mr. Smart A… that you can probably make 452 bucks ? Seems to me like you alredy been on tht corner the way you came out with that exact figure like it sounded tht ws what you had made bumming on htat corner and thast why you knw so much about it. Look some people lilke to bumm on corners but then others do not think they should have to resort to this BS. So be nice and don't talk so much trash. TRy to at least help this vet out by clicking on the links he has asked you to click on to help. Everyone come on click on these links here to help him out…….
<span> Thanks alot for your <span class="IL_SPAN"><input type="hidden" name="IL_MARKER">assistance</span> lilyruth.. On occasion, here in Pasco county, Florida, I have seen people standing in the middle of traffic holding signs asking stopping motorists for money. Some signs say "disabled vet", others say "Electricity off at home with 4 kids" ( no this wasn't me). I have become very resourceful with trying to get <span class="IL_SPAN"><input type="hidden" name="IL_MARKER">assistance</span> when we really needed it. </span>
Being caught between classes was not a fault of my own.
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Nice post. Keep up the great work
We should get in touch. Are you an active user on top social networking sites like Digg, Facebook, or Stumble Upon? If so, what is your username so we can get in touch to share ideas.
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This is not up for debate. I am the veteran that is having a hard time with this issue.