I can't, they turned off the water.

[BluePatriot]

I had a new friend / acquaintance call me about money woes, but not for a handout - just for ideas. I let her know I would get with her tomorrow and help her advertise a garage sale online. They turned off her Internet service, see. She needs the money to pay rent this month - she waitresses and her last check wasn't even enough to cover the babysitter for the 3 kids. She and hubby are layoff victims and scramble for whatever funds they can with a mix of part time and odd jobs.

She was really freaking out, so I suggest she go relax in a bubble bath and let go of some worries, so she could feel better for a little while.

And then she said in a small voice, "I can't, they turned off the water."

;(;(;(;(;(;(;(;(;(;(

Side note: kids are 5, 3, and 18 mos, and I bet in Texas water isn't a protected utility. ;(;(;(;(;(;(;(;(

Her 3 year old's birthday is tomorrow, so I'm roaming the house collecting books and toys and such for the little one.

...This post has no point, I guess, but I just wanted to share. I feel so HELPLESS that there is no social safety net here to speak of and sad and angry that all I can do is offer time and knowledge. Her family is in similar straits. I'm only a few months off from this myself - my hubby's been out of work a year.

I want to make it all better, and I can't. ;(;(;(;(;(;(;(

[flvegan]

1. Do they qualify for any assistance?

It seems like it was designed to help folks in this situation.

[Scuba]

2. The Republicans want her - and her family - to starve.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. awful. I hope she can get some assistance.

[CurtEastPoint]

4. PLEASE see this PDF of St. Vincent de Paul resources in Houston

http://svdphouston.org/documents/pdf/referral%20guide%202009.pdf

[Donnachaidh]

7. I second that. AND call the county health services for emergency help.

Even in Texas there should be laws requiring water in a home with young children. This is obscene!

[iamjoy]

26. They Would Remove The Children

haven't there been cases in which people who have had their water turned off also had the government remove the children from the home because it wasn't safe?

This is the screwed up country in which we live. It's hard to get assistance because people don't want to pay the money to help keep the family's water on, but they'll pay to put the children in protective custody because the parents couldn't afford to do it themselves.

It's as if they think poor people aren't fit to be parents.

[Donnachaidh]

29. no -- the county health services would see to it that the water was kept on

AND they would tell them where to get services that will help them pay bills.

Unless this family has charges of abuse against them, the law cannot take their children away. It's up to the health dept. to help them. We went that route when we were having troubles paying bills, and there never was any hint of the county taking my kid away.

[SmileyRose]

5. Can you do what I did?

Someone in my neighborhood with 5 kids got the water shut off. I found out what it would take to get it turned back on, roamed around my neighborhood with a jar for 3 days and collected enough to pay the bill plus prepay for a month to give them a head start. Some people gave cash but I asked people to make the check out to the water company so they knew no one would spend it on candy and gum so to speak. Plus I've been here 38 years and they all know me.

[Scruffy1]

31. Great job-we need to stick together

[DURHAM D]

6. Get a long garden hose. Cut off the male end and change to female.

Screw one end to nearest neighbor's outside faucet and other end to her outside faucet. Open both faucets. Water should flow into her house. After the hot water heater has done its thing - do the laundry, take a bath, fill up the tub with water to use for flushing the toilet later, fill bottles with water. Give the neighbor a couple of dollars.

[riderinthestorm]

14. I second this. Does she have a neighbor who will do this?

I'm a farmer. My farm was once part of a much larger parcel and there's a "master well" that (used to) control the water on the surrounding properties. While the spigot to those other wells has been shut off because my neighbors have dug their own wells, they all still have at least 1 spigot that allows them to tap back into my master well if/when they have their own water issues. We're all drawing on the same aquifer so I never have a problem with this if they need it of course - it's so very little to do to be neighborly.

My bigger point of course is that neighbors will often times help with this kind of thing, especially when it involves children. I believe the township cannot shut off those kinds of utilities when there are children involved. Try to tap into the neighbors water if they will allow. I'm not physically or relationship-wise close to my neighbors but would absolutely help if they had "this" kind of emergency. It's worth asking.

And dammit, I hate hearing this kind of story.

[Qutzupalotl]

23. +1 Good suggestion!

I didn't know you could do this.

[MedicalAdmin]

40. The water systems in houses are all pressure driven and mostly open systems.

Meaning that the water can flow in any direction unless a tap or flow valve is turned off. The water can flow in any direction and enter the 'system' from anywhere. It isn't as efficient this way BUT it works.

The utilities may have turned off a few flow valves if they had access so you might have to open a few. Most new valves look like this when they are open . - i.e. inline with the pipe .

[Obamanaut]

24. My sister did this a couple of years ago when her neighbor's well died.

It worked for several days until the well was repaired.

[DebJ]

8. All I can offer is an internet hug and good vibes. The toughness

does seem to be escalating from my viewpoint. One of my sisters just lost her job; another who works as a contractor has seen her business dry up almost completely; I just graduated at an advanced age from college to teach....just as an enormous amount of teachers were laid off and more layoffs will be coming next year. Right now, I feel lucky when I can sub for 4 days a week. Hubby is also a teacher who should be able to retire but can't because med insurance will cost half his retirement take-home, and we're just praying his job isn't cut .... for another 5 years to Medicare.... if the Repubs don't take over and kill that too. My final sister is working, but she is becoming increasingly handicapped, can't keep up with med bills, almost went into foreclosure, and her job is physically demanding.

If it weren't for faith, we'd be pretty desperate right about now.

Mom's 82 and all this bad news is killing her.

[MedicalAdmin]

39. "Mom's 82 and all this bad news is killing her."

Consider not telling her. She can't help (likely) and she will only fret. Share what you need to and keep the rest to yourself - just my opinion as you know your family better than anyone else.

But consider it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Damn. :^( I'm so sorry.

[BluePatriot]

10. Update

Thanks for the info everyone :) When I get with her tomorrow I'll see what sort of assistance she might qualify for / is already using and take steps to get her going.

I'll let everyone know what we come up with.

[Gormy Cuss]

11. It's absolutely criminal that water can be shut off to a house with young children or seniors .

We had utilities cut off frequently when I was a kid but the water couldn't be shut off.

I hope that your friend can take a big gulp and apply for whatever assistance is available. It's why it's there. At a minimum, food benefits could free up some dollars for other bills.

[Gaedel]

36. Water is the only utility I ever had shut off.....

Back in 1964. The eeeeevulllll corporations can't hold a candle to municipal services for bureaucratic arbitrariness.

[Gormy Cuss]

37. The fact that we had municipal water was the sole reason ours wasn't cut off.

The utility wasn't allowed to do it -- and this was back in the 1960s-1970s.

[Terra Alta]

12. I hope she can get some assistance.

I can relate.. My best friend is going through a really tough time financially right now.. I've helped her as much as I could but I'm struggling a bit too.. it just hurts that I can't help her anymore.. it's everywhere though, people are struggling, we are still far from recovering from the mess that was the Bush years, and now Repukes want back in power.. they don't care about the little people, all they care about is power and money.. and screw those of us who are struggling. :grr:

[Lyric]

13. I feel her pain.

My sister's sick (and is now in the hospital). Because of her illness, she missed her Food Stamp recertification at the beginning of this month. We live together and I'm caring for her kids and mine while she's in the hospital. However, I've spent all of *my* Food Stamps as of yesterday. I made them last 22 days, feeding five people on an amount meant for two people, but even the tightest budgeting can only make them go so far. We're going to call tomorrow and see if they'll let someone else sign the papers for her as a "proxy" since she's in the hospital and can't do it herself. She won't get the full amount for this month, but god, ANYTHING is better than facing next week with three kids under 10 and a food shortage. We're cautiously hopeful.

We're also scrambling for homemade Halloween costume ideas for the kids, since it looks like we won't be able to afford to buy costumes for *three* kids, and I don't want the kids to miss out on Halloween; especially since they're already dealing with their Mom being sick and in the hospital. We were going to do zombies and just use some old clothes and a cheap makeup kit, but they can't wear those to school--apparently, their school has completely banned all costumes that are scary/evil, or that involve masks, fake weapons, or heavy face makeup. So we have to think of something that we can do totally from scratch at home, but that also meets the school's "rules" about costumes. Argh.

[lildreamer316]

17. One idea:

Get a sweatshirt. Paste a big "P" on it in tape or some such. Take cheap makeup and black one eye out.
Presto,you have a black-eyed pea. :)

[BluePatriot]

18. Have them go as a pack of M and Ms

Solid T shirts of different colors (2 to 3 dollars at craft stores) with the white M's painted on them, and matching pants/shoes/hair paint/lipgloss/glitter, etc in the same colors.

I saw a pic of a family that did this and it's soooo cute. This is an example:

http://mypursuitof.blogspot.com/2007/10/easy-m-costume-and-how-to-use-halloween.html

You might not even have to buy shirts if the kids have solid ones around, and, for that matter, if anyone can come up with white paint, the M's can be carefully painted on vs using felt like in the link. (Just put cardboard in the middle of the shirt so the paint doesn't soak through.)

*edit for general typos and dumbness

[Lorien]

34. What do the children want to be on Halloween?

Let's start there, then figure out how to make it happen!

[proud patriot]

15. I'm so sorry to hear about your friends situtation

:-(

[Raine]

16. That's disgraceful

at least here in CA they aren't allowed to turn the water off on a Friday. What the hell do they expect the person whose water has been cut off to do all weekend! :mad:

[noamnety]

19. Check if she has 211 service in her area

They can direct her to the local services she needs without you needing to do all the research - they've already done it. Make sure to ask about low income drop in child care if you call.

If you have access to a computer printer, you can help her get started with reducing her grocery bill to almost nothing. Here are the main drug store deals: http://www.afullcup.com/forums/drug-stores/

Personal care items like toothpaste, body wash, shampoo can always be gotten for free with coupons. Most OTC medications, too.

And here's a link to grocery stores: http://www.afullcup.com/forums/grocery-stores/
You can find what's free this week and next at your local store.

I use that sometimes for students - this week a student couldn't get an assignment done because she was missing batteries for one part of it and couldn't afford them. I checked if transportation to target or walmart was possible, she said yes, so I went home and printed a few coupons for her for free batteries so she can get them over the weekend.

That won't solve the whole money issue - but if she can shave a hundred dollars off her grocery bill each month it can at least help to pay for other bills.

[Swede]

20. They need social assistance,what is available in the area?

I just checked in my area on the net,and there is help,so I hope these folks have the same help.

http://www.socialservices.gov.sk.ca/income-assistance/

[ooglymoogly]

21. Talk to Skinner....we need a site we can send a few.

Open a paypal account on Ebay or whatever where a small donation can be sent...they add up fast as has already been proven. For many 5 or more is not a problem.

[Celtic Raven]

22. Set up a page for her family on Wishadoo.com

I can't remember who has this site in their sigline, but I'm glad I remembered the name of the site. Do a write up for this family & everyone can send along what they can afford. No one should be without water -- small children, elders, or any age.

[Arugula Latte]

25. The Republican mofo running for governor of Oregon thinks waitresses make too much

He doesn't think they should be entitled to salary AND tips. That's just excessive, you know?

Meanwhile, after his short and crappy career as a Portland Trailblazer he became a wealth adviser, telling his multi-millionaire clients how to stash their millions so Uncle Sam can't take any. Because, of course THEY'RE entitled to all that money. Waitresses? Not so much.

:grr:

[iamjoy]

28. Hollywood Shares The Blame

they have made being a server look easy, it's what people do between jobs when they are trying to figure out what to do with their lives, when they can't get any other work, etc.

being a waiter or waitress is hard work. For one thing, it's very physical - a lot of running back and forth, lifting, etc. There are risks of injury from slipping on wet floors, burns from the kitchen, back strain, etc. In many restaurants, it's very fast paced.

It's also very mental. ok, when diners are ordering, the server can and should write down what they want, not try to rely on memory. But what about when they're stopped en route between table and kitchen with a request? They're asked for recommendations on what to order and must be familiar with menu items, pay attention to personal tastes (if I said I didn't want mustard on my hamburger and order an appetizer with mustard, I expect the server to mention it and make sure it's ok)

It's very emotional, too. A lot of people are jerks and willing to take out frustrations on a server. Their fish fillet was dry, so they stiff the server. They had a bad day, they yell at the server who forgot to bring a straw for their tea.

Anyone who thinks servers are overpaid should be required to do that job for one week.

Spoken as some one who used to be a waitress and did not stay with it long.

[Arugula Latte]

30. I always admire people who can do that job and do it well.

It looks very difficult to me and I'm sure they get a lot of abuse. Plus they're on their feet all the time, carrying stuff, so there is the combination of mental + physical gymnastics. Not an easy gig.

[Scruffy1]

32. He must have got his talking points from Tom Enema

Douchebag Republican candidate here in Minnesota. Claimed waiters and waitresses make too much, and should have the minimum wage lowered. This fuckheads all get their talking points from Norquist et al.

[MedicalAdmin]

41. Tom Emmer (R- shit stain) has the same idea.

Unfortunately for him, that stance may cost him the elections. Even the right wing nuts where I live Michelle Bachmann (R - orbiting pluto) think that is fucked up.

[Panaconda]

27. Dickensian

Best to your friend. This kinda stuff infuriates me. We need mass action to halt this cruelty.

K&R

[OneGrassRoot]

33. Wishadoo and 211.org

I just saw this thanks to a Google Alert.

As someone upthread mentioned, 211.org, especially for crises, is a great start, if that service is in the person's area.

I've called 211 on behalf of others before -- people posting about crises at Wishadoo -- with great success.

If you want to create a wishlist post with background info at Wishadoo.com, I invite you to do so, and I can help set up a fundraising page where people can donate via PayPal.

FYI for anyone reading, I'm gearing up to do a twice-weekly Wishadoo post at DU, with Skinner's permission, to bring attention to DUer's wishlist posts. I may create a separate wishlist section specifically for DU so people can peruse there first if they so choose.

Please do consider both 211 and Wishadoo. If I can help, let me know.

It's awful what people are going through every single day in this country....

:grouphug:

[maryf]

35. Kick

We have to get out in the streets, this is far too commonplace...

[lonestarnot]

38. Geeze we suck.