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THREAD-Part-time jobs, pending eviction: ‘This is what minimum wage looks like’ @MLK50Memphis medium.com/p/part-time-jo…
"This is what life on minimum wage looks like. Although most of my money goes to my landlord, I’m still on the verge of eviction, which is a nightmare, especially with a child.
"Eviction could hinder my ability to rent for up to seven years, not to mention hurt my credit. My health would be at risk, since I’m an insulin-dependent diabetic and must keep my medicine refrigerated. And most important, I have nowhere to go."
"I’m not lazy or uneducated. In 2004, when I graduated college with two bachelors’ degrees, swimming in tens of thousands of dollars in student loans that trash my credit score to this day, I believed those degrees would guarantee consistent employment. And for years, they did.
"In September, I suddenly lost my job in trade publications, after being lulled into a false sense of security with constant talks of annual raises and increasing year-end bonuses.
"Since then, I’ve only gotten minimum- or low-wage work. At one job, I’ve earned a single raise in 10 months to $8.50 an hour.
"Although Bloomberg touted Memphis as one of the top large Metro areas in the country in job creation, there was no mention of the types of jobs or the pay. All I’ve gotten are part-time, high-stress food service jobs that pay minimum wage, or barely above. It’s far from enough."
"Evictions disproportionately affect minorities and women with children, and the constant moves and homelessness can have a lasting effect. In the South, black renters are the most frequent victims of eviction."
"85 to 90 percent of landlords have attorneys during evictions. Most tenants do not. (A local property manager told me of the 20 tenants her company has evicted this past year, none had legal counsel.)"
"I have no immediate solution and a ton of fear. I’ve started filling my carport with things I could junk quickly, which I find time to do since I don’t sleep well."
