Elizabeth’s Story:
I am a freshmen at a community college from a lower middle class family. With things tight for my parents finacial help isn't really posible and job hunting is not going well. Personally I'm furstrated with my position in life, the economy is makeing it hard to find work, making it hard to buy a car and pay bills(extra for my parents or on my own), my personal relationship is also paying a price, he has to work more so going on dates has been scares. I feel helpless to move forward in life.

Emilia Fernandes’s Story:
I had been working at my job for 10 years and got laid off in March. I feel bad for those who are worse off, but we all need to be positive and keep moving.

Emma’s Story:
Downsized and down-hearted, laid-off and scared ... Mid 50's woman can't find work, almost a year now. How do I support myself to live? Unemployment thank goodness for that but it will run out. How am I going to live, soon I won't know ... these shoulda been the easier years ... And it's now just born again Christians it's happening to ..

Esther Conley’s Story:
My husband and I are both disabled. He gets social security and I get SSI. Our combined income is below provity level. We recive food stamps it was $25.00 per month, but this month was uped to $71.00. We pay our bills by the GRACE OF GOD. Only through him do we live. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eugene Humbert’s Story:
I was injured in 1998 - Spinal cord injury that left me without the use of my legs. I retired from Qwest in 2002. I withdrew all my retirement money, and put it into an IRA. Since the collapse, that IRA has lost over 70% of it's value. What was supposed to last me the rest of my life will probably be gone in the next couple of years. My wife also retired, and between us we barely make enough to pay our mortgage and monthly costs. I will most likely lose my home when the IRA is gone.