Unemployment LifeLine: One Stop Resource Center for Jobless

by Mike Hall, Apr 9, 2009

What can you do when your paycheck stops but your rent bills don’t? IrnBru001 asked other visitors to the new Unemployment LifeLine’s Break Room forum:

I’m looking for any suggestions on how I can lower my rent. Has anyone successfully talked with their landlord into lowering their rent so they could stay in their place?

UrbanMs. replied that she:

did a survey of rents since the housing debacle started and found they are actually lower than what I am currently paying for the same square footage. I hope this gives me a little leverage when I discuss the matter with him. I think though an honest discussion is the best start. It is difficult for landlords to find good tenants, too. If you have been paying on time in the past, he may be willing to work with you.

That is the kind of everyday practical advice that can be hard to find. But, it is exactly the void the Unemployment LifeLine’s Break Room forum hopes to fill—a place where workers—jobless and employed—can share information and tips on coping in this job-killing economy.

That is just one of the many features of the just-launched Unemployment LifeLine, developed by Working America and the AFL-CIO. The site can guide you to resources and services in your area to help working families cope and survive unemployment. The new online one-stop resource center for jobless workers provides a ZIP code searchable database of more than 50,000 resources.

Cara Alcantar, Working America’s Michigan state director, told the Detroit Free Press:

When you get laid off, you don’t get a manual. And this is basically an online manual to help you out and give you resources that nobody tells you about.

But the Unemployment LifeLine also is counting on workers around the country to grow the list of resources. You are the experts on your own towns and areas, and if you know of another resource we should list, please submit them here.

Scott Sneddon, Working America’s canvassing director for Ohio, told The Columbus Dispatch:

People can communicate with each other to offer advice, how to talk with children about a job loss, or even how to talk with creditors about a late bill. The site helps to give a voice back to people who have lost their jobs and feel as though their voices are no longer being heard.

The Unemployment LifeLine also includes a Worker Wiki you can contribute to and edit and a calendar of workers’ events around the country.

Click here to check out the Unemployment LifeLine and be sure to spread the word.

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