All the Older Single Ladies in Poverty

[mntleo2]

121. So true!

I can say this was especially true for women who were low wage earners. Americans as far as making policy and laws to make things better still have a long way to go.

As a white woman, and while I worked McJobs, most of my friends aze women of color and they were from many different cultures. While they had it much worse than me, we all shared in common the difficulties of trying to provide while living under extreme sexism in our work places. These freindships extended to folks from Asia, Africa, S America, the Middle East,and Eastern Europe. I learned a lot from them as to how to survive on nothing. One of the most important things they all did regardless of culture was living in multi-generational, extended family homes ~ and this technique was used by my friends who were from every corner of the world.

But Americans are punished if they try to use this practical method by not being able to get such important support such as housing assistance. Since the attitude about multi-generational housing is that the funders do not want families to "get too dependent" on this assistance as if working for those crappy wages does anything else! The saddest part about this attitude with housing assistance is that if low wage workers are able to live together and pool their incomes, the assistance costs are far less than it would be to try to live alone.

What does extended family housing do for low wage families?

Well grandparents and other relatives can help with childcare, be there when the kids are sick, do the household chores so the paid worker does not have to come home and do it. They can pool their money and buy a decent car so it does not break down and there is dependable transportation for doctor's appointments,groceries, work meetings, etc. Public transportation is then easier to access because the extra time is not as much of a worry, someone is always home for the kids if you are late. Food costs are lower when families can fix meals together. Energy costs are lower when common living heats and gives lighting to all, etc. If Grandpa falls someone is there to call for help AND take care of him after he gets out of the hospital, drastically cutting senior costs, etc. Adults were freed to get educations and on to better jobs, because they did not have to worry or find child care for their kids, etc. The understanding about this pooling of resources is that everybody benefits, their standard of living as a group WILL get better, and they always have others supporting and caring for them.

Because of this multi-generational living most of my friends of color now own their own homes and began their own successful small businesses because they were able to pool their resources with family. While I understand that extended family living is not for everyone, those who choose it can do much better if they want this lifestyle.

As a low income activist believe me, I have spoken to this saving of funding dollars with non-profits, legislators and policy makers. But they are so stuck on the American individualism and discounting unpaid work, it is beyond their ken that this actually works and has worked in many cultures. Simply and mostly because we discount unpaid labor ...GRRRR!

Cat