Archive for the ‘Stories’ Category
February 22nd, 2010
I purchased my home on August 3, 2009. After contemplating a wide variety of variables including the $8,000 First Time Homebuyer Credit tax credit, I decided that it was an appropriate time for me to make such an investment and work towards my future. Without the tax credit as a very strong incentive to make such a purchase, I can say with certainty that I would not have bought a home. After my closing, I kept track of the items I bought for my home, including dishes, towels, paint, furniture and home decor. I purchased a majority of these items at local retailers. In total, I spent nearly $2000 on making my new home mine. I feel that this stimulus money certainly enticed me to jump into the housing market and generate revenue for locally-owned businesses.
Now that tax time is upon us, I am in the midst of filing for my tax refund, including my First Time Homebuyer credit. I look forward to putting that money back in the bank. In addition to purchasing a home, I’ve decided to return to school and seek my Master’s degree in Public Administration.
Without President Obama’s First Time Homebuyer Credit incentive program, I would not be a homeowner or a graduate school student today.
Lauren
February 6th, 2010
My name is Melissa. I am a registered nurse for hospice. Every day I have to worry that the company I work for will not be able to continue what we do because medicare doesn’t believe hospice patients are dying. I realize that medicare must be careful and make cut backs and be careful of the budget. However, when a doctor certifies a patient is elligible for hospice they are saying they have done all they can for someone. This is not something easily done, by any health care professional. I would imagine if a senator’s loved one was dying they would want a hospice nurse to care for their dying loved one. Sadly,the rich and the poor are unaffected. It’s the people in the middle who are at risk of losing their rights.
Melissa
January 12th, 2010
I am a union pipefitter/welder out of local 782. Because nothing is being built in Sussex County, I only managed to get about 13 weeks of work last year. Every worthwhile project was blocked. IE The Gasifier Project at Indian River Powerhouse. The effort going into blocking the DelPointe Resort Project. These are jobs that would have allowed me to get about five years worth of work and benefits, like my health and pension hours. The refinery in Delaware City was closed and thats usually about a third of my yearly income. And since my wife has had her hours cut (she is a locator and her job relies on construction being done in the area) I had trouble keeping up with my bills. I tried using a credit counciling service but they couldn’t help since my bills far exceeded my income. I tried to refinance or restructure my home loan but couldn’t refinance without a job and couldn’t restructure because of a home equity loan I had to take when my wife couldn’t work for a year because of cancer. So it seems that my only option is to keep trying to get by month by month while hoping my wifes hours don’t get cut any more than they have. We have given up alot to just “get by”. I had to resign as 39th district democrat chair because I was sure I would lose my house and have to leave the area. I am hopeful that in April when the scrubbers are built at Indian River Powerhouse I will get a couple of years of work to get caught back up, but its holding out until then that could be the problem.
Mike
January 12th, 2010
My Name is Catherine Ciferni, I am 36 years old and I am on peritoneal dialysis. I have previously had 3 kidney transplants, which have failed at various times in my life. It is difficult for me to find a job that will insure me, so for medical benefits I have Medicare. In order to stay on disability I have to live at a very low level of income, no more than 980 dollars per month just to keep my medicare coverage, I can not save for the future, I can not save for a house or condo, (my dream) nor to go back to school for additional training. I have been able to manage my condition and grow even though I am on dialysis. I have served as an Americorps VISTA member for 2 years, once at the University of Delaware and the other at the Ministry of Caring- I believe in serving those who do not have a voice, as I often feel in that situation
But I am forced to live at a level of poverty that scares me, I have a fixed income and do not live in public housing, none is available to me, most of my income goes to keeping a roof over my head, I live this way because its the only way I can get coverage for my dialysis treatment, I feels as though the government is telling me, “Ok, we will treat you so, you can stay alive but we can not guarantee that you will have food or shelter”
-Catherine C.
January 11th, 2010
Last summer a group of Democrats in Sussex County worked for a health care plan with a strong public option. It was a wonderful experience to see RDs, Progressive Democratic groups, local Democratic clubs, and our State Party endorse the Resolution.
Well, we have a health care plan, but the insurance companies won this Round and we don’t have a public option. I am very disappointed. I believe most Delawareans favor a much stronger health care bill than the one we are going to end up with.
Despite my disillusionment I don’t think we can give up. I plan to keep working in memory of the 134,000 who died in this country between 2000 and 2006 because they did not have health care insurance. I plan to keep working for those who have no lobbyists working for them in Washington.
Joanne Cabry
Chair
Progressive Democrats of Sussex County
