Lissa Cunneen, 45, used to work in the home loan department at WaMu. Yes, that’s the same home loan department that helped cause this whole subprime mortgage mess in the first place. And no, the irony is not lost on her. Now she’s a part-time barista for a large coffee empire and struggling to pay her interest-only mortgage—which, of course, was given to her by WaMu.
I am one of those women who could end up in a cardboard box—or, if this were the 19th century, living off the kindness of more successful relations. A little over two years ago I got divorced and entered the job market just as everything started to fall apart. I foolishly invested in a condo and now owe more than it’s worth.
I got laid off from WaMu the day after Christmas. I had been an administrative assistant in the much-beleaguered home loan department. I went through four bosses in two years, so I wasn’t that surprised when the ax finally fell on me. I got a severance package, but it won’t last me past the mortgage payment for March. I try to look for work every day, but so far nothing—although, I do still have my part time job as a barista so the cable bill is covered. But the barista work also means that my unemployment benefits are being held up. Since I have a job (even though it is only 25 hours a week and pays half what I was making at WaMu) I may not be eligible. The irony is that my unemployment benefits from Wamu would probably be more than I’m making as a barista, but if I quit as a barista I might not get anything at all. It is a classic Catch-22.
My degree is in costume design and I have managed to do a couple of shows, but theatre doesn’t really pay that much, and my hand-made greeting cards, although well-received, aren’t that lucrative either. The designs are, not surprisingly, pretty dark, so maybe there is a future for me as a one woman Goth Hallmark store.
I have good days and bad days and yes, it scares the crap out of me that for the first time in my life I have no health insurance. This month I had to make a choice between my meds, because I can’t afford all of them anymore. So I picked the one that is supposed to keep my breast cancer from coming back and ditched the rest. I live in fear that my car will break down and I won’t have the money to fix it.
Still, I’m luckier than many. I have friends and family, and cutting back on my food budget means I might just finally lose that last stubborn 10 pounds, and hey, cheap whiskey gets you just as drunk as the nicer stuff.
So that’s my little story: 45, masters degree, single, big mortgage, no job. Woo Hooed by WaMu.
Lissa
With yesterday’s news filled with President Obama’s new plan to help Americans in difficult mortgage situations, I asked Lissa last night whether she’d benefit from Obama’s upcoming mortgage market interventions.
As I understand it, I would not be eligible for government assistance at this time. My interest rate is screamingly low, and I am, for the time being at least, current in my payments. In a month or two, when I am forced into delinquency and my hard earned credit score is in the crapper, then perhaps I may benefit from the program. I, of course, hope that it does not come to that.
Lissa
Have an unemployment story to share? Write to jobless@thestranger.com.
She is pretty damn cute. Natural red? *wink wink* I know some things we can do Lissa to take your mind of things for awhile…
Wow someone should do a study about what causes people to be so mean when they are posting on a blog. It is like road rage in here. That isn’t some avatar that you are ripping into it is a woman from our community who took a risk and shared her story .
Cable might be how she gets her phone and her computer access so I would keep that actually.
If she has a 2 bedroom condo perhaps she can get a roommate or find someone else in a similar situation and double up in one place and rent the other out. If you work for a local unnamed coffee company you might qualify for health insurance. I am sorry you are struggling with how to pay for your meds. Fred Meyer has a program (free) that provides up many prescriptions for only $10 a month (generic).
The stimulus package also includes cobra coverage of up to 65% for 9 months if you lost our job but they haven’t sent out the paper work to employers yet. If you pay for it now you will be reimbursed but cash flow is always a problem. Don’t worry if you can’t afford it now as you can elect it for up to 90 days after the send out the rules. Basic health might be an option as well if you make less then $1800 a month and are single although they just cut the number of slots.
Everyone who told you to apply for unemployment is right. You should also know that there are programs that will pay for you to go back to school full time, pay for your tuition and pay your unemployment but you have to apply in the first few months of unemployment. They don’t really broadcast the programs too much but tons of people at BCC and NSC are taking classes. I even know people who went to massage therapy school and are now making $100 an hour (and work part time).
This is the stranger so you have to expect that it would attract a certain type of reader but hang in there. Leverage your income with unemployment and keep looking. Health care is still hiring and your skills are transferable. Check out group health for example.
Cassie
There is no pre-existing condition clause for an individual policy if you apply within 90 days of losing group coverage
@52
Thanks nice neighbor for your kindness towards my good friend Lissa. She was brave to share her story and doesn’t deserve all the crap people have given her here.