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For a year and a half, 61-year-old Deja Baker has been looking for a job to replace the one she lost at a local flooring company.
Though she has “years and years” of sales experience and once traveled seven states promoting restaurants, Baker now relies on food stamps, food banks and general assistance to get by. Unemployment checks stopped coming months ago.
Baker is among the thousands of Nevada County residents hardest hit by the recession. County social services agencies have seen a dramatic rise in the number of people like Baker — people with solid work histories — who are applying for aid for the first time.
While some economic indicators offer hope of recovery, unemployment nationwide continues to mount. Jobs typically rebound more slowly as the economy turns around, economists have said.
That hasn’t deterred Baker from looking. She has submitted hundreds of applications online and in person to every type of local business that doesn’t require a college degree or lifting more than 50 pounds — from housekeeping to retail.
“I’m either overqualified or underqualified,” Baker said, adding she never had trouble finding a job before.
“Any interview I was on, I was offered a job,” she added. “Now, I can’t even get the interview.”
Standing in a line at the food bank has been “extremely humbling,” she said. Baker has met countless young wives and mothers who talk about losing their homes and not knowing what to do.
“You realize there’s so many other people in the same situation,” she said.
One in 10 getting aid
More than ever, middle-class families hit by the recession are living off their savings, selling their assets and — finally — swallowing their pride to ask for public assistance.
“People who have never applied for public assistance before are coming to our lobby,” Nevada County Social Services Director Alison Lehman said. “I think it’s more widespread than it’s ever been before.”
The department estimates one in 10 people in Nevada County — or 10,000 residents — receives some kind of assistance from Social Services, county Human Services
Agency Director Jeff Brown told county supervisors Tuesday.
Nevada County’s unemployment rate spiked to 11.1 percent in March, up from 6 percent the year before.
A May 19 election and Gov. Schwarzenegger’s budget revision now being reviewed by the state legislature could put funding for safety net programs once again on the chopping block.
“I’m sure there will be additional cuts to health and human services,” Brown said.
While medical and food stamp programs aren’t likely to disappear, a reduction of services such as cash aid and prescriptions is likely, Lehman said.
Rise in food stamp recipients
The number of people asking for and receiving all kinds of public assistance in Nevada County has jumped, Lehman said.
• Food stamp caseloads in February 2009 jumped 44 percent compared to February 2007.
• The number of people asking for food stamps in February 2009 jumped 81 percent compared to February 2007.
• The number of people receiving Medi-Cal in February 2009 rose by 26 percent compared to August 2008.
Social service workers also have seen increasing caseloads for other forms of public assistance including Calworks and general assistance.
College grads applying
Not all who wait hours to meet with a case worker, then fill out lengthy applications for assistance, can get help.
“It takes a lot to come into our office and then be told you are not eligible. It’s demoralizing,” Lehman said.
Foreclosures and job lay-offs are changing the profile of those applying for assistance, Lehman said. People with higher educations, a steady work history and two-parent families who can’t pay their mortgage and other bills are now looking for help.
But owning property, or a cushion in the bank puts them above eligibility requirements, Lehman said.
Once denied, many exhaust their assets, then return to social services several months later, she added.
In a recent survey conducted by the Adult and Family Services Commission, of 207 people seeking public assistance, 20 had an AA degree or vocational training, 52 had some college education, 14 had college degrees, seven had certified apprenticeships and another seven had graduate or professional degrees, Lehman said.
Medical care sector hardest hit
Since last July, 24 local businesses have closed, resulting in the loss of 117 jobs — but that pace is slowing, Lehman said.
In a recent lobby survey conducted by social services, 57 percent of those who responded said they had had a job within the last six months.
The medical and caregiving industry is suffering the most from the recession right now, Lehman said.
Clerical workers make up the second-largest group seeking assistance, followed by restaurant and food service workers.
Those in construction represent 7 percent of those out of work and seeking assistance, compared to a year ago when the industry ranked highest at 19 percent of those seeking assistance.
“It’s a real clear wave. That’s what we’re seeing in our One-Stop (career center),” Lehman said.
Since August of 2008, daily visits to the One-Stop Business and Career Centers in Nevada County rose from 920 to 1,841 in March of 2009.
Some of those who lost construction jobs a year ago remain unemployed, she said.
“We have a skilled labor industry right now that can’t find work,” Lehman said, adding that big construction projects such as the expansion at Sierra College offer hope.
To contact Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231.
Though she has “years and years” of sales experience and once traveled seven states promoting restaurants, Baker now relies on food stamps, food banks and general assistance to get by. Unemployment checks stopped coming months ago.
Baker is among the thousands of Nevada County residents hardest hit by the recession. County social services agencies have seen a dramatic rise in the number of people like Baker — people with solid work histories — who are applying for aid for the first time.
While some economic indicators offer hope of recovery, unemployment nationwide continues to mount. Jobs typically rebound more slowly as the economy turns around, economists have said.
That hasn’t deterred Baker from looking. She has submitted hundreds of applications online and in person to every type of local business that doesn’t require a college degree or lifting more than 50 pounds — from housekeeping to retail.
“I’m either overqualified or underqualified,” Baker said, adding she never had trouble finding a job before.
“Any interview I was on, I was offered a job,” she added. “Now, I can’t even get the interview.”
Standing in a line at the food bank has been “extremely humbling,” she said. Baker has met countless young wives and mothers who talk about losing their homes and not knowing what to do.
“You realize there’s so many other people in the same situation,” she said.
One in 10 getting aid
More than ever, middle-class families hit by the recession are living off their savings, selling their assets and — finally — swallowing their pride to ask for public assistance.
“People who have never applied for public assistance before are coming to our lobby,” Nevada County Social Services Director Alison Lehman said. “I think it’s more widespread than it’s ever been before.”
The department estimates one in 10 people in Nevada County — or 10,000 residents — receives some kind of assistance from Social Services, county Human Services
Agency Director Jeff Brown told county supervisors Tuesday.
Nevada County’s unemployment rate spiked to 11.1 percent in March, up from 6 percent the year before.
A May 19 election and Gov. Schwarzenegger’s budget revision now being reviewed by the state legislature could put funding for safety net programs once again on the chopping block.
“I’m sure there will be additional cuts to health and human services,” Brown said.
While medical and food stamp programs aren’t likely to disappear, a reduction of services such as cash aid and prescriptions is likely, Lehman said.
Rise in food stamp recipients
The number of people asking for and receiving all kinds of public assistance in Nevada County has jumped, Lehman said.
• Food stamp caseloads in February 2009 jumped 44 percent compared to February 2007.
• The number of people asking for food stamps in February 2009 jumped 81 percent compared to February 2007.
• The number of people receiving Medi-Cal in February 2009 rose by 26 percent compared to August 2008.
Social service workers also have seen increasing caseloads for other forms of public assistance including Calworks and general assistance.
College grads applying
Not all who wait hours to meet with a case worker, then fill out lengthy applications for assistance, can get help.
“It takes a lot to come into our office and then be told you are not eligible. It’s demoralizing,” Lehman said.
Foreclosures and job lay-offs are changing the profile of those applying for assistance, Lehman said. People with higher educations, a steady work history and two-parent families who can’t pay their mortgage and other bills are now looking for help.
But owning property, or a cushion in the bank puts them above eligibility requirements, Lehman said.
Once denied, many exhaust their assets, then return to social services several months later, she added.
In a recent survey conducted by the Adult and Family Services Commission, of 207 people seeking public assistance, 20 had an AA degree or vocational training, 52 had some college education, 14 had college degrees, seven had certified apprenticeships and another seven had graduate or professional degrees, Lehman said.
Medical care sector hardest hit
Since last July, 24 local businesses have closed, resulting in the loss of 117 jobs — but that pace is slowing, Lehman said.
In a recent lobby survey conducted by social services, 57 percent of those who responded said they had had a job within the last six months.
The medical and caregiving industry is suffering the most from the recession right now, Lehman said.
Clerical workers make up the second-largest group seeking assistance, followed by restaurant and food service workers.
Those in construction represent 7 percent of those out of work and seeking assistance, compared to a year ago when the industry ranked highest at 19 percent of those seeking assistance.
“It’s a real clear wave. That’s what we’re seeing in our One-Stop (career center),” Lehman said.
Since August of 2008, daily visits to the One-Stop Business and Career Centers in Nevada County rose from 920 to 1,841 in March of 2009.
Some of those who lost construction jobs a year ago remain unemployed, she said.
“We have a skilled labor industry right now that can’t find work,” Lehman said, adding that big construction projects such as the expansion at Sierra College offer hope.
To contact Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231.
