In the past several months I have watched as many of my neighbors have had their homes foreclosed on them. Not because they are bad people but rather good families who have lost their income due to factories and businesses in our area closing and moving out of state.

People who have lived here all of their lives are being forced to relocate. Our Governor was re elected back into office with her promise not to raise taxes and not to take away the child welfare benefits. With in two weeks she signed the bill limiting welfare benefits and in the recent state of the state address she proposed to raise taxes also.

More and more families are standing in line at the local Family Independance Agency just looking for food to feed their families. In hopes to hang on a bit longer and see if economy changes and they can find employment.

When you call the Michigan Works Office to inquire about employment they tell you there is nothing available at the moment.

In the mean time children are being effected drastically and family life is more stressful than ever.

It leaves me wondering when basic poverty due to no employment and no income entering the family will end up being entitled Child Abuse.

How long can good families keep it together before they fall apart? How can they even afford to relocate to find jobs? Why wasn't these needs addresses a few years ago in our government? They had to see that the future was becoming more bleak for smaller towns in various states.

My husbands job is secure. At the moment. We barely break even with out own bills lately because we have helped several other families to survive in hope of some relief after the winter has passed us.

My heart goes out to the children and the parents who are doing their best to hold on and make ends meet while their employment is not stable and who knows what the next day will hold for them.

We are learning to recycle clothing and shoes. Passing them along to other families that may be in need of them. Meals are being changed and meat is not always the main course upon our tables.

Nutritional foods cost more so children are being raised on Maccoroni and Cheese, Soup Beans and Potatoes. Salads are not always part of a daily meal because the vegetables are too costly.

The state WIC programs are keeping the babies healthy. Food stamps are adding to the ability for families to afford food. But still there are needs like shampoo, diapers, wipes and toilet paper that are not items that food stamps can be used for.

I do not know what is going to happen in the next few years here in our area. The state is being hit harder and harder with the loss of business and the unemployment and poverty levels reaching enormous levels.

Millions of dollars flow out of the United States into Foreign countries and to devastated areas. When will those moneys find their way back into the communities of the Untited States where they are badly needed? We need new factories and business.
So that our people can work and make a living and provide for their children again. Something has to happen soon or we will keep seeing families devastated and stricken with poverty.