The country I’ve served has failed to return the favor

Hannah – Seattle, WA

I work as a cobbler at Swanson's Shoe Repair in Seattle, Washington. Our shop closed on the 26th with Governor Inslee's state-wide shelter-in-place directive. Swanson's has been based in Seattle for four generations, and will hopefully recover from the inevitable economic crisis as the pandemic ensues. My father, the owner of Swanson's, was forced to temporarily lay off 7 employees, 2 part-time and 5 full-time (including himself). While using all his resources to extend our pay as long as he could, he prompted us to apply for unemployment like millions of Americans across the nation as it became a health concern to do our job. I felt optimistic that I would receive benefits, especially as my co-workers began receiving notice of their accepted applications.

Last year, I served a one-year term for AmeriCorps, teaching environmental education to high-schoolers in the Seattle area. I often worked on weekends, and more than 40 hours/week. While the work was meaningful, I received a small stipend, more than half of which went to my rent every month. Like most AmeriCorps members, my personal bank account was not bolstered during my term. Working full time with consistent monthly income post AmeriCorps service has been absolutely necessary to live in a city that is becoming more and more unaffordable for working class people.

I, like all working people across the nation, deserve to receive substantial monetary benefits from the government during this crisis. Unfortunately, Washington Service Corps (AmeriCorps program in WA) members are considered paid volunteers, and therefore do not qualify for unemployment services. Hoping that exceptions would be made in our current situation, I applied for unemployment anyways. I received a rejection letter yesterday. I do not reach the required 680 hours, despite easily working over 2000 hours during my term with AmeriCorps.

75,000 Americans serve for AmeriCorps each year, working for non-profits, providing public services, and supporting under-served communities. A huge population of the working class in America have, or will soon realize they don't qualify for unemployment. Like all working people, continuing to receive monthly income throughout this crisis is essential. Basic income is a human right.

Every person in need should be deemed eligible for financial assistance during this time. Failing to alter the disqualifications for unemployment services will send millions of working Americans into financial crisis.

Let's organize and stand together in solidarity!