‘The Joneses’ struggling to keep up

By Shannon Krone

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Remember the line “keeping up with the Joneses”? Well, today, the “Joneses” are just trying to keep up.

They moved to Iowa, Mr. Jones' home state, in 2007, for a better upbringing for their two kids and to be a happy family. Mr. Jones, a college-educated, Air Force veteran, was supporting his family as an IT manager when, suddenly, the bottom fell out in 2011. His job was outsourced and he was unemployed. Thankfully, Mrs. Jones had a job, working in a medical clinic.

Going in, the Jones family was already severely in debt due to bad decisions with credit cards, and had student and car loans. Thankfully, Mr. Jones earned severance for his five years of dedicated service, but the money ran out as the Jones family tried to keep up with their bills.

Unemployment kicked in and they received $416 a week, in addition to her checks. During the 10 months, Mr. Jones spent on unemployment, he sent out countless resumes, filled out scores of applications and had 13 in-person interviews. The Jones family heaved a sigh of relief when, the week before the unemployment was supposed to run out, Mr. Jones was offered a job. The pay would be an almost a 50 percent cut but Mr. Jones put on a brave face and went to work.

During the 10 months of his unemployment, the Jones family could no longer pay most of their bills. Once the severance ran out, all payments on the house and the credit cards stopped. The collection calls started, designed to shame a person into admitting they cannot pay their bills now or in the foreseeable future. The notices came from the bank with threats of foreclosure.

Several attempts were made to modify the mortgage payment, as the Jones's intention had always been to stay in the house, but the bank refused to work with them. Thankfully, Mr. Jones' mother helped the family and paid the back mortgage with a loan once her son secured a new job.

Two months later, Mr. Jones was unemployed again. This time, because the job lasted just a short time, there was no unemployment to cushion the fall. So, in desperation, the Jones family applied for SNAP (food stamps) benefits and received about $400 a month in grocery assistance. They don't want to be on assistance, but they don't want to have the power turned off either. It's a proverbial “catch 22.”

Does he get a job that pays some, only to make them struggle more when they no longer qualify for help? Or does he stay home, take assistance, and feel poorly about himself. He continues on and he's constantly rejected. His gap in unemployment can be explained but no one gives him the opportunity.

Many people will judge the Jones family as being irresponsible, a drain on society, leeches on government resources. The Jones family used to think that, too, when they sat up on their high throne living the myth of the “Protected Middle Class.”

The Jones family is not alone: More than 15 percent of the American population is on SNAP. Many started out in the middle class and watched as the poverty line grew closer, unable to escape it, unwilling to accept it, until they had no choice. Stripped of pride, the Jones family accepts the handouts, but is still looking for a hand up so they can get back on their feet again.

Sadly, they aren't alone. The Jones family could be your family, your neighbor, your co-worker.

Shannon Krone of Marion, married with two children, is a certified medical assistant and originally from Oregon. Comments: shannonkrone@yahoo.com