Duluth poverty rates soar due to depressed economy
RELATED CONTENT
Abusive relationship leads Rene Thatcher into struggle with poverty
Kathy Stanley still hopeful after lifelong struggle with poverty
House fire leaves Joyce Neeb without hope
RELATED CONTENT
Abusive relationship leads Rene Thatcher into struggle with poverty
Kathy Stanley still hopeful after lifelong struggle with poverty
House fire leaves Joyce Neeb without hope
By CARISSA MIKKELSEN
DCN Reporter
Joyce Neeb, 53, was rendered homeless three months ago when an electrical shortage caused a fire in the Duluth home she and her husband were renting.
“What was most astonishing to me was that the landlord didn’t even care that we lost everything, they acted like it was our fault,� said Joyce.
After weeks of sleeping in their truck, Joyce and her husband sought warmth and food at Churches United in Ministry’s (CHUM) drop-in shelter.
Joyce, originally from Indiana, has found it most disheartening that her family has cut all ties from her.
“It’s hard, after I left 10 years ago, they don’t want me to come back or even to talk to them,� said Joyce. “I don’t got nowhere to go home to.�
Making life and her fight through poverty a little harder is that Joyce suffers from epilepsy.
“People don’t understand it, some have even laughed when I had a seizure,� said Joyce.
With life’s struggles weighing heavily, it is easy to feel hopeless.
“It’s gotten so bad, I just want to die,� said Joyce. “I’m just waiting for something good to happen.�
By CARISSA MIKKELSEN
DCN Reporter
Kathy Stanley, 40, has struggled with poverty her entire life. Raised by her ailing grandmother in rural Missouri, Kathy quit school after the ninth grade in order to work full time.
“Growing up with my grandma was good; although it was a struggle for us to survive each day,� said Kathy.
With the death of her grandmother, Kathy began working for a carnival, which eventually brought her to Minnesota. Although, after 12 years of service attending to, “The Titanic," a giant slide for kids, she suffered knee injuries and quit.
With the loss of a job and leaving an abusive relationship, Kathy soon found herself on the streets and seeking help from Churches United in Ministry (CHUM).
“At least I have a place to stay instead of being out in the cold or with him,� said Kathy.
Being hopeful to get back on her feet, Kathy has been looking for a job in Duluth, although her search has been less than fruitful.
“I guess I just ain’t got the experience they want,� said Kathy. “Right now, I’m surviving off donating plasma which is about $40 a week.�
By CARISSA MIKKELSEN
DCN Reporter
Rene Thatcher, 50, is bubbling with personality and kindness, though one may wonder how she remains upbeat amidst her current struggle with poverty.
“I have to, I have to remain positive. There are so many other people who have it worse than me, I need to motivate them,� said Rene.
Rene grew up middle class until an abusive relationship left her homeless and desperately seeking help at a women’s shelter. With their help, Rene was able to find low income housing and odd jobs. After five years of supporting herself, misfortune struck again.
“I started to get really sick, some days I couldn’t even get myself out of my bed,� said Rene.
Rene was diagnosed with a degenerative disease which has left her without 50 percent of her hand strength and many pancreatic problems requiring surgery. Unable to work, Rene does receive disability checks which total $200 per month making it hard to survive.
With medical bills piling up, Rene came back to her apartment one day to find an eviction notice on her couch.
“It all went so fast, I didn’t know what was happening. I couldn’t find anyone to help, it was so wrong. I lost everything I owned,� said Rene.
Since the eviction, Rene does not qualify for low-income housing for the next three years and has been at Churches United in Ministry’s (CHUM) drop-in shelter for the past two weeks.
“This is a learning experience, everyone has a different story. You can’t just assume that you know what someone else is going through,� said Rene. “I’m hopeful my luck will change, until then I just have to hold my head up and smile. It’s all I can do .�
By CARISSA MIKKELSEN
DCN Reporter
Rene Thatcher, a 50-year-old Duluth woman currently living in an emergency drop-in shelter for the homeless, knows the hardships of poverty; she lives it each day.
Thatcher, like many people in Duluth, has struggled with the lack of affordable housing and Health care, which has led her to seek help from Churches United in Ministry’s (CHUM) drop-in shelter.
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