Poverty

The ways in which poverty is a cycle, repeating and expanding into the next generation.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

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JERRY LONGORIA: I love my job.

I just want to be paid the
right amount that I deserve.

And I'm making less from
where I first started.

It just doesn't seem right.

MARY: My husband moved out.

I'm a waitress.

I have no frickin' money.

So my life sucks.

I make minimum wage.

And I can't make it.

And I need help.

This can happen to any
middle-class person

in a heartbeat.

SPEAKER: The more I work,
the more money I try to make,

the more they shoot me down.

I'm hustling backwards.

SPEAKER: I would
like to move my kids

into the big,
beautiful neighborhood

with a big, gigantic house and
the swimming pool in the back.

But that's more like
a dream than reality.

JEAN REYNOLDS: I was
brought up to believe

that the American dream
is that you work hard

and you're going
to be successful.

I've worked hard my whole
life, and I'm still stuck.

Things have changed
somewhere along the line.

And I feel cheated out
of the American dream.

I just don't get ahead.

There's no American
dream anymore.

[CHANTING]

OK.

And this can change
at any minute, right?

SPEAKER: Right.

And so you introduce it.

It's mainly the
politicians first.

[CHANTING]

JEAN REYNOLDS: OK, everybody!

OK, all of you know who I am.

I'm Jean Reynolds, CNA,
[INAUDIBLE] Nursing Home,

14 years, almost 14 years.

I'm the person that got in
trouble for saying that God's

not paying us enough.

[CHEERING]

God isn't signing my paycheck.

We all know that.

But we are told we're
doing God's work.

And we are told that
we're not important enough

to make a decent wage.

Well, God knows I'm tired of it.

I don't know about you
guys, but I'm tired of it.

[CHEERING]

I believe that the only way
I'm going to get out of poverty

is by fighting.

I'm hoping that this fight
would elevate my salary

to a normal, livable wage.

I make $11 an hour
after 14 years.

It's sinful!

God knows it's sinful.

It's gotten really
tough to make ends meet.

I can't work two jobs.

I just can't do it anymore.

I'm getting old.

We have to get the
money from Trenton.

It's about time
we started getting

paid for doing God's work.

[CHEERING]

Thank you.

I am very ashamed of the
fact that I am, at my age,

a low wage earner.

It's very demoralizing.

Every month it's a
battle to pay the bills.

I'm always afraid that the next
phone call is going to be, hey,

your electric is being shut
off because you're behind.

How are you doing?

Good day?

I'm working at my
job for 13 years.

I work 11:00 at night
to 7:00 in the morning.

I bring home a little
over $600 every two weeks.

I pay $1,200 a
month for my rent.

If I don't work overtime,
forget about it.

Four weeks' pay
just covers my rent.

It's the only way
we make it is by me

doing extra time, extra
work, and cutting corners

where I can.

What's the matter?

Hm?

I'm proud of what I do.

I make a difference in
these people's lives.

Most people here
don't have families.

They consider us their families.

I'm handling human beings,
and I'm being paid less

than garbagemen.

And it hurts to
realize that that's

how little value
society has placed

upon me and these people
that are in my care.

Somebody told me something, that
I should be keeping a journal.

So we got everybody a
journal to write in.

But each one has
different thing written--

SPEAKER: Thanks for telling us.

JEAN REYNOLDS: Yeah, well,
you're going to open it,

and you're going to see why.

There's something written
inside of each one of yours.

There's Bridget's.

SPEAKER: What is
that word, glean?

JEAN REYNOLDS: Learn.

Which one is Steven's?

SPEAKER: Learn a
Christmas song that you

can sing to your family.

JEAN REYNOLDS: Because
you're a little liar.

Here.

That's Steven's right there.

Merry Christmas.

Enjoy.

I feel bad that I can't do
what my parents did for me.

I can't give the kids the
things that I grew up having--

SPEAKER: [INAUDIBLE]
so I go whack it.

JEAN REYNOLDS: --or the things
that I would just want them

to-- even if they
didn't have what I had,

things that I want to give
my children, I can't give.

I can't afford to give them.

SPEAKER: [INAUDIBLE]

JEAN REYNOLDS: It's always worth
it to have your family with you

for the holidays.

Anything is worth it.

SPEAKER: [INAUDIBLE]

If my ex-husband was a
better person, more concerned

about the welfare of
me and his children,

I think things would
have been better,

because there would have been
two of us working towards it.

Right now, he's avoiding
paying child support.

He just doesn't feel
he's obligated to help.

[INAUDIBLE]

JEAN REYNOLDS: Hug me.

OK.

Why does that make you cry?

I've had the hardest year trying
to get ready for Christmas.

My oldest daughter,
Bridget, has thyroid cancer.

They're pretty sure
that she has metastases

in the brain, another
tumor in the brain.

We have no insurance for
Bridget, no anything.

So it's really hard.

Even though most people that
are treated with thyroid cancer

survive, they
don't feel that she

will be able to because of
it being so advanced and so

through her whole system.

BRIDGET: They said to go home
and have a good Christmas,

because it's more
than likely my last.

But I'm going to try
like hell that it's not.

JEAN REYNOLDS: I
get mad at Bridget,

because she doesn't
fight like I would.

And I can't fight for her.

And that scares me.

If you go, if you
die, I'm the one

that has to pick up the
pieces with the kids.

And that's why I keep
telling you, you can't die.

It's not fair.

It's not fair that you
would go before me.

I'm not ready to go either.

But it's not fair.

It's not fair.

And it's been a rough year.

It's been a really rough year.

JERRY LONGORIA: An SRO is a
single room occupancy hotel.

And it's probably
the cheapest place

you can find in San Francisco.

It's just a room.

And I've been there two years.

There's shared bathrooms.

It just seems that I know
I can do better than this.

And for this little small
space that I pay $530 for rent.

I could probably
find something more

affordable in the
outskirts of the city,

but that'd be
jeopardizing my job.

Because if you're late
two or three times,

you won't have a job.

SPEAKER: [INAUDIBLE]

JERRY LONGORIA: Hey, Howie.

One of my fears
is being homeless.

I've been homeless before.

And that's hard.

I can manage the
whole $10 in the bank,

so I won't lose my account.

And that's what I have right
now is $10 in the bank.

Probably got about
$30 in my pocket.

And I don't get paid until
Friday, four days away.

So it's living
paycheck to paycheck.

I never thought I would be
guarding this multimillion

dollar building.

And usually, I'm
the kind of person

that was always the laborer.

You going to the seventh floor?

But now since I'm reaching to
the point of my age, I guess,

I'm using my mind instead
of breaking my back.

You have to come back
the same way you come in.

And then when you
leave, you also

have to send the elevator
down for security purposes.

OK, you have to use
the freight elevator.

You can't use that elevator,
because that elevator has--

Right now, I make $12 an hour.

Thank you.

But now, because of
the cost of living,

$12 an hour in San Francisco
is like $6.50 an hour in other

places.

That's why the
weekends, I'll head over

to Goodwill, Thrift Town.

And like, this weekend,
they're having sales.

There having all clothes, $2.

For my job, and they expect
for you to look pretty good.

I would like to be able to go
get a haircut when I want it

or to also go out and buy
a new shirt or new shoes.

And usually, it's not like that.

MARY: Right now, I'm
going through a divorce.

And it sucks.

When my husband left, there
was no money in the bank.

It was all gone.

My income went to
zero, literally.

I go out of my county to
go to the food pantry.

I choose that because I don't
want to run into anybody

I know.

SPEAKER: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

SPEAKER: They brought you
the turkey and the food.

MARY: OK.

SPEAKER: And just
another bag of food.

MARY: OK.

SPEAKER: All that, OK?

MARY: Yeah.

SPEAKER: Now, you'll have
a good Christmas, Mary.

I know you will.

MARY: Thank you.

SPEAKER: You're welcome.

MARY: I'm sorry I
have to do this.

SPEAKER: It's OK.

It's OK!

MARY: It'd be a lot easier if
they didn't believe in Santa,

you know?

It would.

SPEAKER: But it
wouldn't be as much fun.

MARY: No, it's a lot of fun.

SPEAKER: It wouldn't
be near as much fun.

So there you go.

MARY: Yeah, this
really helps me.

I just never thought I'd be
the type of person that would

have to utilize a food bank.

I was one of those women that
donated to people like me.

That's the truth!

I really did.

It's really been hard
to make ends meet.

And what hurts me is right now
I have three dependent children

that are affected by this.

I can take it.

But if it's starting to
affect them, that breaks me.

And that breaks my spirit,
to be honest with you.

KEENSLEY: I always
wanted [INAUDIBLE]..

QUINN: I got clothes.

KYRA: Oh, socks!

And this one says.

MARY: It was a very
humbling experience

to get Christmas gifts for the
children from the food pantry.

Keen, this is a nice shirt.

KEENSLEY: Yeah.

KYRA: Keep this in here.

MARY: This is all
for appearances.

Because once this holiday's
over, the reality will set in.

The reality is going to be
that I'm going to lose my home.

KEENSLEY: [INAUDIBLE]

MARY: The car is going.

There's going to be no
more online service.

So our lifestyle
is going to change.

(SINGING) Here's the
money that I owe you.

Pay the bills.

I will give you more
than I get paid again.

I hate those people who
love to tell you money

is the root of all that kills.

They have never been poor.

They have never had the
joy of a welfare Christmas.

Yeah.

MARY VENITTELLI:
The kids kind of

are aware of what's going on.

Keen said something to me and
he's like, I have money, mom.

You can borrow it.

I have $15 in my room.

I'm like, uh.

I said, no, I'm OK.

It's not, you know--
do you have $1,000?

Maybe I'll borrow your
$1,000, but your $15--

so that hurts me that
they have to see this.

Baked potato, French
fries, or seasoned rice?

WOMAN: Baked potato
with sour cream.

MAN: [INAUDIBLE]

MARY VENITTELLI: How do
you want yours cooked?

MAN: Medium rare'd be good.

MARY VENITTELLI: Oh,
you guys are too cute.

I'm a waitress at the
[? Millstone ?] Inn.

I'm the oldest waitress there.

I make minimum wage for a
waitress-- $2.18 an hour,

plus tips.

There are nights when I get
$1 paychecks, $8 paychecks.

There's nights I come
home with $30 in my pocket

and I'm paying a sitter $28.

I haven't had any contact
with my husband in weeks,

so I know that the core
payment has been paid,

but what I'm telling you is
I'm taking it to the dealer.

What you guys want to do
with it, I really don't care,

but I'm not paying for it.

I'm going to take it to the
Hamilton Volkswagen. Yes.

And I'm putting a big red
bow on it for everyone, OK?

I know it is very nice.

Goodbye.

JUDGE (ON TV): That's
the way I'm feeling now,

with the exception of this,
that I actually agree with you.

MARY VENITTELLI: I'm screwed
because it's going to be hard

for me to get a car now.

KYRA: What does it like mean?

MARY VENITTELLI: I
didn't plan on this.

I don't want to talk
to you about it.

It's too much for you.

You know what I mean?

It's complicated.

MAN (ON TV): If you
have debt problems,

then call Profina Debt
Solutions, the nation's--

KYRA: There you go.

[LAUGHTER]

Write that down.

MARY VENITTELLI: Thanks a lot.

MAN (ON TV):
--creditors nationwide.

WOMAN (ON TV): I just make
one payment to Profina

and they take care of the rest.

Thank you, Profina.

I have my life back.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

BARBARA BROOKS: I
have five children

living in the house with me.

I would say I get about maybe
three to four good hours

of sleep per night.

[SNORING]

[INAUDIBLE] wake up.

Get up.

Juquan.

Time to get up.

I put on this front
and my role is

to be the parent of five, a
full time student, and full time

employee.

Dave, when is your
Christmas party at school?

Your teachers didn't
send anything home.

I don't have money this year
to buy a Christmas dinner.

Egypt is going to go to
her godmother's house

and Dave will probably go
over to a friend's house.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

I guess we're
borderline poverty.

It would have to be
because every month, you

have to be concerned about
which bill you're going to pay

or who you're going to send
half here and half there.

It's never like the
bill is paid in full.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

I work at Leadership
Training Institute,

which is a non-secure detention
facility for juveniles

from 10 to 17 years old.

I've been affiliated with
this place for 21 years

because I used to
be a resident there.

We have eight kids.

The first thing you
do when you come here,

you always count them.

Make sure that you have
the right amount of kids.

Kids can't use the
back staircase ever.

I'm responsible for all those
children at $8.25 an hour.

They redid the attic.

It means that I'm bring
home every two weeks $569.

OK.

What we did-- with
five kids, it's just

impossible to live off of that.

All those shoes--
see these bins?

They put names on them.

I told them to number them.

I know that I can make
more money somewhere else.

I know that I can.

I know.

I hate to have to start over.

I love my job.

I love the kids, you know.

I like the people
that I work with.

But what's more
important is the people

that I have to take care
of, and that's my children.

They're more important.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

What's up, boy?

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

Dave, see that big house
right there on the corner?

That's the house.

You see it?

That was a nice house.

My primary focus is
to make sure that I

make life easy for my
kids because it was tough

for me growing up.

The sexual abuse started
when I was five years old

and it was an uncle
who was older.

Then, when my grandmother
died, I had to come to New York

to live with my mother, who I
had never had a relationship

with before that.

And she really just
didn't want me.

What really caused
me to be removed

is she burned skin off my face.

And I ran away and
Family Court placed me

in non-secure detention, which
is the job that I work at now.

In a way, it was like a rescue.

It was like a rescue.

And then I still went through
some things there, you know?

I went through sexual
abuse there as a teenager.

So I kind of felt
like, you know--

I might have felt then that
this is just how life is for me.

But I believe that through
education, everything's

going to change.

My mother wasn't educated.

I don't even know if she
had a high school diploma.

My mother can't go back
and make any changes.

I can.

I am 7 and 1/2 credits away from
getting my associate's degree.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

It's hectic.

It's really hectic trying to
keep my 40 hour work week.

School, the demand
with the homework.

I can't get an assignment
tonight and go home and do it

with five kids.

There's always something
that I've got to do.

Professor [? Gerald, ?]
can I speak to you?

PROFESSOR: Sure, Barbara.

What's going on?

BARBARA BROOKS: I'm
doing really terrible

and I gotta find a way to
pass this class in order

to graduate.

I have like limited study
time and your grades

have been killing me.

I want to know, is it
possible for me to pass?

PROFESSOR: Usually what
I do to motivate students

the week before
finals, I tell them

that the purpose is to learn it.

You really shouldn't get a grade
based on when you learn it.

When you feel ready to
take the test again,

you can take it again.

So that gives you a
lot of opportunities

to bring your grade up.

BARBARA BROOKS: At school, you
have to do the work in order

to get the grade,
so it's depressing

that I'm not capable
of performing

because I don't have the time.

I could just be
working full time,

working seven days a week,
for saving money than talk

about boarding school.

But in the long run,
without the education,

somebody's going to come
along and, you know,

probably get my position because
I don't have the education.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

JEAN REYNOLDS: The contract is
expiring March 30 of this year.

We represent 6,000
people in New Jersey.

We're hoping we'll get a
better contract this time

for everybody.

I'm Jean Reynolds.

JOSEPH KYRILLOS, JR:
How are you, Jean?

JEAN REYNOLDS: Hi.

How are you?

JOSEPH KYRILLOS, JR: Pleasure.

JEAN REYNOLDS: Good.

I'm working 14 years
and I make $11 an hour.

And it's very hard
to make ends meet.

[APPLAUSE]

I wanted to know what your
plans are for us to get

a piece of the American dream.

CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN: The
greatest family value

is a good job with
a living wage.

MAN: Let's make
life better for all.

Let's make the American dream
real for every American.

Thank you, and God bless.

[APPLAUSE]

JEAN REYNOLDS: I've done
a lot for the union.

I've worked on the
nursing home campaign

where we try to get better
contracts for people.

But it's done nothing for me.

I'll get the raise
that everybody else

got-- the 3% raise.

I'll still only be
making $11 an hour

because my nursing home
wasn't one of the ones that

needed a new contract.

I'm working a lot of overtime.

I just did like
two weeks straight.

But that money just
doesn't stretch that far.

Every couple of months,
there's another increase

in the gas prices.

You know, home heating.

There's another increase in
your issuance price or whatever.

And we're not getting that
increase in the salary,

and that's where
it's killing us.

You know, we're not keeping
rise with inflation.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

Edward, come on.

Come away from the girls
for a little while.

EDWARD: I don't want one.

JEAN REYNOLDS: Two little kids.

Their father called Bridget
and told us Sunday morning,

I think it was, that he gave
the kids away to his sister.

He couldn't take
care of them anymore.

His sister lives in a motel
room, a welfare motel.

One room.

Her, her abusive
boyfriend, and their child.

I went and filed for
emergency custody of the kids.

They're my flesh and blood.

I just don't know how I'm
going to do it financially.

Their father will not
pay child support.

He'll get around it some way
because he's done it before.

I have to find a way to work
and take care of the house

and I'm going to have to find a
way to raise two more children.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

I'm not the most
devout Catholic,

but I do get some
comfort from my religion.

Every Sunday, I light at
least one candle to St. Jude.

He's the patron saint
of the impossible.

My life is impossible.

[INAUDIBLE] help
that I'm going to be

able physically and
emotionally, mentally

to take care of
all of these kids.

There are times when
I feel that God's

forgotten who I am and he's
testing me with the kids,

but why doesn't he test me
with like multimillion dollars

or a wonderful husband
or an easier life?

I think not that he's forgotten
me, that he's neglecting me.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

Hi, Mr. K.

ROBERT KASZIRER:
How are you doing?

JEAN REYNOLDS: Thank
you for seeing me.

I wanted to talk to you a little
bit about some of my concerns

about where we stand money-wise.

I'm suffering, and
I know you are, too,

but I'm concerned about
what's going to happen

to me in the future here.

ROBERT KASZIRER: Really
what it really boils down to

is what is a livable wage today?

You know, is a
livable wage x amount?

It might be if you have
only two mouths to feed.

It might not be a livable
wage if you have eight kids.

JEAN REYNOLDS: Seven of us.

ROBERT KASZIRER: Seven or eight
or whatever number to feed.

JEAN REYNOLDS: Now I've taken
on extra people and it's like,

you know--

make it stretch.

And I know you do it.

You have to stretch
what you get.

ROBERT KASZIRER:
Everybody has to stretch.

JEAN REYNOLDS: And it's
just like-- it's scary

when you're in my position
because you don't know.

ROBERT KASZIRER: Somebody,
quote, younger than you

who's starting out as a
CNA, the best recommendation

that I can give them is just
to continue their studies

to become an LPN, RN.

JEAN REYNOLDS: For me,
being a single parent,

I can't do it because
there's just only one of me.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

WOMAN: Hello.

How'd everything go?

JEAN REYNOLDS: It sucks.

I hate my life.

I hate working.

I should have married
a millionaire.

How are you?

WOMAN: Fine.

JEAN REYNOLDS: What's new?

WOMAN: Nothing.

I didn't vacuum.

JEAN REYNOLDS: What else is new?

It's rough.

Money-wise, it's
very, very rough.

And it scares me that
I can't do everything

and picking up what doesn't
get covered with the charity

care and the hospital.

WOMAN: The charity care
aid was approved for.

Now they're telling
me that I never

filled out the papers again.

JEAN REYNOLDS: I filled
them out how many times?

WOMAN: And I filled
them out how many times?

I need to talk to like
the head honcho there.

JEAN REYNOLDS: Especially
if they're going

to put you on more medicine.

I mean, that was $800 that one
month, it was, the medicine.

Yeah.

And I can't do that now.

I can't work that much overtime.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

MARY VENITTELLI:
What's your fax number?

We're going to try.

This fax machine--

WOMAN: Hello.

Do you have any time cards?

Thank you.

How are you?

MARY VENITTELLI:
Right now, my hands

are tied because the
divorce is still dragging on

and I essentially have a new
job because I have new owners.

My hours are
different and I'm not

making the money that I made.

I have $200 in the bank.

I'm going day by day.

RESTAURANT OWNER: Mary.

MARY VENITTELLI: Yes?

RESTAURANT OWNER: Can I
have you a minute, please?

MARY VENITTELLI: Yeah.

RESTAURANT OWNER: Did
you meet Michelle?

MARY VENITTELLI: Hi, Michelle.

RESTAURANT OWNER:
Michelle, this is Mary.

Nick, this is Mary.

MARY VENITTELLI: Hi, Nick.

Nice to meet you.

NICK: Nice to meet you.

RESTAURANT OWNER:
He's a bus person.

MARY VENITTELLI: Is see a
nephew of yours, as well?

RESTAURANT OWNER: No.

He's just a neighbor.

What we're going
to go with Nick is

we're going to teach
him some work, too.

MARY VENITTELLI: Well,
he's adding more staff

because the new people coming
in, they're not experienced.

So what happens is
like someone like me,

I can work eight
tables at a time,

but someone new coming in,
they can only do three or four.

But because so many
people quit, he

has to hire
inexperienced people.

So there'll will be
more people working.

Like usually Tuesday nights,
we have three people.

Well, he just said
there's five tonight.

That's less money for me.

RESTAURANT OWNER:
You met Michelle.

MICHELLE: Hi.

How are you?

RESTAURANT OWNER: So you girls
will be training together,

so you'll learn
on the same level,

so that's why we're going
to do two at a time.

And of course, we're not
going to be that busy.

Hopefully, we will
be, but if we aren't--

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

MARY VENITTELLI: I
really don't feel

like I have any skills to
pursue any other job right now.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

I've got to pay the
taxes on Friday.

That's $1,100 I've
got to come up with.

Oh, and then I need to make the
car payment in three months,

so I got them calling me.

And they say, why haven't
you made the payments?

And I said, because
my husband moved out,

my life sucks, I'm a waitress,
I have no freaking money,

and I decided to give
my children Christmas

instead of paying for your car.

MICKEY DICKS: No crying.

Stop.

Oh, man.

Come on.

You're doing a great
job with the kids.

MARY VENITTELLI: I'm
doing a great job,

but then, you know,
Quinn calls last night

and I can't leave
work, you know.

MICKEY DICKS: I know, Mar, but--

MARY VENITTELLI: And the Kyra.

I forgot to drop off her
instrument the other day

at school, you know.

I mean, it's just like
I'm forgetting things.

It's just stupid shit.

Here we go.

Here's a Visa Platinum and
here's all my deficient notices

I'm not paying my bills.

MICKEY DICKS: Just
throw it away.

MARY VENITTELLI: I've
got a Platinum Visa card

that I'm approved for.

I'm getting this bad boy.

Where am I mailing this to?

That's what I can't figure out.

MICKEY DICKS: 1-800-SOCCER.

[LAUGHTER]

PO box--

MARY VENITTELLI: You're a jerk.

You know that?

MICKEY DICKS: I don't understand
why they need your social.

I think that's none
of their business.

MARY VENITTELLI: You know what?

What are they going to
do, steal my identity?

Please do.

OK?

My debt is growing because
I'm relying on credit cards

to get me the things
that I need in life.

For instance, clothing for
the children, school supplies.

And so the credit card debt is--

I was afraid to look at it, and
then I sat down the other day

and I looked and I'm probably
close to $15,000 in credit card

debt.

I didn't think it was
that bad, but it is.

DOCTOR: 156 over 100.

MARY VENITTELLI: That's
high, I know, for me.

Yeah.

DOCTOR: To get you
through this situation,

we will prescribe
anti-anxiety medication.

MARY VENITTELLI: Once
this divorce is final,

you'll be seeing me less because
I'll have no health insurance.

DOCTOR: People like yourself
with financial problems,

you can apply to the clinic, and
based on your level of income,

you'll be eligible
for health care, what

they call charity care.

MARY VENITTELLI:
That's really ironic

because like whenever I've
been hospitalized before,

they have on your hospital
papers a portion of your bill

is donated towards
the charity cases.

You know what I'm talking about?

[MUSIC - PEARL JAM, "BETTER
MAN"]

(SINGING) Waiting.

Watching the clock.

It's four o'clock.

It's got to stop.

She lies and says
she's in love with him.

Can't find a better man.

She dreams in color.

She dreams in red.

Can't find a better man.

Can't find a better man.

Can't find a better man.

MARY VENITTELLI: Here.

Take out your spoon.

QUINN: I was going to do that.

MARY VENITTELLI: You know
this will be our last summer

in this house, right?

GIRL: Why?

MARY VENITTELLI: Because I
may have to get rid of it

to get something
easier to live in.

QUINN: Ma, think
of happy thoughts.

MARY VENITTELLI: It
is a happy thought.

QUINN: No, it isn't.

GIRL: Terrible.

MARY VENITTELLI:
Why is it terrible?

QUINN: It's a nightmare thought.

MARY VENITTELLI: Why?

QUINN: It just is, OK?

MARY VENITTELLI: To be on your
own and try to juggle it all,

it's tough.

Especially when the
children are young,

they're relying on you
as their sole caregiver.

You're hurting me.

Don't do that.

Don't do that because
that scares me.

Honest to God, Quinn.

QUINN: What?

MARY VENITTELLI: What
do you want me to do

about the babysitting thing?

QUINN: I don't know.

Just stop it.

MARY VENITTELLI:
How can I stop it?

I got to go to work.

QUINN: Yeah.

I know.

MARY VENITTELLI: These are
really crucial ages for them

and Quinn is having a hard
time dealing with the fact

that I'm not home that much.

I think he's become
resentful for that.

Because I'm telling
you, put the table down.

You're going to
hurt me or yourself.

[SCREAMING]

Stop it.

QUINN: (SCREAMING) Why?

MARY VENITTELLI: Stop it.

[SCREAMING]

MARY VENITTELLI: I'm stopping.

QUINN: (SCREAMING) Stop.

MARY VENITTELLI:
All right, Quinn.

All I said was do your homework.

MICKEY DICKS: You know,
it's tough on kids

when they go through a divorce.

MARY VENITTELLI:
That's why I haven't

been to work in two weeks.

MICKEY DICKS: I know.

MARY VENITTELLI: This is to
spend more time with him,

and this is what I get.

MICKEY DICKS: Son of a bitch.

MARY VENITTELLI:
Are you all right?

MICKEY DICKS: Yeah.

He didn't get me.

[DOOR SLAMMING]

MARY VENITTELLI: Why did
you throw a shoe at me?

What did the police say
to you the other night?

QUINN: None of your business.

MARY VENITTELLI: Huh?

QUINN: None of your business.

[PHONE RINGING]

(SCREAMING) Loser.

MARY VENITTELLI: Hello?

Yes.

He's really having
a tirade here.

I don't want him endangering us.

I wanted you to talk to him.

I don't want you
to take him, no.

Because I don't believe
your environment

is healthy, as well.

[BANGING]

Now what do you
suggest I do, Keen?

Goddammit.

Goddammit.

[BANGING]

Get over here and talk to him.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

[WATER RUNNING]

JERRY LONGORIA: I
have two children

and they live with their
mom in North Carolina.

I haven't seen
them in nine years.

Me and their mom were involved
in drinking and doing drugs.

One Christmas, their mom
just like picked them up

and that was it.

And I got myself into
a recovery center.

[INAUDIBLE] in 4 and 1/2 years.

I'm not saying I never
will drink again because it

can happen to anybody.

It's just that I don't
need to drink again.

I send my children $200 a
month, and that's really

the best I can do.

I'd like to see my kids again.

I mean, I had some pretty good
times when I had a family.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

What's going [? on, Tobias? ?]
Where did Jerry go?

MAN: He'll be right back.

He went to take a leak.

He'll be right back.

Oh.

Thank you, brother.

JERRY LONGORIA: Give
this to Jerry, OK?

MAN: I will.

He'll be right back.

JERRY LONGORIA: All right.

I'll talk to you later, guys.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

I go to the gym any
time and any day.

It's $50 a month.

I know people say, wow,
you can go to the gym.

That's for rich people, right?

No, not really.

For a recovering alcoholic,
it keeps me out of trouble.

You know, I don't have
to be in the streets.

A year ago, I was at 270 pounds.

I was 48 waist.

Now, I weigh 170
and I'm 34 waist.

And I'm very proud of myself.

I'll pat myself on the back.

I need to take care of
myself, and especially

because I don't have
health benefits.

ALL: (CHANTING) What do we want?

Contracts.

And when do we want it?

Now.

What do we want?

Contracts.

And when do we want it?

Now.

JERRY LONGORIA: We did a
rally of security officers

in the city of San Francisco.

MAN: We are security.

ALL: We are security.

JERRY LONGORIA: Our contract
is still in negotiations.

What we're asking for--

better benefits, better
pay, and better respect.

Please read this and support us.

If the security officers are
feeling mistreated or feeling

like we're really
being underpaid,

we can all stand
together and walk out.

MAN: OK.

How'd we do this morning?

Great job, everybody.

JERRY LONGORIA: You
know another thing?

I don't have insurance.

If anything happens to me--

WOMAN: You don't have
insurance, either?

JERRY LONGORIA: --I'm
going to be homeless.

WOMAN: You don't pay
the insurance, either?

JERRY LONGORIA: We
can't afford insurance.

Our company, they doubled it.

They tripled it?

We can't afford no insurance.

WOMAN: How much?

MAN: $50 a paycheck.

Not a month, a paycheck.

Around there.

WOMAN: A paycheck?

MAN: A paycheck.

JERRY LONGORIA:
The health benefits

that we get from our employer,
it's too high for me.

If I paid for insurance, then I
wouldn't have a place to live.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

I work with a group
that helps the homeless

and the needy called SOMCAN.

Hello.

And then we got fifth,
sixth, and seventh.

These four square blocks.

And I work there like
eight to 10 hours a week.

Hey.

I was just wondering, man.

You missed the
meeting yesterday.

And I'm usually talking
to people on the phone,

and how they can get housing
and how they can get medical

and how they can get employment.

I know.

I've been there.

So I'm happy about doing this.

Bye.

MAN: The next speaker
is Jerry Longoria.

JERRY LONGORIA: OK.

Good evening, commissioners.

My name is Jerry.

I'm an SRO resident
of the Potter

Hotel on 9th and Mission.

I would just like to state a
few things, why I'm here today.

Myself, I do have
a full time job,

but it's not enough to pay
for a decent place to live.

The cost of living
in this city, it

is so high, the highest
out of any other city

I had ever lived in.

This really concerns
me and makes

me wonder why-- why
it is like this.

So I started to ask around and--

WOMAN: I thought it
was great, but I think

you really came out so strong.

JERRY LONGORIA: If I would
have had more eye contact,

it would have been perfect,
but it takes practice.

MAN: Yeah.

It takes practice.

MAN: It takes practice, man.

JERRY LONGORIA: I used to
try not to confront problems,

but now, when I'm
speaking up for something

that I believe in, I feel better
and I'm prouder of myself.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

SOMCAN offered to
pay me $400 a month,

and that extra money
will come in handy

because I'm going to plan.

Hi.

I was wanting to start
a savings account.

And I want to start this
savings because my goal is

to go see my children
in North Carolina

that I haven't
seen in nine years.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

But, you know, I'm really
concerned because the union has

talked about having a walk out.

I mean, we live
paycheck to paycheck.

We have to make this certain
amount to pay our rent,

to pay our bills, to send
money to our children,

and stuff like that.

And missing one day,
man, that would really

take a piece of the check.

I'd like to see my kids again.

If it's a strike, we don't
know we could do that.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

BROOKS: You can't get in.

Come on, bear.

Go.

BARBARA'S TODDLER: [CRYING]

BARBARA BROOKS: Go.

Come on.

You're holding me up, honey!

[CRYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

BARBARA'S SON: Come here, mama.

BARBARA BROOKS: Got a
zero on my math test.

I'm supposed meet
my math teacher,

and I got to go to DSS.

I don't got time for this shit.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

With a raise, food
stamps cut me off

because I'm no longer eligible.

It's like, OK, you got a raise,
you got a better position,

you can't have food stamps.

And then I got papers in
the mail from Medicaid--

no more Medicaid.

Believe it or not,
the job, doesn't even

provide benefits for my kid.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Hey.

[MOUTH BREATHING]

You're breathing funny.

You're going to have
to see doctor bishop.

DAVE: Mommy--

BARBARA BROOKS: Come on.

DAVE: When I graduate
from kindergarten,

can you get me that kind of car?

BARBARA BROOKS: No, when you
graduate from kindergarten,

you can't get no car.

What you want when you graduate?

Dave, he has problems
with his breathing system.

DAVE: A car.

BARBARA BROOKS: I
have to get his meds

because he has to have it.

He can't breath without it.

You sound like you
don't feel good.

I called the doctor--

he said he could write
me a prescription,

and he said that they would have
to get approval from Medicaid,

and then he would call me back.

And he hasn't
called me back yet.

PHARMACIST: Hi,
how can I help you?

BARBARA BROOKS:
Hi, I called you.

It's about Dave [INAUDIBLE].

PHARMACIST: Tell me,
which medication?

BARBARA BROOKS:
Claritin and Flonase.

PHARMACIST: The
Flonase is $74.99.

BARBARA BROOKS: You
gotta be kidding me.

PHARMACIST: And
Claritin is $111.99.

BARBARA BROOKS: (ANGRILY) $111?

And the total will be what?

PHARMACIST: It's
about $195 for both.

BARBARA BROOKS: OK, thank you.

PHARMACIST: You're welcome.

BARBARA BROOKS: [SNIFFLES] Damn.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I've got three extra
days in my paycheck,

so I'll just have to use
money to get the Claritin.

Thank you.

So hopefully we can
get through this season

without having to get both.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

The more money I make,
the harder it gets.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

CASE WORKER: How
you doing today?

BARBARA BROOKS: Everything
is based on what you say.

CASE WORKER: (AMUSED) Hmm.

BARBARA BROOKS: You can
either make my day or ruin it.

CASE WORKER: I'll make your day.

I always make my tenant's' day.

Let's start off-- first,
any big changes in the past?

BARBARA BROOKS:
What's going on now

is that I did get a
small raise in my income,

and I'm concerned that my
payment is going to go up.

And each small raise I get,
they take away my Medicaid,

they took my food stamps, they
took the kids off of daycare.

Any increase that I get in
anything, I have to pay more.

It's designed to keep you down.

CASE WORKER: It's not really
designed to keep you down.

They do want working
people off of their system.

It's a very unfair system.

They see you
progressing, so instead

of helping you to
progress they cut you off.

For rent, are you
paying $253 a month?

Let me do a quick calculation.

I'll let you know
how much has changed.

OK, your payment is going up.

BARBARA BROOKS: So
the rent is going up

$125, which is more
than the raise itself.

CASE WORKER: Now
it goes up more--

$149.

It's a shame.

Your payment does go up for
a little bit of a raise.

BARBARA BROOKS: I'm like,
I'm hustling backwards.

The harder I work,
the harder it gets.

And this is not what I expected.

I expected the harder I
work, the more motivated

I would be because I'd be
getting closer to my goal.

But the harder I work,
the harder it gets.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

All right.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

BARBARA'S SON: How much?

You just have to up that.

I get it.

BARBARA BROOKS: Come on.

[LAUGHING]

BARBARA'S SON:
Take a deep breath.

BARBARA BROOKS: Wait, stop.

[EXHALES] Look-- slow!

DAVE: [BREATHING DEEPLY]

BARBARA BROOKS: OK?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

SPEAKER: While I
pass the summary--

who has the summaries?

JERRY: It was all the security
officers coming together

to vote on the master contract.

SPEAKER: What I want to do
is I want to go through this.

Please let me go through
it, and then come back

and I'll answer--

JERRY: If it's a strike, maybe
it's going to prove a point.

But it's going to cost our
pockets to prove that point.

SPEAKER: OK.

On health insurance,
starting January 1st,

'04, you will pay 20% of
your insurance out-of-pocket.

And as of January 1st,
'07, for your coverage,

you will pay nothing
out-of-pocket.

[CHEERING]

Fully paid
employee-only coverage.

For the first time ever, there
are guaranteed regular pay

increases.

Everybody will get
a raise of $0.25.

[APPLAUSE]

AUDIENCE: A quarter raise--

that's just like, here.

I could go beg for a quarter.

SPEAKER: A quarter doesn't
sound like a lot, but--

AUDIENCE: Trade-off--

SPEAKER: --it's $500 a year.

SPEAKER 2: OK.

AUDIENCE: Three.

SPEAKER 2: OK with that, we're
going to call for a vote.

So all those in favor of
the contract as proposed,

signified by a show of hands.

AUDIENCE: Yes!

SPEAKER 2: [INAUDIBLE].

AUDIENCE: Great start.

[CLAPPING]

SPEAKER: 98-4.

SPEAKER 3: Moving forward, baby!

Yeah!

[CHEERING]

AUDIENCE: [? R-U-S-E, ?]
[? R-U-S-E, ?] [? R-U-S-E. ?]

JERRY: And when
I saw that $0.25,

and then by the first
of the next year,

you get another $0.25.

[CHEERING]

AUDIENCE: Yeah, we did it!

JERRY: That's like a
double raise, so hey, man,

that's going to work out.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

AIRPORT EMPLOYEE:
Mr. Longoria, you're

going to proceed to Gate 27.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

JERRY: It's beautiful.

This is one of my
big goals that I've

been working on in my life--

to see my teenage
kids, JJ and Laura

that I haven't
seen in nine years.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

When I was drinking, and
using, and I was homeless,

I used to think
everybody owes me.

The world owes me this--

nobody owed me anything.

I need to work for it.

INTERCOM: [BEEP] [INAUDIBLE]
cross-check, please.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

JERRY: I don't know what the
first words are going to be

out of my mouth when I see 'em.

Should I just grab 'em,
and hug 'em, and kiss 'em,

and just say I love you?

Good flight.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT:
Bye, have a nice day.

JERRY: I mean, I hope
they do that to me.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

LAURA: There he is.

Oh, god, I'm scared.

[NERVOUS LAUGH]

JERRY: Hey, guys.

JJ: How are you doing dad?

JERRY: All right.

[APPLAUSE]

LAURA: Oh, god.

JJ: [INAUDIBLE].

JERRY: I never [? forgot. ?]

[SNIFFLES]

JJ: Good to see you, man.

JERRY: See, he's taller than me.

JJ: Long time.

JERRY: This is
pretty amazing, man.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I was like, god,
I don't even know

what say, I just know that,
man, I'm glad to be here, guys.

What do we next?

[CHUCKLES]

LAURA: It seems like
you got shorter.

JERRY: I did.

Once you get older,
you kind of shrink.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[PHONE RINGING]

I'm lobby security.

This is Jerry, how
may I help you?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

At my last post, I was
making $12.75 an hour,

and I'm making
$10.50 an hour, now.

And their raises
are $0.25 a year,

and so it would take me eight
years to get where I was at.

Good night, everybody.

Have a good weekend.

Goodbye.

Shoot, I'm making less
from where I first started.

So it just doesn't seem right.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

One of my dreams is to go
with my kids to Disney World.

But with my rate of pay,
there is just no way

that it can happen.

If I wanted to move
out, there is no way.

If I wanted to get an
apartment, there's no way.

I'm basically
stuck where I'm at,

but that's because of my income.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I've thought about
how I could be

living more comfortably, maybe,
if I was in a relationship.

Two people coming together--

you can accomplish a lot.

And I think that
that's in my plans,

but just gotta be
patient for it.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

My dreams will come true if
I work hard enough for them.

But it's just some people's
dreams get torn down.

MARY: [LAUGHING] Guess what?

MARY'S FRIEND: What could it be?

You're divorced.

MARY: Yeah.

MARY'S FRIEND: Yeah!

[LAUGHING]

Oh-- I can't believe it.

MARY: You know what,
I pulled over on 171,

and the garbageman was there,
and so I say guess what.

He goes, what?

I said I'm divorced.

[LAUGHING] He goes,
you're kind of hot,

can I have your phone number?

I go no, but thank you.

Can you believe it?

MARY'S FRIEND: No,
my heart is like--

[THUMPS CHEST]

MARY: But then, I get
to get Quinton some help

MARY'S FRIEND: Good.

MARY: So that's good.

MARY'S FRIEND: Oh, man.

I'm so happy for you.

MARY: You know what
is really funny?

I put these socks on today
because Independence Day.

MARY'S FRIEND: Oh, man.

So tell me how
much did this cost?

MARY: This divorce?

[LAUGHING]

MARY'S FRIEND: Yeah.

How much did it-- no, serious.

MARY: I think about $10 grand.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

My monthly expenses are
probably $2,500 a month, now.

My income with the child
support and alimony,

that's $1,280 a month.

I got the attorney bill--

right now, it stands
at just under $12,000.

Then the credit cards--

that's $15,000.

I'm independent.

I'm not afraid.

I'm not free of the
economical stress

of being a single parent.

I've been at the food pantry
on a regular basis, still.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

INSTRUCTOR: This is the
introduction to Word 2000.

Over the course of
the next couple weeks,

I'm going to need
everyone to memorize,

because it's very
important that you know

all of the window elements.

MARY: I'm taking
this computer class

because I need to acquire some
skills to get my ass out there.

INSTRUCTOR: Below the menu bar--

does anybody remember
what that bar is called?

MARY: Toolbar.

INSTRUCTOR: Very good.

MARY: There used to
be a time that you

could get by on just
labor, but it's not

that kind of world anymore.

That doesn't pay the bills.

Now, there's a man in my life,
and it's a positive thing.

But I'm trying to clean
up my mess before totally

bringing him into my world.

PULEO: The story of
when I first met Mary?

You're mother was sitting
over there by the window,

and she kind of looked up at
me, and I looked up at her,

and our eyes met, and I said
lady, you 'ain't half bad.

MARY: Oh, you're [INAUDIBLE].

Yes, he did actually.

PULEO: I did say that.

MARY: Does he help out?

Yeah, he does.

He does.

PULEO: Did you do
your homework, dear?

CAROL: I still probably
have a sentence to do.

MARY: Like, I'm stuck
for a babysitter tonight,

and he's coming over
here to watch these kids.

That saves me right there $50.

That may be insignificant
to a lot of people,

but it's significant to
me, and it does help me.

BIRD: [INAUDIBLE]

PULEO: Open the cage.

MARY: So you and Quinn
getting along now?

PULEO: Yes.

I told you.

MARY: It beats him
throwing lamps at you.

PULEO: [LAUGHS] No.

I told you it was
a matter of time--

MARY: He seems calmer.

PULEO: --matter of
time, he'd come around.

MARY: No, you were right.

I know it's only
been like six months

since we've been
together, but things

are moving kind of fast
and serious, you know?

CAROL: If you guys get
married or something,

that's when I'm over the edge.

MARY: Why?

CAROL: 'cause, why
can't you stay?

MARY: Stay what?

CAROL: Stayed with--

I don't know.

MARY: Carol, I'm 42 years
old with three kids.

The fact that I even
met someone I get along

with without arguing
is like a miracle.

CAROL: Marriage doesn't
change anything.

What's the point
of getting married?

MARY: It's a symbol of a
commitment to each other.

CAROL: Why would you have to
have a symbol of commitment?

I thought you were independent.

MARY: I have-- [LAUGHS]
I'm independent, yes.

But I am learning how to have
a partnership with someone.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

PULEO: This is The Last
of The Mohicans for you,

and this is The Last of
The Mohicans for you.

QUINTON: Magic
Science Trick, just

like the old mad scientist I am.

CAROL: Oh!

Happy Gilmore.

QUINTON: What did
I tell you, Carol?

What did I tell you?

MARY: (DISBELIEF) You
got me I refrigerator?

PULEO: That's to go next to your
bed for the midnight snacks.

MARY: Is this--

PULEO: I don't know nothing.

MARY: I know exactly
what this is.

PULEO: [INAUDIBLE]

MARY: You're-- [LAUGHING]

PULEO: And this
goes with that too.

[LAUGHING]

[INAUDIBLE]

MARY: This is my dip.

PULEO: You're shaking, dear.

Are you OK?

MARY: [LAUGHING] This is the
best Christmas present ever.

It is a blessing that
Puleo is in my life.

You know, most women get
diamonds, and jewels,

and stuff.

I'm the luckiest woman alive.

[LAUGHING]

Man, it sure helps when there's
the double income thing.

But the survival part of
me doesn't put all my eggs

in one basket.

And I certainly don't mean
that to sleight my relationship

with him at all, but I
know that it could all

be gone in an instant.

He is helping me
achieve my goals

of gaining better job skills.

Even though I'm in a healthy,
prosperous relationship,

I still want to be able
to stand on my own.

And somebody could
stand next to me,

but I've got to be on my own.

REGISTRAR: Hi.

BARBARA'S MOTHER:
It took you a while.

REGISTRAR: Thank you.

BARBARA'S MOTHER: You did it.

BARBARA BROOKS: This
is my final day.

REGISTRAR: This
is the final stop

in your registrar's office.

Good for you.

BARBARA BROOKS: Once you
put that social security in

and tell me it's
really the final stop,

then I'll be convinced.

REGISTRAR: Good for you.

You're applying for--

BARBARA BROOKS: Graduation.

Last time I was here, I was
taking those two math classes.

BARBARA'S MOTHER:
2:00 AM classes.

REGISTRAR: Yeah.

How'd you do in them?

BARBARA BROOKS: I passed.

[LAUGHING]

REGISTRAR: All right.

You're right, you're ready.

[LAUGHING]

You got it.

All we have to do is put
through the paperwork.

BARBARA BROOKS:
Thank you so much.

[INAUDIBLE]

REGISTRAR: That's it.

Congratulations.

BARBARA'S MOTHER: Don't
you say what you said.

BARBARA BROOKS: I told
her I hit the lotto.

BARBARA'S MOTHER: Please.

BARBARA BROOKS: What?

WOMAN: She hit the lotto?

BARBARA'S MOTHER: Yeah, she did.

WOMAN 2: How much?

BARBARA'S MOTHER: Millions.

[LAUGHING]

WOMAN: (SKEPTICAL) No.

BARBARA'S MOTHER: She graduated.

WOMAN: Oh.

BARBARA BROOKS: (SINGING)
Sing, sing a song.

Sing about.

Sing I'm strong.

(SINGING) We're going to rock
around the clock tonight.

I basically told
myself that when

I finished the
associate's degree,

that I would leave my job.

(SINGING) America, America,
God's shed his grace on me.

So after achieving
the goal, I decided

that it was time to move.

One of my previous workers
told me about this new job,

so I made the phone
call to the lady.

So I told her a little bit about
me and how wonderful I was,

and that I had just
finished up [INAUDIBLE],,

and I had got the
associate's degree.

And then she said, oh, so you
have an associate's degree?

I'm like, yeah.

She said, well, maybe I can
offer you something better.

So when I got there,
immediately, we just clicked.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: Hi, Barbara.

BARBARA BROOKS: Hi, Doreen.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: How are you?

BARBARA BROOKS: OK.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: I'd like
you to check on your unit--

if you have any
residents that you

think would benefit
from talking books.

BARBARA BROOKS: Joseph
[? Leto. ?] Frank might.

Maxine.

So at first, she told
me that, well, I'm

going to start you off
as a recreational leader

because most therapists
have their badges already.

If it 'ain't hot, I'm fat.

Which one is it?

Hot or fat, what is it?

But by the end of
our conversation,

I guess she decided
that she would want me

in as a therapist.

All right, check this out.

You're going to
pick your own card,

because I don't want nobody
telling me that I gave them

an unlucky card.

[LAUGHING]

You wanna pick your card?

This new job-- it's
$12.10 an hour to start.

Doesn't matter.

Give me kiss.

[KISSES]

I'll be bringing home
over $900 every two weeks.

Next ball up, 69.

And you're reviewed every
90 days for a raise.

Next ball up, G59.

RESIDENT: Bingo.

BARBARA BROOKS: Bingo!

[CLAPPING] Yay, we got a bingo!

DOREEN OTTAIANO: You know that
the facility does a 90 day

review for all new employees.

And there are
certain areas that we

look for-- your attendance,
your dependability,

your independence where it
comes to doing a program.

For the most part, I've
given you everything

marked as above average.

I have given you a few
excellents, and one

of the excellent areas I gave
you was for your attendance.

I feel that you
are always on time.

If you're not going to be here,
you make it a point to call me,

and I appreciate that.

I wrote that you
have a wonderful way

with your residents,
that you're always

willing to work with them and to
give them the very best of you,

and I think that's
very positive.

I think you have very difficult
residents to work with.

They have a lot of problems
and it's hard for them.

And I think you do--

you've never done this
before, and I think

you're doing it very well.

And I'm happy to have you as--

why are you crying?

This is a good evaluation.

I could have said
terrible things about you,

but I'm not because--

BARBARA BROOKS: [CRYING]
Nobody has told me this before.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: Listen
to me, you work very well

with the residents.

You know I watch you, you
know that I kind of peek

around the corners, and I show
up unannounced to catch people.

And I think you're very
kind and very caring.

I'm very happy with you.

BARBARA BROOKS: Thank you.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: I think you're
an asset to the facility,

and definitely to my department.

BARBARA BROOKS:
This is something.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: But everybody
has to be praised, OK?

And I think you do
a good job, and I'm

happy to have you with me.

You also get a raise,
did I tell you that?

[LAUGHING]

Did I leave that out?

BARBARA BROOKS: Oh, my goodness.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: And
you have your sick time,

your personal time, your
vacation time, your birthday,

and all your medical benefits.

So you're on board.

BARBARA BROOKS: Yep.

Thank you.

[LAUGHING]

Wow.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Not only did they decide that
I was outstanding at work,

I got excellent--

I'm above average
in everything--

and I got a raise.

BARBARA'S DAUGHTER: A raise?

BARBARA BROOKS: I
got a raise and I'm

getting a paycheck this
week, which is over $1,000.

I didn't have money last
year to buy stuff for y'all.

We didn't even have
Christmas dinner.

Remember when I
didn't have lights

and I just had only ornaments.

BARBARA'S SON:
It's just a tree--

just a fake, ghetto tree.

BARBARA BROOKS: Is this going
to be the best Christmas?

BARBARA'S DAUGHTER: Best ever.

BARBARA BROOKS:
Look at the tree,

look at your little presents.

You didn't even get
no presents last year.

[KISSES]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

You see that present?

BARBARA'S TODDLER: [INAUDIBLE]

BARBARA BROOKS:
That's your tree.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I need to speak to you.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: Sure.

What's the matter?

BARBARA BROOKS: Nothing.

I sent you a note about my--

DOREEN OTTAIANO: Right.

I did get that note.

BARBARA BROOKS: --wanting to
change my full-time status

to part-time status.

DOREEN OTTAIANO:
Now, do you think

this is going to be permanent
for you, or do you--

BARBARA BROOKS: Yes.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: Mmm.

See, I really do hate losing
you on a full-time basis.

BARBARA BROOKS: I'll
be more marketable

when I finish my education.

I'd be a better asset.

One of the reasons why I
decided to go to school

is that the more money I
make, the more I have to pay.

Like, with Section 8,
when they see this salary,

I'm going to be paying $900
to $1,000 out of the $1,600

that the house costs.

And now we have to pay into
our health benefits-- that's

an issue.

So every dollar that's taken
out is an issue for me.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: It's terrible
that you have to give up

your job in order to survive.

It doesn't make sense to me.

BARBARA BROOKS: We call
it hustling backwards

because that's happening.

DOREEN OTTAIANO:
At some point you

have to realize that you got
to come out of the system,

and you have to start hanging
in there like the rest of us.

BARBARA BROOKS: But
what I have to do

is to have the
education so that I

can hang in there, because
associate's degree is not

going to cut it.

It's not going to cut it.

That's why I have to
go back to school.

DOREEN OTTAIANO: OK.

And then you can come
out of the system.

BARBARA BROOKS: I kind of
looked at working part-time

as going backwards,
but then someone

said any you're going to
complete your education,

don't consider it
going backwards.

In order to be
self-sufficient, I

have to go get the
bachelors degree.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[FLUTE]

JEAN REYNOLDS: I want
you to do me a favor.

No, here, I'll [INAUDIBLE].

I knew Bridget
was seriously ill.

It took almost two years
before she was stabilized

enough to be operated on.

And then last week, she
celebrated her 30th birthday

which we were told
she would never make.

She made it to 30--

made it to this year.

You had the operation
and now you should be.

BRIDGET: I could
do it next year.

JEAN REYNOLDS: She's
still taking a lot

of medication for the pain.

She also has hepatitis C, which
is untreatable at this point.

She'll never be
able to work, she'll

never be financially
responsible, or even totally

responsible for her kids.

Being that Bridget
was sick, she needed

things to go to
the hospital with,

and things for when she came
home, and special foods,

and just extras.

So everything went to her.

Because of that,
everything is behind,

from my rent, the phone,
the gas, the electric.

Financially right now,
it's really rough.

This is the roughest
I've felt in years.

BRIDGET'S DAUGHTER:
(RUDELY) Excuse me.

JEAN REYNOLDS: OK, goodbye.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

My landlord took me to
court and I'm being evicted.

I had gone back and
forth to social services,

asking these people
to help, and it just

seemed like nobody
was hearing me.

I went and I explained that
I was in dire straits--

I needed a place to live--

and they told me, well, this
isn't a real estate office.

And I just looked dumbfounded.

I said, you don't understand, I
can't afford to live in a house

any more.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

If you say you need help,
people in social services

tend to think, well,
if you would get up

off your lazy butt,
you wouldn't have

to worry about getting
help from the government.

I'm not lazy work, I work
every day of my life.

PHONE REPRESENTATIVE: Good
afternoon, social services.

May I help you?

RECEPTIONIST: Can I help you?

JEAN REYNOLDS: Hi.

Yeah.

My name is Jean Reynolds.

I have an appointment
with Christine Messick.

RECEPTIONIST: OK.

She'll get--

JEAN REYNOLDS: Two days before
I was going to be evicted,

I didn't know where
we were going to go.

And the hardest
part was not knowing

where my kids were going
to be the next day-- where

they were going to sleep.

CHRISTINE MESSICK: Ms. Reynolds.

JEAN REYNOLDS: Yes, hi.

CHRISTINE MESSICK: How are you?

JEAN REYNOLDS: OK.

CHRISTINE MESSICK:
I'm Christine Messick.

I'm a social worker.

Come on in.

JEAN REYNOLDS: Why can't
I get the help I need?

I have custody of four
of my grandchildren,

I have a sick daughter, and
I have my own child at home.

I've come here before,
and I'm told constantly

I make too much money
for any services.

CHRISTINE MESSICK:
Right now, you're living

in an apartment, what do you--

JEAN REYNOLDS: I'm living
in a very small house--

three bedrooms.

And I have to be
out by August 15th.

CHRISTINE MESSICK: You don't
have a place right now.

We can't have you guys homeless.

So what we would do is refer
you to our emergency assistance

unit for emergency placement.

I know you probably don't
think you'd get to this point,

but you would have no
other choice, right?

JEAN REYNOLDS: You know
what I was told to do?

I was told to call
interfaith churches,

and that the church would put
us up for a week at a time,

and you would have to go
from church to church.

How am I going to keep my job?

CHRISTINE MESSICK: Let's just
say you had no place to go,

then we have to put you in a
motel, as much as you hate it.

JEAN REYNOLDS: They're horrible.

They're absolutely horrible.

The people that live
in them are junkies--

I know these people.

I work too much in the community
not to know what's going on.

I am not letting the
kids live like that.

I'll live with family.

I'll live in the street.

CHRISTINE MESSICK: There might
be a few different programs

that maybe you
weren't told about.

Maybe you won't be
eligible for some,

but because Bridget
is in the household,

I'm going to take an application
like it would be for her.

If she is approved
for a full TANF grant,

that will be $552
more in the household,

which would help a lot.

But you do have to go through
the application process.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

JEAN REYNOLDS: Oh, my god.

The amount of garbage.

I never asked for
help in my life.

To have to tell people that
I couldn't support my family,

that was the hardest part.

I always thought I
could do everything,

and I found out that I can't.

Deep breath.

Then, I got a phone call
saying that everything was OK,

and we would be able
to get the new house,

and that there would
be money forthcoming

from social services.

That was like the
best part, just

knowing that somebody finally
heard that I needed help.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I was really lucky that
Bridget was able to finally get

some kind of financial aid--

aid for dependent children
and something for herself.

You can't get that one?

She pays almost half of
the rent every month--

is the grant from the state.

By her getting food stamps,
it takes a big chunk

of the money I would have had
to spend for food and all.

It's enabled me not to have to
work so much overtime-- kill

myself.

It's paid for us to be
able to live in a house fit

for our sized family, which
we couldn't afford before.

This is my bedroom.

Of course, it has
everybody else's stuff

because they all slept
in here because it

was nice and cool last night.

They're going to give Bridget
the medical insurance,

and the four kids
will have the medical.

It'll cover all their
prescriptions and everything

which, for Bridget,
that's a big deal--

for me, for my pocket book.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

BRIDGET: No matter what
we need, when we need it,

mom gets it no matter what.

She is the one reason
why I'm still here.

If I wasn't sick, I'd
want to be just like her.

JEAN REYNOLDS: If
Bridget wasn't getting

some kind of
assistance, I don't know

where we'd be at this point.

I'm stuck in an $11 an hour job,
I work as many hours as I can,

I don't have time to go for
training between working

and taking care of the kids.

I can't go back to nursing
school or anything like that,

so I'm at a dead-end
right this minute.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

So it's hard that
I'm still stuck

in a place where there's
no chance for advancement,

nothing.

It didn't seem like it
would still be this hard.

I had a lot of
hopes, but here I am.

[MUSIC PLAYING]