Posted on 08/30/2017 10:09:57 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A professor teaching at San Jose State University who can’t afford a place to live in the South Bay tells KPIX 5 she is spending most nights sleeping in her car.
Ellen Tara James-Penney is adjunct professor at San Jose State.
She teaches four classes of English 1-A and has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
That has not kept her from becoming another member of San Jose’s homeless population.
“With what I make at San Jose State, I can’t pay $2,000 a month rent. Can’t do it,” said James-Penney.
Her take home pay is about $2,500 a month. Her usual routine is nearly constant motion.
After classes she parks in library or Walmart parking lots where she grades papers.
“I sit there until it gets dark. Then I sneak into a neighborhood, park there, then go to sleep,” explained James-Penney.
She says when people find out they are shocked.
“Because there is a stereotype, and that stereotype is drug addict, alcoholic, lazy,” said James-Penney. “I just asked my students, and that’s what they answered.”
Glen Peterson works with the San Jose branch of the Christian nonprofit organization CityTeam. He calls it the changing face of homelessness.
“Not everybody is in a position to have jobs that pay them enough to keep up,” said Peterson.
When CityTeam first started helping the homeless 60 years ago, clients tended to be mostly men with those stereotypical addictions.
That is not the case anymore.
“People in this situation are now right alongside us,” said Peterson. “They could be in the next cubicle or teaching your children. It’s a tremendous challenge for us.”
James-Penney used to be an admin in high tech, but was laid off in the dot-com bust and was forced to live on her savings.
She went back to school and paid tuition with student loans.
“I’m $143,000 in debt. And I’m in my 50s. But I pay that loan back every month,” said James-Penney. “That is mandatory for me. But that chunk I pay also affects how much I can afford in rent.”
She also supporting her husband — who is unemployed — and their two dogs.
“I fight to stay positive in my thinking. Doing my job, caring about my students. But it wears on me,” she said.
She keeps her car neat and her belongings are minimal to avoid being detected.
But deep inside her roof rack cargo carrier is a cast-iron frying pan she doesn’t use, at least for now.
“Just like my mom and my grandma used to have,” said James-Penney. “I hold on to this because it’s the hope that someday I’ll have a home again.”
I’ll point out that tuition per year at SJ State University is around $5,472 and fees at $1,900. Extremely low.
Oh, for heavens sake, get a roommate.
I hate it for her but she’s an example that not everyone needs to be chasing more college degrees. She certainly cannot justify the $143,000 she ran up in student loans.
And I believe she would be better off just getting a regular school teaching job. With that and her husband getting some type of a job, they could do a lot better.
Public university in San Jose, California
San José State University is a comprehensive public university located in San Jose, California, United States. Address: 1 Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192
Acceptance rate: 53.4% (2016)
Total enrollment: 32,773 (2015)
Mascot: Sammy the Spartan
Undergraduate tuition and fees: In-state tuition: 7,378 USD (2016), Out-of-state tuition: 18,538 USD (2016)
In 2015, she made $26,394.00 and in 2014 she made $14,700. Need more details/past history to figure how she got where she is.
Yeah.
It’s a part time job.
And there’s cheap rent 1/2 hour away.
Well, I don’t know. The numbers are all there. She’s 50 and never got anywhere. It’s a cruel world.
Ping
There is something more to her alleged story than what the article is reporting to us.
I would like to know more about what her husband does. I have friends that have to travel and do things they don’t like to make an income. What’s his story? There are jobs out there. I can assure you there will be plenty of jobs in Houston for the next few years after Hurricane Harvey.
I find this hard to believe. If true,there may be some reason why she can’t rent a bedroom for her self and her husband to stay in. Does she have disruptive habits, customs, or personal requirements? Is she extremely picky or prone to arguments when not getting her way? Does she or the husband have substance abuse issues?
I find it hard to believe a University would hire someone in such a financially fragile state. When one is desperate, their mind is not on the students.
Yep I thought of that too.
I can’t believe she sees no alternatives. Living with roommates is one solution. Many of us have done that. Not our first choice, but a choice if you can’t afford to live alone.
Also, they note how she can’t afford rent in the “South Bay”. I’m not familiar with the Bay Area, but is that an upscale area?
I bet there’s more to their story, but also, seems to me, there are alternatives such as the roommate concept, which they could look into. They prefer to live in their car rather than share rent with a roommate?
Do her husband and dogs sleep in the car?
Meanwhile, UC California President Janet Napolitano drags in $570,000 per year. Hey libtard Janet, share the wealth!
You forgot "stupid".
And that fits in this case.
I really don’t know what to say. Other than, were I in her situation, I’d looking at sharing rent with one or two responsible post-grad/non-trad students. She could probably get a gig house-sitting for someone, through university connections.
The best graduation gift you can give your kids is no student loan debt. Just pay the damned tuition. My daughter graduated from college two years ago, makes $28K per year, and just bought her first home. She rides mass transit and could not justify a car expense when living in a large city.
I just saw the video of her speaking, and I still don’t know if that’s the whole story. Where is her husband? Is he fully disabled? Why is he not working ? Where were her two dogs?
Final question; Why is she going public now in such a big way? Is she trying to shame the college into paying more?
Is this how she negotiates a raise?
A woman living virtually alone in her car is not something most women would publicize so openly. Not very smart, Madame Professor. Now everyone knows where to find you during the night.
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