Posted on 03/21/2009 10:57:47 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN DIEGO — She's 78 years old and in good health. But Re Johnson has no illusions of spending her days playing bingo, knitting or traveling. Instead, she's looking for a job and expects to work for the rest of her life.
Johnson, a Spring Valley resident, said she's seeking a position in merchandising or customer service. While she has been able to cover the mortgage payments on the home where she has lived for more than 40 years, she wants to be able to buy a car, or perhaps take a trip.
“I want to get to the point where I can do these things. To be at that point, I'm going to have to work,” she said.
Johnson is one of a growing number of older San Diego County residents looking for work who are turning to the Senior Employment Program, run by the nonprofit group Employment & Community Options.
“The last few months the phone has rung off the hook,” said Charlotte Tenney, who helps run the program. “We are full. Until and unless our current clients get a job and get off the program, we are at a point where we can't take anyone in.”
Senior Employment Program places clients 55 and older who qualify as low-income into part-time positions in social service agencies. It pays them minimum wage for up to 20 hours per week. They are also given training in computer and job-seeking skills at an office on Imperial Avenue.
Johnson teaches computer skills – including how to look for a job on the Internet – to other older people as part of the program, and she spends several hours each week looking for another job for herself.
She estimated that over the past 18 months, while she has been in the program, she has submitted more than 100 applications. But she isn't discouraged by the lack of results.
“I have no question at all that I will get a job. I feel I have a lot to offer,” she said.
Roger Debolt, 61, also participates in the program. Debolt worked for Dixieline Lumber for 27 years, and after undergoing a number of operations for neck and shoulder problems, he was told his position was eliminated.
“It was horrible. I couldn't believe it,” Debolt said. Debolt, a Vietnam veteran who lives in Lemon Grove, was referred to the Senior Employment Program by a state rehabilitation office. He was assigned to Neighborhood House, first as a receptionist, and later as an assistant to the director.
The experience has given Debolt new confidence as he continues his job search.
“I feel good about myself when I go home,” Debolt said. Tenney, one of two paid staff members with the Senior Employment Program, said the paid internships are important to older job seekers, not only by increasing their confidence and imparting job skills, but because they allow applicants to demonstrate their skills and dependability to potential employers.
Tenney's program accommodates 55 people, and applicants can spend as long as two years on the waiting list before a slot becomes available. The county funds the program with money it receives from the federal government.
Tenney said the federal stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama contains some funding for senior worker job training, and she is hopeful this will allow her program to serve more people.
Senior Employment is not the only local effort helping older residents find work. As the economic downturn drags on, programs that help people 55 and older land jobs are being inundated with requests for assistance.
SER – Jobs for Progress Inc. is funded directly by the federal government, and has about 300 slots for San Diego County residents. SER has offices in Chula Vista, San Diego and Oceanside, and its waiting period averages about 90 days.
Residents of all ages can also get help with basic job-finding skills and use computers to search online for jobs at six career centers around the county administered by the San Diego Workforce Partnership.
“The urgency is certainly there in terms of individuals over 50 who are trying to find work. What this economy has done is force people near retirement to rethink their plans,” said Charee Gillins, spokes woman for the California branch of AARP, an advocacy group for people 50 and older. “It's taken a toll on their sense of financial security.”
Tenney said she sees people from all walks of life, from welfare recipients and blue-collar workers to lawyers and college professors. The program has even assisted people who have been paroled from prison after spending decades behind bars.
“I call them all boomerang workers, because they're all coming back,” Tenney said.
You sure know how to take care of the elderly.
You promised Change! You delivered Big Time!
At least you won’t have to train them to show up on time dressed right and ready to work
Hmmm,, I wonder if this is what Obama envisioned?
I wonder how many have buyer’s remorse?
Hillary had a lot of baggage and an agenda as wicked but I doubt she had the over-all stupidity to put Gramps and Gramma back in the work force, the fields maybe, but .. ;-)
AARP endorsed BHO Inc ?
AARP is just one of many hip joints in the Beast.
These people are responsible and will give them 8 for 8.
Something wrong with this statement? How do you have a mortgage on a house for more than 40 years??? Somebody raided the equity piggy bank.
“The urgency is certainly there in terms of individuals over 50 who are trying to find work. What this economy has done is force people near retirement to rethink their plans,” said Charee Gillins, spokes woman for the California branch of AARP, an advocacy group for people 50 and older. “It’s taken a toll on their sense of financial security.”
—
taken a toll? Half the wealth of a nation and its residents has been destroyed.
This is all OBama and the Dems starting in 2006 with the Pelosi/Reid Congress and NO Energy Policy.
$4 gas started the disaster but it was O’s CRA lending lawsuits and his moles Rahm, Gorelnick, Raines and others in Fannie & Freddie helped by Soros/Flowers/John Paulson gang shorting hedge funds.
It was all over in May/June 2008 when Hillary had the nomination stolen from her. Wall Street/Financial system could have survived with McCain or Hillary.
The seniors and baby boomers retirements are screwed for good thanks to Obama. Pelosi and Reid.
Yup. Hit that equity line of credit on the homestead to probably buy crap on QVC.
Here we are—the media’s attempt to support SB 277 (the GIVE Act)! Make it all sound like it’s just the peachiest thing to do when you’re old—go back to work—for NOTHING!
We all have to go back to work, the trouble is there’s NO work and not a job to be had. Thanks to Obama and his CLOWNs!
78 and still paying a mortgage?
Not no none of me, no how, no way.
A lot of folks raided the equity jar. nothing illegal in it.
of course, no one expects the rug to get yanked out from the economy either like it has been by the Tax&Spend dems.
I am wondering the same thing. Another story by a so called journalist who sits at his/her computer making stuff up rather than real investigating?????
Coming to a place near you....the largest geriatric poverty group ever seen.
Followed by metaphorical hit squads of gen X, Y and so forth who will move to eradicate said geriatric group which represents a burden and now competition.
Well, for awhile there will be employees that show up on time, dress right, know right from wrong, don’t have to be praised all the time, can actually make change without a calculator, can speak well, are friendly, think instead of act, etc.
There are many open jobs to be filled. The problem is our colleges don’t teach what they should. Women’s studies, gay studies, etc. is not going to get anybody a job anywhere.
My gosh, I had my house paid off when I was 49 yrs old, what the heck? I would just pay extra payments each month, and taught my children the same. Don't need those Bingo cards, no Coach purses, drove my cars for 20 years before getting a new one, I did not need cable TV, cell phones, and none of that awful chickory Starbucks coffee, yuck.
We are supposed to feel sorry for these stupid people??? Glad she fould a job though, you go girl and when you grow up maybe you will have something.
That is a very accurate statement, now the Real Question is, "Where did the money go?"
Where did the Bail-Out money go? How much went overseas to the foreign backers of Obozo?
A total audit of this by Congress and a complete report to the citizens of the nation is necessary.
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