NEW YORK (AP) – Last Christmas, Shanita Matthews prepared a holiday for her family of three: fried chicken, grilled biscuits, spinach, macaroni and cheese.
This year? They will be left with tuna and biscuits, among the few items he can afford at the supermarket.
“We don’t do much Christmas – I think you can say that,” said Matthews, who lives in Suwanee, Georgia. “We are fighting. We are tired and all I have is my faith. “
Like nearly 10 million Americans, Matthews has been out of work since the viral pandemic entered the US economy in March, triggering a devastating recession and widespread unemployment. Now, many months later, she is facing a holiday season she could hardly have predicted a year ago: Too little money to buy presents, cook big festive meals, or pay all her bills.
Nearly 8 million people have plunged into poverty since June after spending $ 1,200 on government checks on most Americans in the spring and an additional $ 600 a week in unemployment benefits expired in July. according to research by Bruce Meyer of the University of Chicago and two other colleagues. And finding a job becomes even more difficult: hiring in November slowed for the fifth month in a row, with American employers adding the fewest jobs since April.
Some relief may – potentially – be on the way. This week, Congress approved a $ 900 billion pandemic rescue package that includes $ 300 a week in unemployment benefits, cash payments of up to $ 600 for most people, and a renewal of extended aid programs. for the unemployed who are about to expire. On Tuesday night, however, President Donald Trump raised doubts about the urgently needed federal aid, attacking the rescue package as inappropriate and suggesting he might not sign it into law.
Meanwhile, help may not be coming soon enough for Matthews. With the bank balance now negative, she worries that her account could be closed if she does not receive financial aid soon.
Matthews, 41, has been struggling with her finances since she had to close her wedding business in March, when the ceremonies were canceled and any need for centerpieces and floral arrangements she made her own. evaporated suddenly. Matthews was denied unemployment benefits by the Georgia Department of Labor. She does not understand why and appeals the decision. But the process is so slow that he waited months just to get a hearing.
Despite being a registered nurse, Matthews failed to get a job. She can only work late, because she often has to help her 6-year-old daughter, who has to do virtual teaching at home when the virus cases grow at her school.
Matthews’ car was recovered after being unable to keep up with payments. Most of her husband’s earnings go to a $ 1,600 mortgage on their home. This leaves them with about $ 200 a month for food, utilities and a $ 50 internet bill – a necessity for her daughter’s school activities.
Matthews hopes a relative can come in and buy a Christmas present for her daughter.
“We want to be able to eat, water, heat,” she said. “These are the things we care about.”
Charities say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help, a sign that many are in deep financial distress. United Way expects the number of calls to its 211 helpline to double from 20 million calls last year, mainly from people in need of help to pay rent or electricity bills. Feeding America says that many of the people who show up at food banks are the first timers.
In desperation, Sheyontay Molton turned to Twitter for help after a series of events left her penniless to buy gifts for her four children.
The father of her children lost his job this year. Molton, 28, who lives in San Antonio, Texas, had to temporarily stop working as a delivery driver for DoorDash after falling from a truck and severely damaging his car in October. He used some of the rent to repair it, leaving it on the bills.
After noticing on Twitter that social media influencers and celebrities were giving money to needy people, Molton created an account and wrote on Twitter about her situation. Someone sent him $ 200 through an app – money he intends to use for food. Another couple on Twitter asked her to create an Amazon wish list and then bought her doll a doll, cars and other Christmas toys.
Without donations, Molton had planned to tell her young children that Santa couldn’t come because he was taking extra precautions against the coronavirus.
“Stupid, I know,” she said, “but it would have saved me more time.”
The struggles of low-income workers and the unemployed are contributing to a weak shopping season, which is likely to hit the general economy. Retail sales fell 1.1% in November, a month that is usually strong as you start buying gifts. Some economists expect retail sales to fall again this month, especially as governments impose more trade restrictions and rising coronavirus cases keep consumers away from shops and restaurants.
A short vacation is what Summer Kluytman imagined. He had to tell his two teenage sons not to expect the types of Christmas presents they used to receive in the past, such as the $ 400 Oculus virtual reality headset that was under the tree last year.
After losing two art teaching jobs, Kluytman had to go with food stamps to help pay for food. Her husband’s salary, working for a cable company, goes to the rent of their house in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Kluytman spends $ 100 for each son this Christmas on sweatshirts and other clothing, down from the $ 500 he spends each year. She plans to organize movie nights, where they will gather in the living room to catch a movie.
“I think they’re cool with us, spending time together, as opposed to a lot of things under the tree,” she said. “But it breaks my heart a little.”
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Rugaber reported from Washington.