I remember "foraging" behind restaurants when I was out of college and not able to get work, but since I never went without food, I didn't consider myself poor. Probably I should have, but I managed my rent and I wasn't hungry, and since I found work (finally) in restaurants, I ultimately never had to go without food. I was without a car (and rode a bike), without any heating or cooling in my house (bit of a problem in Arizona), without healthcare, but I had a roof and food and no debts. One mis-step on the health thing though (like the bad PAP smear I didn't have the money to follow up, if it had gone really bad while I was doing nothing about it) and it could have been a lot different.
I also didn't qualify for government assistance, not even for food stamps, once I got my minimum wage job.
Good on you for the rabbit hunting! You sound so amazingly resourceful.
In America, I think ultimately poor is not able to afford a car (or even a motorcycle). It really spirals down your economic situation if you're living someplace without a good public transportation system.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-02-26 03:14 pm (UTC)I also didn't qualify for government assistance, not even for food stamps, once I got my minimum wage job.
Good on you for the rabbit hunting! You sound so amazingly resourceful.
In America, I think ultimately poor is not able to afford a car (or even a motorcycle). It really spirals down your economic situation if you're living someplace without a good public transportation system.