Does DU need a "Unemployment and Recession survival" forum?

[Lorien]

Or Depression survival, or whatever doesn't sound as clunky as what I just typed. Like far too many of my fellow DUers I'm currently unemployed, and, like many of you, I'm wondering how I'm going to make it in the coming months (or years). How will we keep our homes out of foreclosure? What new employment opportunities do you know of? What resources are available to the newly unemployed or the under employed? What about grants for retraining in a new field? What money saving tips do you have for your fellow DUers?

While there are groups for frugal living and there is an economic forum, maybe it's time to roll some of those together so that there's one place where those of us who are really struggling can go to find help, tips and support. Your thoughts?

[FirstLight]

1. HELL YEAH!

...I would like for those of us in this boat to be ab;le to share

You know, things like Re-training for the new green workforce, how to get onboard some of the education & healthcare possibilities as far as programs and jobs, etc...support for he tough times and cheers for those who make a good go of it...

I sure as hell would love a forum specifically for this info

[Lorien]

9. Thanks FirstLight! I think a forum might serve us all better than a Group

because threads that are especially helpful can get recommends, and making it to the greatest page will bring a lot more people to those threads. There are loads of informative threads that I would have missed had they not made it to the Greatest page. When you're looking for work you don't have a lot of time for discussion boards!

[FirstLight]

2. Kick & rec BTW......nt

[elocs]

3. That's a good idea. I am not strictly "unemployed", but I am underemployed.

Currently I am temping, but I have only worked one 40 hour week since last May. Fortunately I have just myself, have some savings and my expenses are very little. Now I have simply shut down spending and do not buy anything that is not necessary. I don't have much, but I get by.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

4. I would be in favor of one.

I always joke that those of us without a job right now have a support group that meets whenever we feel like it, but it would be nice to have a centralized area to commiserate, share information, and make plans for our recovery.

[marions ghost]

5. good idea

:kick:

[DearAbby]

6. Within this forum we can have trading forum

So we would have a source to gain needed items for our homes, on a even swap basis, no money involved. We could trade our skills, goods. Just brainstorming, wouldn't know how to regulate it.

[Lorien]

10. Sounds good to me!

bartering may be the way of the future if things don't change course soon.

[skeewee08]

7. U Betcha! Wink,....Wink.....

[Blue_Tires]

8. i'd sign on for it

[yy4me]

11. Add me to the list. A great idea for all of us who have found

ourselves in the unemployment line. I'd love to read solid ideas, including how Seniors are handling things. Looks pretty bleak for me. I check daily on the job search sites. Ug

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

12. YES! There are so many issues up to an including frugal living --

job openings, interview skills, retraining, living on a budget, resume writing, state resources, lobbying (example - forgiving tax on unemployment comp for now), and so on.....

I think this is a great idea.

[Le Taz Hot]

13. This is a really good DU Forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=353

[Lorien]

15. As is this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=255

But they aren't broad enough or busy enough (one is for those of us who want to "shop blue" and not give our money to the GOP-the other is for Wal-Mart shoppers and those who want to focus solely on money savings without politics as a consideration). Neither allows for recommending important threads, or posting resources for the unemployed. I think rolling them together and adding to the purpose of the forum would increase traffic and posts considerably.

[JNelson6563]

14. Yes.

We marekteers from the stock watch thread in LBN have been rolling this idea around. Would love to see such a thing here at DU.

Julie

[libodem]

16. Sounds reasonable

I hate to admit that I haven't had a job since I left my job with a work comp back injury. I've been fortunate to have had disability and now unemployment. But I've still had the worst time finding work that won't have me standing on my feet of hours and hours. I like the idea because maybe at some point I could help someone else with the stuff I've been learning. Like it isn't a lie to omit that you had back surgery, in an interview. OK I'm still choking on that one.

[uponit7771]

17. Sounds practical

[uppityperson]

18. Frugal Group, link here... (not jobs but other stuff)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=353

[Lorien]

19. Progressive living group (voluntary simplicity and frugal living

for non Wal-Mart shoppers) group here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=255 but there's not loads of traffic in either group. Personally I'd love to see them combined with a broader purpose in a forum.

[Lorien]

20. Kick nt

[Lorien]

21. Kick n/t

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

22. Kick and Rec. nt

[orleans]

23. good idea--i also clicked on a few of the links people gave

i really never go to those other groups--(i guess i don't explore much)

you could cross post some things from them.

[marimour]

24. great idea!

[Kool Kitty]

25. Kicked and Rec'd.

I think it's a great idea. My husband was "laid off" one week before Christmas from a job he's held for 21 years. (I put "laid off" in quotes because it's a joke-he's not gonna get called back.)

[Lorien]

26. So sorry to hear about your husband

that's happening to far too many friends of mine too. The sick thing is that some companies are laying off workers just *in case* they become less profitable. They don't seem to realize that they're part of the problem to begin with!

[Lorien]

27. OK, so how do we go about getting such a forum?

Do I need a poll? A petition? What's the next step?

[Hugin]

29. PM the Admins...

Include a link to this thread and a 'Mission Statement' (whatever that is) would be good!

:thumbsup:

[Lorien]

31. Thanks. Will do. If anyone has a spiffy name for the forum

please let me know!

[Hugin]

28. 28-thed!

or there abouts.

[Lorien]

30. Thank you!

:hi:

[EmeraldCityGrl]

32. Please, yes.

[KillCapitalism]

33. I am in favor of it. n/t

[Silver Gaia]

34. Good idea. n/t

[Lorien]

35. Kick nt

[SlowDownFast]

36. Kick. n/t