New poll reveals human cost of US unemployment

[Hannah Bell]

A new New York Times/CBS News poll offers a glimpse of the devastating human impact of the US unemployment crisis...

The survey of over 700 unemployed adults was conducted between December 5 and December 10.

1/4 have relied on food stamps

1/5 have received help from food charities

1/2 said that their spouse has taken on extra hours or another job

53% borrowed money from family

54% cut back on medical

47% don't have health coverage

1/4 threatened with foreclosure or eviction

70% more stressed

55% report insomnia

1/4 visited mental health services

40% noticed changes in their children's behavior

60% have liquidated money from savings and retirement accounts.

One of the survey's more striking revelations is that nearly half of the unemployed workers in its sample have received no unemployment benefits...Among those who have, 61 percent say that this has not been enough money to pay for mortgages, health insurance, food and other expenditures.


http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/dec2009/unem-d16.shtml

[Mojorabbit]

1. I do think the numbers

are way worse than reported. Almost everyone I know is either out of work or worried they will be.

[leftstreet]

2. K&R

Doesn't even include the same stats on the underemployed.

Sad

[Hannah Bell]

3. kick

[Kitty Herder]

4. K&R

[Mithreal]

5. K&R