Real Stories from Clevelanders on Welfare:
Four People Tell Their Personal Tales

Aired March 2, 1999

This is INFOhio After Nine, I'm David C. Barnett welcoming you to Tuesday, the second day of March, 1999, and this morning, we continue our examination of the culture of welfare, and how that culture is rapidly changing. Yesterday, we introduced you to a little history, and today we're going to introduce you to some of the people. At the beginning of the year, the Cuyahoga County welfare caseload was down to under 20,000 people. Each of them has their own unique story as to why they got on the system and what they're doing to get off, now that the state guidelines mandate a three-year time limit. During the coming months, as we explore the changing face of welfare, we'll hear from four people on public assistance. Correspondent Harry Boomer will take you into their lives as they attempt to make the transition from welfare to work.

Bonnie Newell–The only reason that I ended up on welfare was because I got pregnant and I had to quit my job.

Harry Boomer–Bonnie Newell is a 32-year-old mother of three.

BN–Briana is 6, Tiana is 5, and Kiana is 4, so, my little babies [laughs].

HB–She has been on welfare for almost seven years. Since the federal and state guidelines have changed, she knows she has to work her way off the system.

BN–I chose welfare because the father didn't help me, number one, and I had to maintain my own household, so that allowed me, you know, to have the money, the food, and there forth, so that my children can grow and prosper. Right now, I'm currently trying to get enough skills under my belt so that I can have a job that pays good money, so that my children won't be affected, and me. Where do I plan on being? I plan on being the head registered nurse of a nursing division somewhere. I'm independent, with the exception of being on welfare, I'm happy, I'm very responsible.

HB–Newell remembers what it was like to earn her own way, back when she was making $8.50 an hour. She says she wants to be self-sufficient again. She is enrolled in a 12-week program that teaches some of the soft skills she needs for successful employment. She's learning communication skills, problem solving, stress and time management, budgeting, and team building skills.

BN–I know I have leadership qualities, I know I have that. I really want a good job. My main concern is child care.

Louise Samidia–A husband, five children from the ages 17 to 1.

HB–That's Louise Samidia. Her family has been on welfare for fifteen years. She knows it's a new day. She's aware that she must work a minimum of 35 hours a week, or be in school to continue getting benefits.

LS–Right now, I'm working at Diamedic for ten hours a day, through the temp service. [HB: How's that going for you?] Alright. [HB: What do you do there?] Car parts. Assembly line.

HB–Louise is only working ten hours a week right now. That's twenty-five hours short of the requirement. Her husband Julius isn't working at all.

Julius Samidia–Right now I'm looking for work. Some will offer, and it's kind of hard to get off.

HB–The Samidia family has lived on the near West Side in a very modest home for more than twenty years. Julius says it has been a rough time for his family for a long time.

JS–We just fell on bad times, different things happen, lost a job, almost lost the house, got the house back... just different things happened. Just had a little bit of bad luck.

HB–Things are about to get worse. Their 17-year old daughter is pregnant and Louise doesn't want just anybody watching her children.

LS–The little ones will cry because they're out with strangers. [HB: So child care is a big issue for you.] Yeah, I don't want nobody to watch my kids that I don't know.

Nicole Thompson–My oldest daughter has her own father, and my youngest two daughters have their own father.

HB–Nicole Thompson is a 24-year old mother of three. The children are 2, 4, and 9.

NT–My oldest daughter's father is involved in her life, and my youngest two, he's not involved in their lives due to many, many criminal acts.

HB–Nicole lives with her mother and she attends Cuyahoga Community College. She expects to graduate in May, with an associate degree in applied science, and she plans to get a bachelor's in criminal justice administration over the next couple of years. Today, Nicole says she is a different woman than she was when she first got pregnant at 18.

NT–Well, in the beginning, it was terrifying and then you felt bad because, you know, it's welfare and it was made to be this big stigma that was bad, you know you didn't ever want to go on welfare, and in the beginning it made me feel ashamed of myself, but then as I knew it was a stepping stone, and I had come to mature and understand that, I accepted it. And now that I'm getting ready to move away from it and become self-sufficient, I'm happy that it was there for me and it was a stepping stone and I had never used it as a crutch.

HB–Nicole can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but she knows she's not out of the dark yet. In the coming months, more about her journey on the road from welfare to work. Our next report will take a look at the child care concerns as expressed by Bonnie Newell and Louise Samidia. For INFOhio, I'm Harry Boomer in Cleveland.