My name is Heather, and I am from Detroit, Michigan. I will be 22 years old this January, and I am 8 months pregnant with my first child. I grew up with both my parents and my two younger brothers, the youngest of which is special needs. We did not have the "cool things" while growing up, but both of my parents worked very hard to make sure we always had a place to live and something to eat. As most people know the economy here in Michigan is horrible right now. Some people are feeling it more than others, but no matter who you are you can stop but noticing a different business closing each day. My family was hit pretty hard with the fallen economy. My mother was one of the many that received a permanent layoff from her full time job at the Detroit News Paper. I also lost my job as a restaurant supervisor due to the restaurant having to close. The restaurant lost too much business due to local Ford Motor Company layoffs, and it forced us into extinction. Since both of us lost our jobs we started having problems with house payments and utilities. My father was barely making enough to cover bills let alone provide food for us as well. My mother and I have still not found a steady job, and it's been over a year and a half. So many people lost their jobs up here it is near impossible to even get a job at McDonalds due to all of the extremely over qualified people applying. My boyfriend and the father of my son also lost his roofing job a little over 7 months ago, and like everyone else in this state he is having a hell of a time trying to find a job. All three of us have been apply everywhere praying for anything. In the meantime, we have been doing odd jobs as we find them (like craigslist odd jobs). It doesn't help very much, but it is better than nothing at all.
