Everett, Wash. Published: Thursday, November 13, 2008
IN OUR VIEW
If you're losing a job, help is just a click away
As the economic news gets darker, worry becomes a unwelcome companion.
When you're not sure if you'll still have a job next month, other concerns start to pile up -- like how (or whether) you'll find a new one, or how the mortgage, rent or other bills will get paid.
Help is available on a variety of fronts in Snohomish County, thanks to dozens of committed and well-run nonprofit and government agencies, and the area's community colleges. Employment and job training programs; credit and crisis counseling; rent, food and utility assistance -- it's all out there.
Finding it, though, can seem daunting, especially if you're in a state of shock over being laid off. Recognizing that, two leading agencies -- the Workforce Development Council of Snohomish County and the United Way of Snohomish County -- spearheaded a social-service collaboration that smartly rounds up all the available tools for folks facing unemployment in these tough times. They're all accessible in one place: www.helpforhardtimes.org.
Billed as "a survival guide to unemployment," Help for Hard Times brings together just about every agency and service that can help laid-off workers and their families stay afloat. It doesn't offer new programs; they're already in place. Rather, it serves as an easy-to-use clearinghouse for advice, opportunities and specialized assistance -- like how to apply for unemployment benefits online -- that can be critical for folks who find themselves in an unfamiliar, uncertain and often scary situation. The Web portal nicely complements the North Sound 2-1-1 service, which connects callers to a wide network of health and human services.
The Workforce Development Council offers help for employers facing layoffs, too. A "Rapid Response" team plans and delivers on-site assistance customized to a particular company's workers, ensuring that the immediate shock of a lost job is accompanied by specific information about what to do next. For more information, call the WDC at 425-921-3423.
Snohomish County is faring better than much of the country through this recession, but we may not have reached the bottom yet. More families will face hard times before the economy rebounds. At least they can know that when they need help, it won't be hard to find.
Our community is fortunate to be well-served by so many agencies that communicate and collaborate with each other, minimizing redundancy and maximizing good results.
