Make Ends Meet Checklist: Getting Results

At the end of our weeklong series, we check back in with Pam and Jonathan, to see how they used the checklist to change their lives.

TODAY WE’RE WRAPPING UP AWEEK-LONG SERIES, WE’RE DOING,AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT WITH’THE REBOUND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.’━V━IT’S A ’MAKE ENDS MEET’CHECKLIST.MONDAY, WE INTRODUCED YOU TO TWOPEOPLE WHO WERE LAID OFF, ANDNEVER GOT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.TUESDAY, WE SHOWED YOU HOW TOCONFRONT AND PRIORITIZE YOURBILLS,WEDNESDAYTIPS ON HOW TO GETYOUR BILLS DEFERRED.AND YESTERDAY, WE SHOWED YOU ALONG LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS,RIGHT HERE, THAT CAN HELP YOUNOW.NOW, LET’S GET BACK TO OURPEOPLE, TO SEE HOW THE CHECKLISTHELPED THEM OUT.━PK━WHEN JONATHAN BEOUGHER LOST HISJOB IN MID MARCHLIKE MANY OFYOUHE TURNED TO THE STATEUNEMPLOYMENT WEBSITE.AND HE SAYS, IT DIDN’T TAKE HIMLONG TO REALIZE, HE WAS GOING TOBE IN THIS ALONE.SOTJONATHAN BEOUGHER"This is just a prime example ofwhat needs to be fixed with abroken system sometimes."PAM GOLDSMITH HAS PRETTY MUCHTHE SAME STORY.<nat kidsWHEN SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN, SHE LOSTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHINGJOB.AND LIKE JONATHAN, SHE NEVER GOTA CENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT.SOTPAM GOLDSMITH"I was very depressed.

I waslike, oh my god.

I worked as atax payer for all these years,I’m 50 years old and I’m notgetting any help.

It made mereally concerned and want togive up."WHEN I FIRST MET PAM, ANDJONATHANTHEY WERE IN LOWPLACES.SOTPAM GOLDSMITH"So I’ve just not been spendingany money, not doing any things.Just staying at home, beinginside, trying to be safe."SOTJONATHAN BEOUGHER"That’s when the panic starts toset in.

What are we going todo?"WHAT THEY DIDN’T KNOWAND WHATWE’VE SPENT THE LAST WEEKTELLING YOUIS THAT THERE AREOPTIONS.TUESDAY WE TALKED ABOUT THEFIRST STEPTAKING A LOOK AT YOURSITUATION, AND CONFRONTING YOURPROBLEMS.THAT RESONATED WITH JONATHAN.SOTJONATHAN BEOUGHER"I’m a proud person, I very mucham.

I hate to ask for help fromanybody.

But it’s not about me.It’s about my child."AND HIS MOST IMMEDIATE CONCERNWAS MAKING SURE SHE HAD FOOD ONTHE TABLE.WHEN WE FIRST SPOKE, I ASKED HIMABOUT SNAPIT WAS PART OF OUR STORYTHURSDAY, ABOUT FREE RESOURCESYOU CAN GET RIGHT NOW.IT’S A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THATGIVES PEOPLE MONEY TO BUYGROCERIES.JONATHAN SAID HE ASSUMED HEWASN’T ELIGIBLEHERE’S WHAT HESAID IN OUR NEXT CONVERSATION.SOTJONATHAN BEOUGHERChris: "Did you look into snapand how did that process go?"Jonathan: "I did."SOTJONATHAN BEOUGHER"And then I got an email thatsaid, I’m going to be approved."SOTJONATHAN BEOUGHER"I’m going to use that, at leastthis month.

Because I need it."PAM AND HER HUSBAND ALSO GETSNAP BENEFITS.BUT HER BIGGEST CONCERN WASLOSING HER INSURANCE.SHE HAS TO GET DIALYSIS THREEDAYS A WEEKAND SHE HAD NO WAYTO PAY FOR IWELL, WEDNESDAY, I GAVE YOUADVICE ABOUT HOW TO TALK TO YOURBILL COLLECTORS TO GET A BREAK.THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT PAM DIDSHEFOUND A WAY, THROUGH SEVERALDIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ANDPROGRAMS, TO START GETTINGTREATMENT AGAIN.SOTPAM GOLDSMITH"They went and signed me up fora special fund.

And the fund hasbeen paying for my dialysis,thank god."JONATHAN USED THE SAME TECHNIQUETO TALK TO HIS LANDLORD, BECAUSETHERE WAS NO WAY HE COULD AFFORDRENT THIS MONTH.AS WE DISCUSSED WEDNESDAYHECALMLY DESCRIBED HISSITUATIONASKED HOW HE SHE COULDHELP HIMAND CAME UP WITH AFUTURE PAYMENT PLAN.SOTJONATHAN BEOUGHER"My landlord, was, she was veryunderstanding."SOTJONATHAN BEOUGHER"I thanked her 15 times in onetext message.

Just saying, hey,you don’t even realize how muchyou just took off my shoulders.Thank you so much.

Thank you,thank you, thank you."LET’S BE CLEAR, THINGS ARE NOTBACK TO NORMAL FOR EITHER ONE OFTHESE FAMILIES.BUT THEY ARE MORE MANAGEABLENOW.THEY’LL TELL YOU, THE CHECKLISTIS A TOOLTO HELP YOU GO OUT ANDGET WHAT YOU NEED.SOTJONATHAN BEOUGHER"If you don’t get up and go lookfor the help, it’s not going tocome to your doorstep."SOTPAM GOLDSMITH"You’ve got to be persistenabout it.

And get it done andask questions."━PK━WHAT YOU SEE NOW, SOUTHWESTFLORIDAIS NOT GOING TO LASTFOREVER.WE WILL COME BACK FROM THIS, ANDFOX 4 IS WORKING TO MAKE SUREYOU HAVE THE TOOLS TO GET THERE.THAT MEANS WORKING ACROSS EVERYPLATFORM, TO TRACK YOURFRUSTRATION WITH THEUNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM..."I continue to get emailsflooding into my mailbox, peopleare desperate for answers."AND THEN WORKING TO GET ANSWERSFOR EACH ONE OF YOU.robTHE REBOUND IS ALSO ABOUTLETTING YOU KNOW WHAT JOBS AREOUT THEREAND MAKING SURE YOU HAVE THETOOLS EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FORNOW.how was the virtual job fair?

Itwas a blessing."WE KNOW ALL OF THE STRESS ADDSUPSO WE’RE FOCUSING ON THERESOURCES TO EASE YOUR MIND.rochelleAND THIS WEEK, A SERIESSTORIES THAT HELPED PEOPLE MAKEENDS MEET.thank youONLINEON SOCIAL MEDIAAND ONYOUR SCREEN, EVERY DAY.pam re