Social "problems" and "news"

Yesterday a person came in to my office asking for suggestions on who to talk to about something. It seems he is currently un-employed but for the past few weeks has been working through one of the local "temp work" agencies. That job is now done. He usually does light labor or custodial work. But he has a physical health condition that needs attention and it often keeps him out of the job market. He has no health insurance coverage. The local hospital gave him an application form for an assistance program they provide and then referred him to an out of town clinic that is associated with their assistance program . He didn't know how to fill out all the questions on the form and out of town transportation proved to be an obstacle. I asked about MinnesotaCare and and if he had checked with other social service resources etc.... He said "they didn't have any help" He spoke of how last year he just went over some of the income guidelines for some programs and that they want his last years income statements. Now this year he has far less income and there is nothing left from last year's income. It's a scene that gets played out many times and I am not naive enough to think I am getting the whole story on this person's situation. But bottom line. Here is a person who needs a surgery and until he get it he is unemployed. He can't get into the health care system or at least its too hard for him to figure it out. I think of that when health care issues are bounced around the political playing field. It's people. Not just issues or social problems. And more than once the people have found their way to my office and into our churches. As he left he said something else. He said "Thank you for listening. That's what I don't get." We need something better. (We came up with another plan for trying to navigate "the system" and I also offered to help him visit with our local state senator and representative.) Maybe I will keep you up on the story.

And then I was talking the other night to a person who told about a family member who lost their house. The mortgage rate had shot up beyond their ability. Its the story we see again and and again in the mortgage crisis news. But it gets down to people we know or at least we can see the faces.

The news is happening here. We get struck by the news when it hits us tragically close to home in such things as floods or a bridge collapse; when the national news is in our own backyards. But it alway is!

Health care and Housing. Mix that in with Matthew 25:31 ff and our Wesleyan traditions and see what you come with! Let's get GOOD NEWS for people in the news.

.... just another ramble?