Internet Resources for the Unemployed

During the Great Depression, the unemployed turned to newspapers and radio for the latest news on the economy. Today they turn to the Internet in search of resources that can provide them any information. Over the last year, some of the unemployed have created websites to unite, empower, and educate other jobless Americans during this economic crisis. Here are just a few of those internet resources for the unemployed.

Internet resources: Advocacy For the Long Term Unemployed (AFLTU)

"The AFLTU website...came to be in order that those suffering join together in an organized group," says Gregg Rose, Director of AFLTU. Rose says members of AFLTU can "send a clear and consistent message to our elected officials that we are not standing alone, but rather {we} stand together" as they remind those in Washington that "unemployment insurance {is} the cornerstone to sustaining and creating economic recovery." The AFLTU is an extension of another website for the long term unemployed: www.tier5.webs.com

Internet resources: Jobless Unite

Donalee King (aka Paladinette) had one thing in mind when she founded Jobless Unite:"{To} unite and inform all Americans who are facing devastation due to the unemployment crisis and to lobby Washington for Jobs. But until we have them - the benefits we need to survive until those jobs arrive back into our economy." Jobless Unite has gotten over 440K hits since its creation in April 2010. King also runs a Facebook page for the unemployed called Now: Jobless/Next: Homeless.

Internet resources: Tier V To Survive

Donna Davies founded the Facebook page Tier V To Survive in March 2010 because she was "constantly searching Google and different websites to find the latest information on the status of Tier V legislature....I wanted to go to one place where I could just see the latest information compiled." Currently there is no Tier V legislation or plans to create a fifth level of extended jobless benefits. But Davies says fans of Tier V To Survive can post any information they receive from "reputable sources" like letters from elected representatives and stories from news agencies.

Internet resources: Unemployed Workers Action Group (UWAG)

"I created UWAG because everyone in the unemployment forums kept complaining about the lack of an organization where thousands of people could be mobilized to stage protests, or otherwise influence the powers that be, to help us get a Tier 5 of emergency unemployment benefits until there are enough jobs," says Mike White, founder of UWAG. Although the UWAG is only a few weeks old, White says his website has already helped contribute to stories on the unemployed done by CNN and The Washington Times.

Sources:

Email correspondence with Donna Davies May 6, 2010, website: Tier V To Survive

Email correspondence with Mike White July 13, 2010, website: Unemployed Workers Action Group

Email correspondence with Gregg Rose July 15, 2010, website: Advocacy For the Long Term Unemployed

Email correspondence with Donalee King July 15, 2010, website: Jobless Unite