What it's like to walk in my shoes: pretty tough you see i work as a q.a.t (short for moniter} in a mens shelter in one of the biggest in cleveland ohio we dont have any say on our job and everthing is a secret they just cut our hours and none of us have room for promotion or raises. alot of us have been there since day one it becomes hard when youve been in the same job for years and they look over. they say we are over budget and in need of a miracle so there wont be anymore budget cuts funds are runing out and the homeless are suffering with no jobs or homes to rent what do you do when rent is do gas keeps going up and your not making alot of money bills are begining to pile up on uss and cost of living is high how do you meet that with low wages or not enoungh money coming in they say well least you have a job! but with four mouths to feed two incomes stillnot enough imlookinfor a second job as we speak but who is going to hire a exfelon whose been working in a mens shelter with no college degree. i deal with murders rapist pedifilles,some good some bad with no weapon or protection i put mysafety at risk every day for the people inadminstration to feel safe and this is what we getpaycuts for the men on the line morale is down were i work and its sad because these men depend on us to secure thier safety and give them a leg up or hope for better through our experiences it just seems when will the little people quit getting step on by the privleged we make it fair for them to do what they do and it is not right.

I work 2 different jobs--one as a in home care provider and the other job I work at is a domestic violence shelter on weekends.

As a careprovider, I have a couple of clients who are elderly and have some disabilities. One client I have worked for for almost five years. He was a railroad engineer for 20 years and was riding his motorcycle one day and was hit by someone and became a quadriplegic. The accident happened in 1981. he has home care workers about 18 hours a day. He has limited use of one arm/hand. He needs to be turned from side to side when he's in bed to prevent the breakdown of his skin. He needs helping eating, cleaning his house, cooking, and even the most basic needs he's unable to do for himself no longer. I help with projects around the house, like with painting, which he's able to do a little of when he's up in his wheelchair and has his adaptive equipment hooked up. He's got a great sense of humor which helps him get through his days. What I think I find the most frustrating is the lack of funding for people like myself who help folks like him try to live as normal a life as possible. He didn't ask to become disabled, its just something that happened. It would cost way more money to keep him and others like him in nursing care facilities.

My other job at the domestic violence shelter is just as rewarding. I've been with the agency almost 11 years now. It's a non-profit and usually gets the short end of the stick when budgeting crises happens, unfortunately. Its an extremely valuable service we provide our community. It seems to me it should be the number one priority as far as keeping families safe from harm. All I know is I love what I do and feel like these fields have chosen me. I could never write briefly what it actually is I do from day to day.

What it's like to walk in my shoes: I was threatened to be fired by a manager. I complained to HR, but my complaint was ignored. 3 months later, I was suspended for being 2 minutes late. (A policy which is selectively enforced) I was also placed under increased surveillance. I brought my concerns to corporate compliance, but found no assistance once again. I now walk on eggshells everyday, as my livelyhood is jeopardized by a bully who simply doesn't like me. Without protection, in a "right to work" state, I could lose my home and possibly end up filing for bankruptcy. This is the reality which I face. Jobs are not easy to come by in this economy. Foreclosures are abundant among those who are currently employed.

I am a healthcare professional, employed by a government funded hospital organization. Why is it that I am not protected? I provide a service to the public, without discrimination, yet the discriminatory practices which I face, do not fall into a category of a "protected class"

I will do whatever it takes to make a change in this area. Not only for myself, but also for those who lack the courage to speak up. I will only surrender on this issue when I die