When Getting By Gives Out

"Make a Fire Boys" courtesy of Seattlest Flickr Pool member lachance

Sightline has a scary post up about the end of unemployment benefits, and how a big dip may be in the works in the economy--and rehiring--doesn't kick in soon.

It's worth considering, because while unemployment is a lifesaver for anyone unceremoniously booted from the office, it's only temporary. And in years-long downturns, the choice it provides people--to just hang on and see if things improve--can actually leave them worse off than when they were first fired.

When your unemployment goes for the mortgage or rent, other bills don't get paid. And by the time unemployment runs out, there's usually no savings left for a move to "where there's jobs." Then the car goes, or the house.

Yes, it's summer and things are bound to turn around.

But the simple fact is that, in the U.S., there's not much between one year of joblessness and homelessness. In fact, the first condition leads pretty directly to the second.