Weinland Park’s residents may not be planning summer vacations or remodeling bathrooms, but each day they survive – emotionally and economically.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, only 35 percent of Weinland Park residents are employed. While the area’s average annual homeowner averages is more than $15,000, those who live in Section 8 housing have to live on about $4,000 per year.

These figures illustrate the need for well-paying jobs in Weinland Park, but most of the area’s jobs are low-skill and entry-level positions.

“It’s up to us to find a job,” said Krya Scales, a 33-year-old single parent and participant in Job Success, a job-training course at Weinland Park’s Godman Guild. “If you are on assistance, the government will give you a check, but you must do something, like take a job training course.”

Carryouts, mini-marts and auto marts dot the vicinity of Weinland Park. However, these centers don’t hire many – Mid-America Grocery employs seven, and turnover is low – forcing some people to find employment farther from home.

Working outside of Weinland Park usually requires efficient transportation. As of 2000, 67 percent of the community owned a car, truck or van, but 21 percent of the community relied on public transportation, mostly the bus, for their work commutes. Though public transportation may appear the perfect answer, residents said they often get tired of long waits and bus fees.

Working mothers have to find affordable child care before accepting a job. Older relatives can help out, but all too often, kids end up on the streets.

By 2000, 14 percent of the community relied on government-assistance funds. Because years may pass before workers receive moderate raises, some residents find it difficult to build substantial savings.

Inconvenient working hours may further compound working-related difficulties, giving workers grounds to greater appreciate government assistance. The immediate monetary gratification of welfare may also keep Weinland Park students from seeking higher education.

Cycle of poverty

According an article on poverty – “Poverty and the Single-Mother Family: A Macroeconomic Perspective” by Gary Bowen – the biggest reasons Weinland Park residents aren’t working is because jobs are limited and the work is hard. Women can’t jump from welfare to work unless they attain reliable, decent-paying jobs.

Although most residents do want jobs, marginal pay, benefits and promotion opportunities hold little incentive for welfare independence or long-term economic self-sufficiency. Low-wage jobs don’t cover basic needs, like housing, medical coverage, utilities, food and child care. The culmination of these factors can prevent mothers and children from escaping welfare dependency.

During the past 30 years, declining productivity coupled with international competition has transformed America’s economic landscape. Manufacturing industries responsible for cameras, copiers and machine tools have been swallowed by international conglomerates, particularly in southeastern Asia, according to Bowen’s article.

Therefore, American-based companies not only downsized, but also restructured to remain efficient and competitive. Ultimately, single mothers can’t rely on traditional manufacturing jobs to springboard from welfare to work.

Godman Guild

The Godman Guild Association, 303 E. Sixth Ave., offers social services for Weinland Park and surrounding communities. The guild’s free Job Success course instructs 30 different participants during each four-week session. Participants learn stress-handling and people skills, as well as resume and interviewing pointers.

April Chapman, a 28-year-old single mother, learned of Godman Guild’s Job Skills program through her caseworker. Chapman, an aspiring social worker who wants to work with troubled teens, described trends she has seen in the program’s participants.

“Some people in the class have bad attitudes. Some assistance-dependent residents are forced to be here, but jobs are not guaranteed. In fact, the program expects you to go out and find a job on your own,” Chapman said.

Brandy Fulgham, a 23-year-old single mother, also participates in the program. A resident of Gibbard Street, Fulgham mostly stays home and doesn’t socialize in the Weinland Park community.

“Since November, I chose to be unemployed and have received government-assistance checks. Some people are forced to be here, as I was by my caseworker. If I don’t find a job, then I must go to another program. Now I have gained people skills and motivation, because I felt I didn’t have to work before,” Fulgham said.

Mid-America Grocery and State Liquor Agency, on Fifth Avenue and Fourth Street, receives steady business from Weinland Park residents. Manager Loretta Murib has worked at the grocery for seven years and has noticed employment struggles and money management problems among the area’s residents.

“It’s all up to the person to find a job and act correctly,” Murib said. Although many residents turn their jobs over quickly, she attributed this trend to personal character more than low wages.

“Many aren’t being honest or straight with their superiors, especially when explaining tardiness or missed shifts,” Murib said.

Booze and cigarettes

Residents strive to maintain jobs and secure constant money flow, but they often turn around and spend it at one of Weinland Park’s many carryouts.

“If they can afford alcohol, then they must be able to afford basic necessities. Many don’t want to manage their money, or don’t even know how,” Murib said.

At Kroger on High Street and Fifth Avenue, grocery clerk Deon Budd works with about six Weinland Park residents. Employed at Kroger for more than four years, Budd enjoys his pay but cautioned that Kroger’s starting pay is only $6.25 per hour.

“The convenient proximity to Weinland Park makes it a great place for residents to work,” Budd said, who lives west of Kroger.

Not having access to transportation makes it hard for many to work, but Budd said many residents work in Ohio State’s food department or at nearby nursing homes.

These service-related occupations are indicative of America’s growing service sector, which includes food service and nursing care. This sector created both high-skill, high-paying jobs, and low-skill, low-paying jobs. The loss of 1.6 million goods-producing jobs brought an onslaught of 12.2 million service-sector jobs between 1979 and 1987.

Still, service-sector jobs lack essential benefits, such as health care, and are often only part-time or temporary, generating more hurdles for low-income mothers, according to Bowen’s article.

As of 2000, 26 percent of working males and 40 percent of working females within Weinland Park worked in service-related occupations.

Workers’ history can also factor significantly into whether they can find a job. Kroger runs background tests, checking applicants’ crime history. Furthermore, drug tests are administered, forcing workers to remain disciplined.

“A lot of people have felonies, so that prevents them from getting hired,” Budd said.

Dangers of welfare

Ultimately, Budd said residents abusing government assistance don’t help the community, especially if they use their money to throw parties.

“The dope boys and prostitutes aren’t gonna change, and the whole community must respond, not just those who don’t even live there,” Budd said.

Back at the Godman Guild, Job Success facilitator Jenee Jenkins works to help Weinland Park residents overcome multiple barriers.

“The hardest part is keeping them motivated. They face barriers related to assistance living, home life, day care affordability, not to mention drug and alcohol-related problems,” Jenkins said.