The hidden America

By: Overtime Staff
Topics: Correspondent Candids

We sum up our economy with numbers: the Dow Jones Average, the unemployment rate, the price of a gallon of gas. During the country's recent recession, Scott Pelley and his "60 Minutes" team of producers and editors have worked to put faces in front of those numbers and tell the stories of the men, women, and children who have suffered in the economic decline.

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"60 Minutes Overtime" talked with Pelley and associate producer Nicole Young about their passion for working on these stories and the unforgettable moments they've experienced along the way.

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by americandreamformychild May 31, 2011 4:40 AM EDT: I am a single mother of one in a different state (Washington) who has also been forced to live in my car, (I wrote a small piece of my story a couple of pages back) most do not understand the many, many hoops and redtape you must jump through to recieve assistance, from the local non-profit, when I was first losing my apartment I applied for rent assistance from a huge local non profit, filled out the stacks of paperwork, to then be told, when you get the amount left owed down to the last two hundred, we will then help with the balance, and we will not pay late fees, well if I had options I would not have been there, and second, the late fees add on every day regardless, and in the end I lost my apartment due to late fees ($75 the first day late, and $5 each additional day until paid in full) Also, in response to some inquirys of why no foodstamps, I do recieve foodstamps of $157 a month (not $200 per person) and if you see me buying "prepared" food it is because of my limited ways to cook-in my car, I can buy dollar tv dinners and heat them at the local comm college vending area, believe me I would rather cook a real meal if possible, and it might seem like alot but $157 a month for me and a 16yr old teenage boy is difficult to stretch even with using coupons and discount food stores, I can't afford the "mandatory" school supplies for my son, let alone replace his too small shoes with holes. I was told by the non profit that with the recession, they are helping 4 times more people than 2 years ago, with the same or smaller amounts of funding, so to be fair they have to set guidelines such as paying the last two hundred you owe to your landlord, that way they can help more people and stretch funds, and they have no money for things like book and school supplies, bus fare for my son, let alone money for shoes, I did give blood and got him a not much better pair at goodwill for $9! We are in such a rich area, I am so terribly afraid my son will drop out, over something small like huge holes in his shoes because he's embarrassed. My heart litterally warmed and I smiled a rare smile at the offers to help the familys from the show, my faith in fellow americans is a bit restored, but please be aware that poverty stricken youth are even in the richest areas of america, (I rented a modest apartment here, on purpose for the quality school) never expecting to be homeless and trying to hide it in the same area two years later. So please think about giving to your local area as well, although, I am at a loss as to how to direct you to facilitate this, as I have gone to my sons guidence counselor last year hoping to see if I could obtain a scholarship to enable him to continue football and was told no funds were available, forcing him to drop out. WOW JUST HAD A LIGHTBULB, IF I EVER GET THIS TURNED AROUND THAT IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF POSITION I HAVE GONE TO SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICE, AND I SEE A NEED FOR A PERSON TO FACILITATE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP WITH THE INVISIBLE (USUALLY EMBARRASSED) CHILDREN AND FAMILYS IN NEED..Thanks again not only have you all restored my faith in community, but maybe restored a dream!
Would love to chat with anyone who would like to know the true daily struggles from the homeless front--email me at: BETTERFUTUREFORMYSON@HOTMAIL.COM I sometimes can answer quickly, when staying once a month with a friend with internet, otherwise every few days I check email at the library.; Reply to this comment


by diehard1968 April 6, 2011 2:16 AM EDT: I see programs everyday with children in poverty level conditions starving. I see as many as 6 generations starving and I don't hear anything about planned parenthood or birth controll. I don't understand that mentality. I went through a bad burn situation and thought that when I got out of the hospital that I would put coppies of a paint by numbers I did and ask for donations for a coppy of the painting. ONE gentelman sent me $5 and said keep the painting. I was elaited at that but greatly dissappointed that that was all I got. Putting someones email address on the internet and asking for donations is not a good method. who moniters how much the people receive and when do we stop sending. Does the family just stop looking for jobs since free m oney is coming in? How does that work. I still live in sub poverty conditions. The inside of my house nor the outside is finished. If I could just get $1 instead of one more piece of junk mail I would be OK. I'm doing OK! Don't feel sorry for me or send me money. There are many jobs out there if a person is willing to humble themselves. While they are at it have them ask theyre representatives how NAFTA and the other send our jobs out of our country going. We should be pooling our resources and purchasing a corporation like the old VW company and all working as part and equal owners of the company. Combining capitolisation with socialism. We all win.; Reply to this comment


by TheEnergyDoctor March 13, 2011 10:23 PM EDT: Thank you Scott for that report.
That should keep me grounded.
What really matters is the matter of the heart.
Im certain that the majority of Americans want to
help. It is what the country was founded on.

Once people come out of their trances, 'programmed'
by the television, I believe the focus will return to
the person. People are valuable regardles of their
valuables. Materialism and Capitalism are the dark arts
of evil and American rulers (privileged) are under it's
spell.; Reply to this comment


by AngelicPictures March 12, 2011 7:00 PM EST: Scott Pelley,

Here is a great "False Positive" story that is ripe for the picking...

The collective news media continues to talk about an economic recovery because the Unemployment figures are bouncing back ...

The reality is, once an individuals unemployment benefits are depleted, there is no more claim form for them to return, and thus no further tracking... So that individual drops off the unemployment rolls, but possibly remains unemployed. EDD could fix this with a simple follow up form quartly, because as of now there is no way for the EDD to track such return to employment once someone drops off the unemployment rolls.

Please check on these facts. Once there are no more benefits, there are no more check, and attached to the check is an unemployment claim form... So, when the benefits are gone, there are no more unemployment claims being filed... And another individual drops off the unemployment rolls.

That individual is still unemployed, but that individual doesn't show up on the claim numbers...

Yet within states that have double digit unemployment, there was a Federal Extensions, but the system is the same, once the extension benefits run out, the individual doesn't receive a claim form, and simply drops off the rolls.

So yes, the number of claims are down, but it's a "False Positive" there are less people on unemployment, but they are possibly still unemployed...

Please investigate and bust this false positive reporting news to your viewers...

Respectfully,
Angelic; Reply to this comment


by britishcolumbiashane March 11, 2011 4:49 PM EST: As a Canadian I am appalled at the direction your country is going, until Americans revolt in the streets in massive uprisings, i dont think things are going to change. Know this, this is what life is like in Canada or other Western Democracies, we dont live like this. Get it together, start pulling together and rise up or the 16 million living like this will only expand. You guys have lost your way. I will pray for you, i love America, this is hard to watch.; Reply to this comment


by Raithius March 9, 2011 9:24 PM EST: Just a few observations from a nobody american. Has anyone ever graphed out the inflation trends? We have all noticed the recent price hikes due to ... whatever. I once heard, but don't remember, the standard percentage incerease per year that is attributed to inflation. On top of this, graph the pay raise trend. I believe our esteemed Congress and Senate vote themselves a pay raise each year of around 4-5%? There are many more examples like this. My point is, these are all exponential increases. Anybody care to ponder a guess what the end of an exponential increase looks like? Tell me, is a 4% raise ethical when you make in excess of 200k per year. Some of these increases are more than many people, myself included, make in an entire year.
Classychick54 put it right, WAKE UP AMERICA!!! And I mean the 98% of us that REALLY make this country run. When I got laid off, my right wing religious, republican, exboss told me that he was sorry but he could no longer afford to maintain HIS quality of life. All the while he was donating around 20k per year to his church!!! It's people like this that will lead to the downfall of this great country. WE MUST STAND UP!! Let them know we will ride their greed machine no longer! AMERICANS, TAKE BACK YOUR COUNTRY!!!; Reply to this comment


by efitness46 March 8, 2011 9:17 PM EST: Unfortunately, I can relate to this story. Two years ago I lost my job as a financial advisor. After exausting all of my resources I left my home in cincinnati six months ago. I lost my home and spent four days in a homeless shelter here in Akron. I lost my Ohio unemployment
benefits 15 months ago. Now I live in the attic of someone's home. I got a job but am paid less than people who get benefits. I think that what is unique about this recession is that its affecting all ethnic groups. I totally feel for this family and will pray for them and others like them. Ed; Reply to this comment


by raven1943-2009 March 8, 2011 6:29 PM EST: I HAVE WATCHED 60 MINUTES FOR OVER 20 YEARS. THE STORY ABOUT THE
16 MILLION AMERICAN CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY, LIVING IN FLEA BAG HOTELS, LIVING IN THEIR CARS, LIVING ON THE STREETS, WAS ONE OF THE BEST STORIES EVER DONE. IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO HAVE CHILDREN LIVING IN SUCH CONDITIONS BECAUSE EVIL BANKERS HAVE FORECLOSED ON THEIR HOMES.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO HAVE THESE CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL HUNGRY, WHEN WE HAVE THE MOST ABUNDANT FOOD SUPPLY IN THE WORLD. BANKERS SHOULD BE JAILED FOR CREATING SUCH MONSTROUS EVIL. THOSE WHO HAVE FOOD SHOULD DONATE IT DIRECTLY TO THESE FAMILIES.
THIS IS ONE BIG, BIG, BIG REASON WHY CONGRESS SHOULD NOT, REPEAT NOT, CUT BACK ON ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES, AND WHY FOOD BANKS NEED TO BUILD UP THEIR SUPPLIES OF FOOD AND NOT CUT BACK. WHAT IS BILL GATES DOING WITH HIS BILLIONS??? WHY CAN'T HE HELP OUT??? WHAT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AND OTHER BILLIONAIRES?
HELP AMERICANS FIRST BEFORE WE TRY TO HELP THOSE IN OTHER COUNTRIES. LET US, TOGETHER, END THIS EVIL THING THAT IS BLIGHTING THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE!!!

VOICE OF TRUTH
OXNARD, CA; Reply to this comment


by torolina March 8, 2011 5:11 PM EST: What amazed me, is that this is not the only family that is suffering in America. I work as caseworker in a small town in Florida and you do not have any idea how many people are suffering with this economy, they do not have enough money to pay their power bill, or their water bill, or their gas bill... I cannot believe that we are sending billions of dollars for a war and we are not taking care of our own people in our own house... it makes me mad, it makes me sad....; Reply to this comment


by acguarin March 8, 2011 10:22 AM EST: Since just recently a resolution was passed by congress not to fund planned parenthood, I strongly suggest that the millions that go into this before now be channeled to these millions of children who struggle daily for food and other basic necessities.Feeding children is probably the best thing that America can do with or without a recession.; Reply to this comment

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