Welfare Cut Saves Little

I just read about the 10% cuts in general welfare relief (Oct. 16). This is a disaster for me because I am receiving relief. Already the general relief pays only my rent and utilities in a room in someone else’s home. There is no phone. Just finding landlords willing to accept welfare is difficult because such a stigma has been attached by politicians and the media.

I have been required to submit proof of job applications as part of the program’s requirement. So far, I’ve submitted over 250 applications and had no offers for a job. This search in itself is expensive and credit cards I had have all gone belly-up in the fruitless search. I have a college degree and a successful work history.

Several politicians are painting us as lazy freeloaders in their campaign bids. Let’s do a little arithmetic. They are cutting welfare by $35 on 460 cases of people at the very bottom of solvency. That adds up to a grand total of $16,100 in savings for Ventura County taxpayers. So in essence, many people will lose their last grasp on basic food and shelter for what is probably a lot less money than the cost of the automobiles that these politicians drive.

Who are the villains here? I take issue with anyone who points the finger at us.

KAREN ELAINE RYBAR

Ventura