CAPE CORAL, Fla. — The state of Florida is now battling to meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of people who are now unemployed.
Precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19 have forced many businesses to close their doors.
Fox 4 spoke to a man who’s had no luck in the several weeks he has tried to file for unemployment.
He has asked to remain anonymous because it is hard for him to admit he’s lost his job.
Since early March, he has been reaching out to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity daily in hopes of filing for unemployment.
“Not one time have I gotten an email back, not one time have I gotten someone on the phone and the site crashes on a daily basis.”
Bills are continuing to come in.
“Even the collection agencies are starting to call, they don’t care they have to do a job they have to get paid. ”
Stimulus checks are expected to come in the next few weeks.
He fears it won’t be nearly enough, as he is down to his last dollar and is now struggling to put food on the table.
“I’ve never experienced anything quite like it before, and the sad part is I’m not the only one going through it.”
He says he’s tried everything, but since barely anyone is hiring his hope is starting to dwindle.
“I’d be a liar to say that suicide hasn’t crossed my mind.”
He says his daughter is his saving grace.
“My kid is calling me asking me if she can support me, she’s in college...shouldn’t happen...shouldn’t happen.”
The governor is now working to make the unemployment process more accessible by offering paper applications, eliminating the work and search requirements, and designating more state employees to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
If you are feeling depression or thoughts of suicide call the national prevention hot-line at 1-800-273-8255.
