All About Welfare Bums

We were very nearly such. We had come back from a failed attempt to settle ourselves in the Old World in 1986 with 5 children in tow,having acquired an extra one in transit.We all except for the nursing toddler and 5 year old had part time jobs.Heinrich was on days, working here there and everywhere; the older kids worked after school and weekends and I worked evenings and mornings where I could take the littlest one with me.
Between the 5 of us working at minimum wage we could just make the rent and buy food.Then one winter month we ran short so I had the honour of calling the Welfare people.They came to the house and asked a million and one questions then informed me that we had made over 1000 dollars the preceding month so had too much money coming in.Our rent on the little house in the Holland Marsh was 750, and 7 of us were eating, three of them teenagers with hollow legs.We had between the seven of us 1200 a month.I told the welfare man that I could pay the rent or buy food but not both. He said he was sorry but all he could do was give me a piece of paper that would get me in to the food bank in Richmond Hill.The ancient car we had bought for 400 dollars was on its last wheels and would never make it that far. We had no money to get it repaired.
To my everlasting shame I started to cry. The poor man was so embarrassed. I hopped up and opened the front door. I couldn't bear looking at him.He took the hint and left, wishing me luck.
That is my sorry little tale about welfare bums. I'm sure there are a few who make a career of cheating the taxpayers but I will bet there are a lot more who have had my experience. Walk a mile in the other persons' shoes they say, before you pass judgement. They may have holes in them!