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'We're not alone,' the newly unemployed search for hope

Ali Nelson is trying to put the pieces of her life together - without a steady income.

She’s one of the record 3.3 million Americans who recently filed for unemployment benefits after businesses were ordered to shut down and roughly half of the population staying a home.

Nelson is temporarily out of work as a D.C.-based optician.

SOUNDBITE (English) ALI NELSON, OPTICIAN AND STYLIST WHO WAS RECENTLY LAID OFF FROM HER JOB, SAYING:

“We stayed open as long as we could until, you know, it just got to be too much. And our bosses pretty much said, ‘you know we’re going to have to shut down until further notice.’ And so that’s kind of where we’re at right now. So unfortunately, it’s a small company, so we’re not getting paid. And I’m the primary wage earner in my home. And so, I went ahead and filed for unemployment. And we’re just going to ride this out like everybody else, I guess.”

Now, instead of gong into the office, Nelson is spending the day with two of her sons who are home from school for the reminder of this term.

She also has an older son, who lost his job and was forced to go on unemployment.

And even though she doesn’t know how she’s going to make ends meet, she’s taking comfort in numbers - that there are so many just like her.

SOUNDBITE (English) ALI NELSON, OPTICIAN AND STYLIST WHO WAS RECENTLY LAID OFF FROM HER JOB, SAYING:

“This is happening to millions of people. And we're not alone. And, so, I'm kind of hoping, actually, that this might act as a reset in a lot of ways, a reset in our economy to make it more sustainable for everybody. You know, prices keep going up while salaries don't. And, you know, this is a proof that people are living paycheck to paycheck and that something like this happens and people aren't prepared for it.”

Tom Antonellis is not as hopeful. He’s lost all his income from numerous Los Angeles-based jobs as a dance teacher, actor, voice over artist and magician.

SOUNDBITE (English) TOM ANTONELLIS, DANCE TEACHER/ACTOR/VOICE OVER ARTIST/MAGICIAN WHO RECENTLY LOST ALL HIS FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT, SAYING:

“So it’s pretty scare, somehow shameful. Which is odd. Depresssing. And did I say scary? So, depression, fright and shame are what I’m cycling through. And I don’t….I can’t explain the shame to you.”

These two are part of the first wave of a historic surge in unemployment. But lawmakers are rushing to try to get them some relief with the largest government stimulus package in American history.

Antonellis can hardly hold back the tears as he wonders how long he’ll be out of work.

SOUNDBITE (English) TOM ANTONELLIS, DANCE TEACHER/ACTOR/VOICE OVER ARTIST/MAGICIAN WHO RECENTLY LOST ALL HIS FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT, SAYING:

“I don’t know when people will feel comfortable to gather and dance or gather and record or gather for a magic trick. So, that a tough question to answer.”