Many economic downturns have been accompanied by a good dose of anti-immigrant sentiment, as I have reported in this blog on other posts.

It looks like more anti-immigrant sentiment is "on order"…

December 18, 2010, The Economist reported that unemployment remains high. Unfortunately, as of today Saturday, October 29, 2011, nearly 10 months later, very little has changed.

I don’t really see wages going up; I don’t see housing prices increasing and I don’t see evidence of much increase in job creation. If you expect positive changes to the economy to radically improve your ability to pay off your debts, please reconsider. You may wish to consider lightening your load with a bankruptcy reorganization and debt discharge.

Here is where we were on December 18, 2010 and the economy is not any better.

Where were you at financially with paying off your debts on December 18, 2010? Have you substantially reduced your debt or paid down big chunks of your mortgage? Do you need my help?

Snapshot of December 18, 2010:

Fifteen million Americans are unemployed as of December 18 2010, with the rate edging up to 9.8%.

But there is something even more grim to the story: 6.3 million or 42% of those unemployed have been jobless for more than 26 weeks, effective 12/18/2010.

Even worse, these December 18, 2010 numbers do not include 2.5 million people who want a job but who have not looked for a month or more, or the 9 million people who want full-time work but can only find part-time openings.

COBRA is becoming a problem as of 12/18,2010, as that has an 18 month time limit for contining insurance, and 99 weeks is the longst that anyone can get unemployment compensation.

Once unemployment compensation is exhausted, little remains, except for food stamps for households that do not exceed 130% of the federal poverty guidelines, for example, $26,668 for annual income for a family of four. Usually, food stamps are only available for three months in a three year period for an unemployed able bodied worker.

Health care is a big problem. To receive Medicaid, a family of four would have to have a monthly income of less than $1,654 monthly.

TANF doesn’t provide much relief (TANF replaced Welfare in 1996), as for example a family of four in Ohio would receive only $536 monthly cash assistance on TANF.

I have had the humble and sobering experience of being of assistance to families and singles as far north as Snohomish County and Whatcom County, and as far south as Clark County, Washington and Skamania County, Washington. I have with pleasure helped many stressed-out people in Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Gray’s Harbor County, along with the Kitsap County area and the Key Penninsula; Tukwila, Washington; Lakewood, Washington; University Place, Washington; Puyallup, Washington; and Olympia, Washington; Federal Way, Washington; Bremerton, Washington; Gig Harbor, Washington; Silerdale, Washington; Bangor, Washington; and Tacoma, Washington.

I have helped thousands of people since the mid-1990s.

It doesn’t matter where you are in Western Washington. I regularly help stressed-out people in a diverse number communities in and around the Puget Sound area of Washington, including but not in any way limited to Seattle, Washington, Everett, Washington; Renton, Washington, Kent, Washington and Auburn, Washington.

Please don’t hesitate to give me a call if you find yourself in trouble with a home or investment property. We can set a brief no-obligation in-person consultation.

Don’t forget that it does not matter where you live in Western Washington, be it Bellevue, Olympia, Chehalis, Aberdeen, Olympia, Lacey, Graham, Puyallup, Orting, Fife, Milton, Edgewood, Pe Ell, Raymond, Onalaska, Tenino, Tumwater, Chehalis, Centralia, Gig Harbor or Tacoma., I can often be of foreclosure and/or short sale assistance. I offer a brief, thirty minute no obligation/no cost obligation. You have nothing to lose!

Remember, in Western, Washington, I am here to help you, regardless of where you are facing financial problems, be it Federal Way, Washington; Lakewood, Washington; University Place, Washington; Puyallup, Washington; Graham, Washington; Orting, Washington; Spanaway, Washington; Lacey, Washington; Burien, Washington; Seatac, Washington; Des Moines, Washington; Bremerton, Washington; Silverdale, Washington; Tacoma, Washington; Renton, Washington; Auburn, Washington; Tukwila, Washington; Federal Way, Washington; Renton, Washington; Auburn, Washington; Tukwila, Washington; Kent, Washington; Bremerton, Washington; Silverdale, Washington; or Olympia, Washington.