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Jesus Yvette Angulo has worked independently most of her life. After years of hard work, she was able to open her own hair salon business in Indio, California.
She was forced to shut her business down in March when the Stay-At-Home order began due to COVID-19.
“I applied for unemployment in April and I was able to put a hold on my house payments. I would’ve lost my properties otherwise,” Angulo said adding that she finally received her unemployment last week. Before that, she was living off food stamps and the savings she had.
Riverside County was able to reopen the economy and advanced in the Stage recovery.
Angulo started taking appointments again and began working again.
Weeks later and due to the increase of COVID-19 cases, Riverside County and several other counties where ordered to closed all indoor activity by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“When I heard salons were to close again I sat in my car and just cried. This is all a nightmare. I’m a single mother that gets very little support from my children’s father. It’s all so devastating. I’m just hanging on to my faith and hope that everything will turn out in God’s favor.”
In less than two weeks, the federal program that provides a $600-per-week increase to unemployment benefits will expire. Many economists warn the disappearance of this enormous federal stimulus, created in March, could hinder the economic recovery and deprive millions of Americans of a vital financial lifeline.
Trump administration officials have begun signaling their willingness to approve an extension of the unemployment benefits helping tens of millions of jobless Americans hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, as Congress reconvenes to discuss various relief bills, the question if the House of Representatives will extend unemployment benefits has many families and self-employed worried.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi questioned the Trump Administration of not seeing the urgency in extending the $600 unemployment payments. Legislators will also discuss other items such as hazard pay for essential works and the Paycheck Protection Program.
“It may be hard for them to understand, while they’re so busy giving 83 percent of the benefits to the top one percent in our country, that people really do need this money. The baby needs a pair of shoes. This is urgent. They need to buy food. These are necessities. And when people use that money for necessities, they inject demand into the economy and create jobs. So, it is a stimulus. But it is more than a stimulus; it is a necessity right now,” Pelosi said.
