Savings Emptied, Unemployment Checks Exhausted

Rick Rose was offered a job contingent on getting security clearance. His application was denied. (By Katherine Frey -- The Washington Post)
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Sunday, June 14, 2009

Rick Rose

Age: 44

Background: Rose lives alone in his District condominium. He was earning $85,000 a year as a communications director for a nonprofit organization until it lost funding and had to downsize. An extended period of joblessness ate away at his savings, forcing him to file for unemployment. The unemployment checks barely cover his basic needs.

Update: With Rose, it's one step forward and two steps back. He was offered a communications position, but the deal was dependent on him getting security clearance. Because the full process can take weeks, even months, Rose applied for interim clearance and was denied. The company said it would try to keep his application open should his full clearance come through, but another person was offered the position.

Rose received his last unemployment check on May 16. He's hoping for another extension. He's still trying to find full-time employment.