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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 5, 2006 JoAnne Smith, 76, who volunteers at the Medford Senior Center, lives off $623 a month from Society Security. She and other seniors and the disabled often rely on very little to make ends meet. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Living on nothing Could you make it on $600 a month? For some in the valley, that’s just life By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune What some people spend each month eating out, 76-year-old JoAnne Smith manages to live on. "I never earned much," said the Medford resident, who receives $623 a month from Social Security and remembers earning $310 a month as a secretary in the 1960s. "I have always had to live this way." Like many retirees and disabled residents, Smith relies on surprisingly little to make ends meet, although community and government safety nets supplement her income, helping pay for housing, food and medications. "I do very well," said the Medford widow, who has had various jobs in the past, including shoe saleswoman and owner of a newspaper in Port Orford. "I couldn’t do it without the senior center." Advertisement Smith, who lives in subsidized housing, gets her biggest meal at the Medford Senior Center, where she volunteers in the kitchen four days a week. "This is where my food is," she said. "That’s my main meal." Smith, who budgets about $100 a month for food and $170 for rent, receives $10 in food stamps and food baskets from ACCESS Inc. to help fill out her grocery needs. For her clothing, she likes shopping at the thrift store at the senior center. "I kind of live month-to-month," she said. Executive Director Patti Proctor said when she began working at the senior center, "I couldn’t believe how many people are living on so little." Proctor said she is still surprised at how well many seniors manage their money. But she also realizes how much they depend on subsidized housing, free meals and careful shopping for food and clothing. At the 1,300-member senior center, 89 percent of the members are considered low-income and 15 percent live below the poverty line. "They live frugally," said Proctor. "They don’t need much." While many seniors are optimistic like Smith, Proctor said others shun the senior center because they think "it’s just a bunch of old people sitting in a rocking chair." And there are many seniors who shut themselves off from the world, becoming depressed after losing a loved one or becoming physically disabled. "All of a sudden they go in a funk," she said. "Some people may just curl up and die." For many seniors, the senior center and other organizations such as ACCESS provide a lifeline of support. "If I didn’t have low-income support, I don’t know," said Viola Warriner, a 92-year-old Talent resident who survives on $825 a month. She gets government financial help for the five prescriptions she needs to take for her heart condition and other ailments. She also gets food from ACCESS, goes to the senior center twice a week and gets the federal Housing and Urban Development subsidy for housing. She said her rent varies, but she is paying $112 a month now. "I seem to do pretty well," she said. "But I can’t spend on anything extra." Patty Claeys of ACCESS said that even though there are programs to help seniors, many don’t want to ask for help. Some seniors are wary of telling people about their problems because it makes them appear vulnerable. "We see a lot of frailties that they hid from their kids," she said. "Sometimes it’s even mothers of prominent citizens. In the citizens’ defense, sometimes the mom doesn’t want them to know." Many younger people Claeys encounters are shocked to hear how little seniors actually do receive. Claeys said she once told someone that one of her clients lived on less than $750 a month. "He said, ‘I spend more than that on eating out in a month,’ " said Claeys. Seniors aren’t the only ones living on very little. Eagle Point resident Scarlett Miles, who is blind, receives $640 a month in disability. She sometimes hears criticism from people who begrudge her a 15-year-old color television that she listens to, as well as her one day a week when she takes advantage of a special at a local Chinese restaurant. "People think we’re getting hundreds of dollars in food stamps," she said. "That isn’t so." In reality, she said she receives $50 a month in food stamps. She also has encountered people who think those who receive government assistance are up to no good. "People don’t understand that I don’t drink or do drugs," she said. "That’s what people think of poor people." Responding to criticism she sometimes hears, Miles said, "People have got just too mean." At 96, Harry Watson has lived through two world wars, and worked at the Medford Hotel first as bellboy then manager. "Social Security — that’s all I have," said Watson, who receives a little over $1,000 a month. He said he appreciates the support he receives from various organizations and agencies to help him with his food and medications. "I’m not too proud — I went for food stamps," he said, receiving $10 a month. Not all seniors have as optimistic an outlook as JoAnne Smith, who looks forward to her volunteer work at the senior center. Her advice to other seniors is to keep busy and get involved in organizations such as the senior center. "If you keep active and doing things, you don’t get depressed," said Smith. "I don’t have time to get depressed." Some low-income seniors fight bureaucracy, too Although seniors depend on various organizations and agencies for help, sometimes they get snarled in red tape. Patti Proctor, executive director of the Medford Senior Center, remembers one woman who had retired from Newberry’s, living on $458 a month. Medicaid turned her down because she didn’t want to give up her $5,000 savings. At the age of 88, the woman applied for low-income housing, but died at 90 before she ever received it. Proctor said it can take three years sometimes to get into low-income housing. About two years ago, another woman in her 70s was dropped from Social Security because someone with the same name died in Lebanon. "I sent scathing e-mails to Sen. (Ron) Wyden’s and (Rep. Greg) Walden’s office," said Proctor. It took months to resolve the problem, and the woman had to seek emergency money from Social Security to tide her over. She said the woman had to wait 3 1/2 hours each time she went to the Social Security office. "If I did that at the senior center, I would go out of business," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail Living on nothing ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s