When Mandi first heard about the federal stimulus benefits being sent out to Americans across the country, she was still living on the streets of Lower Wacker Drive. She was navigating a world transformed by COVID-19 and seeking opportunities for affordable housing, leaving her a bit too busy to try and make sense of the constant flow of news that poured onto her phone on a daily basis.
Then, at one of her regular meetings with a case manager from Heartland Alliance Health, the notion of applying for a $1200 check came up.
“Honestly? I thought it was crazy. He told me that I just had to file with the IRS, but I didn’t have any income to file. It didn’t seem real.”
Even still, she entertained the idea. She was already working on filing paperwork for a number of other services – including housing, SNAP benefits, and Medicaid – and decided that a little more paperwork was worth a shot.
Unfortunately, “a little more paperwork” was just the beginning. Mandi applied for the federal stimulus benefit on April 17th, the first step in what became an arduous process of phone calls, follow ups, and on-holds. They continually assured her that the check was only a week or two away. Month after month, Mandi would look online for the status of her check, see that it was en route to her social service agency, and continue to wait. There never seemed to be anything wrong with Mandi’s filing, according to IRS officials that actually answered the phone.
“It’s frustrating because they keep telling you everything is fine, but how long are you supposed to wait?”
During that time, Mandy found housing, found furniture and appliances for her new home, and was connected with a number of other state and federal benefits. Even still, that check seemed to be forever in transit.
Finally, in the middle of July, Mandi got a call from Heartland Alliance that the check came in. All she had to do was pick it up and find a place that would cash her check. She didn’t have a state ID, and the virus had shut down the DMV – so official documentation was a major barrier. Once again, Mandi had to hunt down a solution – contacting banks, check-cashing companies, and the like. She found a business that would help, but required they bring someone with an official ID to co-sign, a social security card, and a few extra hoops to jump through. After weeks of hunting, she was finally able to cash her check – with a final cost of 12 dollars.
“That was it for me. That was the last thing I had to do during this whole process of getting my life back together. I felt so relieved it was finally done.”
The money certainly came in handy. Currently, she only has what little her SNAP benefits provide to keep her going day to day. She ended up using her stimulus on a few essentials for her new home – things like an air conditioner, a kitchen table, and some chairs. The rest has been saved for extra groceries.
“For 10 years of being homeless I’ve had to deal with other people’s leftovers or other sort of junk food. I forgot how much I loved to cook. It’s therapeutic, it’s a wonderful feeling.”
Months later, and Mandi still has a few dollars left from her stimulus – though it is drying up. She knows now to pay attention to any upcoming stimulus packages, and hopes to be right at the front of the line if another check is offered – given how long the last process took.
“You know, it would be so helpful if they could really show you when and how you’re going to get the check.”
