1 of 3

Down and Out in Milledgeville

You are the U.S. Congressperson representing Georgia’s 10th district, covering most of east central Georgia, including most of Baldwin County. One day, you receive a letter from Joan Jackson, a woman living in Milledgeville, Georgia. She recently lost her job at the factory where she had been working for the last ten years. She now struggles to provide for her two children, Jack 10 and Jill 7. She is finding it increasingly difficult to pay for groceries, the rent, and their utility bills. She is worried what will happen if her landlord evicts them from their home and has written to you pleading for assistance.

2 of 3

Down and Out in Milledgeville

You receive a second letter from Joan, informing you that her landlord has evicted her and her kids from their apartment and that they have since moved into Section 8 housing (i.e. “the projects”). Joan, who is black, was hoping that her husband (also black), who was arrested for possession of marijuana several years ago and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence, was going to be released on parole, but the parole board ruled that he would have to serve out the remainder of his term. Joan had only $5000 left to live on while searching for a new job, but she is not having any luck and is quickly running out of cash. She again pleads to you for assistance.

Down and Out in Milledgeville

Your caucus in Congress has decided to design legislation to deal with the very socioeconomic issues that you have been considering over the past few weeks. You will be meeting next week with your subcommittee to draft a two- to three-page memo that the party leadership will use when they write the bill.