Please Help- Adriana May Azuero
Las Vegas Review Journal-article July 2020
My name is Adriana May-Azuero. I have two daughters, Sophia 11, and Jaise 7. I have lived in NV for almost 16years. I grew up in Miami, after my family immigrated from Colombia in 1989. I was raised with the idea that becoming a US citizen, working hard, doing the right thing every time and striving for more was The American Dream and the ultimate reason my mother wanted me to grow up here.
I moved to Las Vegas in 2005 to attend UNLV and study Hospitality Management. Unfortunately, due to my pell grants and financial aid not being enough, I wasn’t able to finish my last semester. Fast forward to working and starting a family with my children’s father. I have had many wonderful opportunities working in Las Vegas.
In February of 2020, I was recruited to work for a great company doing something I am very good at. I decided to say goodbye to my long time employer, leave the sales job that had paid for my children’s livelihood, and embark on a new professional adventure. All of that came crumbling down when due to Covid-19 the lifestyle company I worked for had to close it's doors. Like many I worked from home and dedicated myself fully. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, I was furloughed on April 3, 2020.
I immediately filed for unemployment insurance with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, known as DETR. A few days later I received notice that my debit card would be in the mail and what my weekly allowance would be. That card never came and the benefits never started. Then began the waiting game.
For weeks and weeks, calling DETR and getting through to speak with an agent felt more challenging than anything I have experienced in my life so far. And that says A LOT considering I left an abusive relationship six years ago and fled with two little girls. I finally got in touch with an agent who advised me that I had to pay back an overpayment of a little over $800.00! I thought, ‘I guess I have to it, thank God I still have savings’. So I followed the instructions and waited some more. About 5 weeks after that I still hadn’t seen any money or heard from anyone with DETR. So I took matters into my own hands. I literally tracked down an adjudicators phone number and extension through friends. Left him a detailed message of my situation and thankfully he called me back. He advised that I had to turn in the last 10 paystubs from my previous job because I had been at my new one for only 9 weeks. I gathered everything he asked me for, followed his instructions and faxedthe documents to the number provided. Again,nothing. Not a word. Not even a glimpse of hope.
By now, practically out of money, you can imagine my complete state of stress. I don’t sleep regularly, I was drinking more than I should, irritable and trying to keep it as normal as possible so that my daughters have a happy and stable home. Then, I get a voicemail from a woman saying she’s with DETR and that I “missed the phone interview” and that due to lack of information she would make a decision. Utter shock, frustration, anger and so many mixed emotions went through me. My stomach was in a knot, I felt lightheaded and like the room was spinning. What interview? What do you mean lack of information? I sent everything, I wanted to tell back at the voicemail.
That’s when I decided to start writing emails. They say it takes a village to raise kids and I am humble enough to recognize when I need help. My ego is mine but not my daughters and they deserve that I fight and push to find resolution. I emailed everyone I could think of. Including the governor of Nevada (who’s office has NEVER responded to me, even though that’s his agency), district state senators, our congresswoman and also the Las Vegas Review Journal (see attached article). The LVRJ published an article discussing the tens of thousands of Nevada’s in my same situation. After that article came out, I had a moment of relief what several strangers felt moved by my situation and offered financial donations. To all you, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I was able to catch up on past due bills and not lose my car. I had hoped my unemployment benefits would have started by now. But instead the denied me, claiming if I wanted to appeal to send them the last 10 paystubs from my previous employer and prove I had secured gainful employment. Everything I had faxed months earlier.
I am literally out of money. I have $100 in my purse, which I’m afraid to deposit and I don’t know why I’m holding on to it so hard. And I have $50 in the bank. Without the generosity of my church we would have not been able to pay rent for three months, my landlord is only interested in payment, not unforeseen situations. Food stamps have allowed me to maintain food and normalcy for my girls because they see me cook dinner and, I admit, sharing meals together and the overall lockdown has brought us closer than ever.
I don’t know when the governors agency, DETR, will respond to the many legislators that arehelping me directly. And I’m humbly asking for help for the next 6 months. Everything helps, everything adds up. I wanted to use this downtime and my unemployment benefits to finish my degree, change it to business and look for a well paying job to take care of my daughters and move forward. My kids are so smart, so loving, I will do anything to assure their safety andfuture. If you can help, I am greatly thankful and, not for me, but for Sophia and Jaise. Please pray for me to stay strong and keep my head on so I don’t fall apart. Thank you for reading this and God Bless you.
Adriana