Credit Crunch Takes Toll on Nuclear Family
Tiffany Vermillion's son smiles at a recent family gathering. The recent credit crunch can cause a change in the nuclear family dynamics. (Photo by Amber L. Gillette/ May 9, 2009)
Tiffany Vermillion is 20 years-old and has two children. She works full time while her sister takes care of her toddlers. Tiffany wakes up typically at five in the morning and still rushes to get out of the door by seven. After eight hours at work and another hour and a half in commute home, Tiffany sinks into her father’s huge leather sofa and breathes a sigh of relief as little john runs to welcome her home.
Tiffany Vermillion's son smiles at a recent family gathering. The recent credit crunch can cause a change in the nuclear family dynamics. (Photo by Amber L. Gillette/ May 9, 2009)
Tiffany Vermillion is 20 years-old and has two children. She works full time while her sister takes care of her toddlers. Tiffany wakes up typically at five in the morning and still rushes to get out of the door by seven. After eight hours at work and another hour and a half in commute home, Tiffany sinks into her father’s huge leather sofa and breathes a sigh of relief as little john runs to welcome her home.
One of millions of young people, Tiffany Vermillion
still lives at home with her father and 15-year old brother.
Tiffany is unable to afford apartment housing on her own because
her credit is less than satisfactory to leasing agents and her
income does not meet the requirement.
“The problem is nobody wants to take a chance on me,” said
Vermillion as she picks up her son and walks to the kitchen to
make dinner. With recent economic hard times, her take home pay
from her job still does not qualify her for a basic two-bedroom
apartment in a neighborhood in southern Prince Georges County,
Maryland.
“I
felt ashamed when I had to move back home. My Dad could have
said no and I would have understood,” Vermillion said. Her
father lives in a three bedroom house where Tiffany’s brother,
Josh now shares a bedroom with his smallest nephew. Ten months
ago, Tiffany was evicted from her previous apartment after she
lost her job.
“It
was a change for my sister to move back home, but I don’t mind
sharing my room with the baby,0 said Josh. For now, the
Vermillion family will have to adapt to living in tight quarters
until Tiffany is able to save up enough money for a security
deposit and rent each month. She hopes the economy turns around
soon.