I live in Tucson, Arizona, which is in the Southern part of Arizona. Unfortunately, the Arizona legislature tends to resolve the state's money problems by screwing over Pima County, which Tucson is a part of. They cut funding to Pima Community College, which is the local community college. I had a job as a part time Note Taker for Disabled students, and I can't tell you how many internal emails the employees received talking about the money problems the college was having, and ways they were resolving them (cutting programs, cutting staff position etc). Based on local news, it sounds like Pima County is going to get screwed over again to give Arizona teachers the things the legislature promised to end the walk out.
The reason why I mention the crappy state politics is because there is very little funding to get financial help for education, trying to get food stamps is an uphill battle because of the legislature screwing over the food stamp program, funding to the mental health agencies has been cut to almost nil. I am receiving mental health services from a local state funded agency, but the anti-depressants aren't working. Since I'm 1 week post surgery I can't drive yet, and my family refuses to drive me to my therapist appointment so I had to re-schedule it.
I have a Master's Degree in Counseling, but as I mentioned before the mental health agencies are laying off because the legislature keeps cutting their funding. There are very few jobs available, and a lot of people out of work with more experience than I have. Don't get me started on the whole "you need experience to get hired, but how the hell do you get it if no one will hire you to get that experience" issue. They don't take volunteers, so that route is useless.