The Consumerist blog led me to Down But Not Out Letters, a selection of fifty letters from the six thousand sent in by unemployed persons to describe their situations. I've quoted paragraphs from a few of them below:
 

I was very fortunate that having anticipated the layoff my wife and I could prepare financially. We put our large house on the market and during my layoff period sold it and moved into a smaller rental. We completely eliminated any debt, and of course, we had my wife’s salary.  My job loss reduced our household income by 70 percent, but the unemployment benefits and the lack of debt helped.  We still had to hit savings some, but much less than we would have otherwise. Due to my filing date and some eligibility gaps, I did not get the full 99 weeks—maybe more like about 90. But what a huge help that money was!

I am an unemployed Iraq war veteran that hasn’t had steady work since I was Honorably discharged at the end of 2009. I have a BS in International Relations, an active security clearance, and I speak four languages. I am currently enrolled in an MBA program in hopes of bettering myself, and my situation, but being a college student doesn’t pay the bills, and I have been looking for full time employment for nearly 2 years.

Loyalty? Dependability? Integrity? Work ethic? Forget it! Those are qualities considered old-fashioned and out-dated by today’s movers and shakers. 
But alas … all is not lost. And we’ll keep searching as long as the good Lord strengthens me to do so. God has blessed wife and I for well over 43 years now, we know He’ll continue to care for us until it is time to go home.
 B of A is threatening to take our house of 22 years, having denied a home loan modification application back in March (just like they have to millions across our once great land). We’ll see how that shakes out before Christmas, I’m quite sure.

For jobs in my field; I get to phase two of the interview process, but feel once I submit my birthday or graduation date, I’m invisible. I’m 51 and unmarketable. 
I don’t regret spending quality time with my Dad, just leaving my job to do it. It’s amazing how just a few years ago I could pick who I wanted to work for, and name my price … now I can’t even get a minimum wage job. What happened? 
Unemployment isn’t enough to keep your head above water. I’m renting a room … when unemployment is out, what next?

My family is eating stir fried dandelions out of yards to keep from starving. I am college educated and cannot pay rent. I have not had a penny income so far this year. We were turned down for food stamps. We are natural born US citizens.