Good luck with all this, Dexter. Sounds grim. Perhaps it will help to remember that most of the social service people don't earn very much, hate the bureaucracy in which they labor as much as their clients, get burned out -- in short, they're only humans, as much as part of the "problem" as we are.

I empathize with the computer contact method -- I suspect it's part of the reason why I'm not finding work. Networking is not for me.

I have a little anecdote that always brings a smile to my lips when I recall it. When I was in graduate school, one of our professors was a very gentle man who was theoretically brilliant, kind, compassionate, highly introverted -- and so inept living in the world that his wife laid out his clothes for him to be sure he left the house with 2 socks the same color and generally presentable. One of the networking features of the annual job hunt for new grads are conference parties held by various universities in their suites at our huge annual conference.

As we students were being groomed for our job hunts, a student asked if it helped to go to all the parties. "Well, it wouldn't help *me*," the good doctor said, recognizing his own shortcomings, and the room broke out in laughter. I always think about that when I'm inclined to berate myself for not being skilled at networking. Bad networking is probably less help than letting one's light shine forth in other ways.

Maybe you can look for the "we buy houses" folks online, as well.

<font color="purple">((((((((Dexter))))))))</font>