New foundation help Kansans navigate KDOL's 'endless loop of misery'

The Humanity Over Politics Foundation is helping Kansans navigate the unemployment process through the Kansas Department of Labor.

THE IMPACT OFCORONAVIRUS...AND THE ECONOMICIMPACT OF THECORONAVIRUS HASPEOPLE STRUGGLINGMORE THAN A YEAR AFTERTHE VIRUS REACHED OURCOMMUNITY.IN THIS REBOUND K-CREPORT, 41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER MCKENZIENELSON INTRODUCES USTO A GROUP HELPINGPEOPLE NAVIGATEUNEMPLOYMENT INKANSAS.MCKENZIE NELSON - REPORTINGTHE COVID-19 PANDEMICSPARKED THOUSANDS OFCALLS, EMAILS AND CRIESFOR HELP TO THE KANSASDEPARTMENT OF LABOR.RE"NAE PHERIGO -FOUNDATION PRESIDENT - THEHUMANITY OVER POLITICSFOUNDATIONSI was very frustratedbecause there was such amassive lack ofcommunication on what wewere supposed to do next.RE"ANE PHERIGO,GOING AS FAR ASORGANIZING A HUNGERSTRIKE MONTHS AGOOUTSIDE THE K-D-O-LBUILDING.PHERIGOSI"m going to go staout there and I want you toknow that I"m starving onyour front lawn until you bringsomebody out here to talk tome because I can"t getahold of you any other way.SINCE MARCH 15, 2020,KDOL HAS PAID OUT OV4.3 MILLION WEEKLYCLAIMS TOTALING OVER$2.9 BILLION BETWEENREGULAR UNEMPLOYMENTAND THE FEDERALPANDEMIC PROGRAMS.STILL, MANY PEOPLE HAVEGONE UNPAID.PHERIGOSThey can"t getthrough to the phone lines andwhen we do get through, theysay sorry, we can"t helpyou, you need to talk to thisperson and what I like to callitis an endless loop ofmisery.NAVIGATING HER OWNUNEMPLOYMENTPROBLEMS -PHERIGO WANTED TOHELP OTHERS GOINGTHROUGH THE SAMEPROCESS.SHE FOUNDED THHUMANITY AGAINSTPOLITICS FOUNDATION INFEBRUARY AND HAS SINCEADDED 10 PEOPLE TO HERTEAM.THEY SPEND EACH DAYANSWERING QUESTIONSFROM HUNDREDS OFKANSANS REGARDINGUNEMPLOYMENT.MEGAN DUREE - EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS - THEHUMANITY OVER POLITICSFOUNDATIONSIt"s just people thatare at the end of the rope,they"re like, I"ve donethis, I"ve done this,I"ve done this, I don"tknow what else to do, do youhave a phone number, do youhave any advice.WHILE THE FOUNDATIONCANNOT ACCESS ANYCLAIMS - THEY PROVIDESUPPORT ANDINFORMATION.PHERIGOSA foundation like thiscould do so much for the stateof Kansas and literally be tvoice for the little people,that"s what it comes downto.MCKENZIE NELSON - REPORTINGKDOL RECENTLYANNOUNCED PLANS TOUPGRADE ITS 40-YEAR-OLDCOMPUTER SYSTEM, BUTTHE FINISHED PRODUCTWON"T BE READY UNTILFALL OF 2023.IN THE MEANTIME -THE HUMANITY OVERPOLITICS FOUNDATION ISCREATING A NON-PROFIT -ALLOWING THE GROUP TOANSWER QUESTIONS BUTALSO PROVIDE FINANCIALSUPPORT.IN Kansas City, MCKENZIENELSON, 41 ACTION NEWS.THE FOUNDATION"SBOARD MEMBERS ARESCATTERED ACROSS THESTATE OF KANSAS.TO GET IN CONTACT WITHTHEM, YOU CAN