Music: Comfort in the storms of life

The other night I had the pleasure of listening to a talented musician play at a local coffeehouse. Unbeknownst to most, the man is a CANI client. The man, Mike,* fell into a cycle of homelessness and therefore poverty.

When I interviewed him nearly a year ago, he had just found affordable housing through a CANI program. The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) involves case management and housing assistance to help people learn how to break the cycle of homelessness. Case worker Gwen Brown has been working with Mike the past year and has helped him get back on his feet. He has since maintained gainful employment and seems to be on the right track.

In the interview Mike mentioned his love of music and past experience as a musician. It seems he has pursued his passion and I am happy for him. I imagine it takes a lot to pick up the guitar after putting it aside for so long.

As I listened to him play a variety of folk and rock songs, I was overwhelmed with joy. It was clear by his facial expressions that he was on “cloud nine” doing what he loves. Music has the ability to take away pain, something he alluded to in a few songs he had composed and performed. Studies have shown the power music has to calm, comfort and reduce stress. Still studies are only as valid or relevant as their real-life anecdotes that support them. Mike certainly re-affirmed this concept for me.

I wish Mike the best and hope he continues to play.

*The name has been changed for confidentiality reasons.

What does it mean to be Middle Class?

What exactly is a Middle-Class income? If you consider yourself among the Middle Class you’re in the majority, according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center.

Unlike the Federal Poverty Guideline, which lays out specific metrics, this term seems elusive. Still, people seem to have assigned their own meanings and definitions to this social class. Put simply, this is a label people assign to themselves or their peers. I think the same holds true with poverty, except that people aren’t as willing to associate themselves with this label. Poverty can be a dirty word in some circles.

Even at CANI we face this issue. Our families come to us for help but they don’t necessarily want to be labeled as “low-income” or “poor.” We are sensitive to that stigma and do our best to acknowledge that.

If you aren’t poor, then does that make you Middle Class? The survey’s findings indicate that 53 percent of adults describe themselves as Middle Class. Demographic data shows that the median family income is about $52,000. About half of the respondents who identify as Middle Class earn between $30,000 and $100,000 annually. But about one-in-ten (9 percent) earn between $20,000 and $29,999 annually, and another 12 percent say they make under $20,000 annually.

The bottom line: this term is relative and difficult to pin down. A social and economic construct, it makes Middle Class a messy concept. Is someone making $40,000 a year in New York City considered Middle Class? What about a $100,000-a-year plumber in Nebraska?

So, how about you? What do you consider Middle Class?