Agree, it's a terrible place to be. However, unemployment is for people who are laid off from "covered employers," not for people who just need it. It's not an income based or needs based program. I would, if I were you, sign up for every type of temporary employment agency around, don't be shy, sign up everywhere! Then march right on out and file for food stamps, medicaid, every form of assistance you can think of. After all, you have been a tax paying gainfully employed citizen for many years, you need help now, get all you can get! Be sure and ask at each place you go if they have any suggestions of other places you can go to look for work, get help...You don't mention your age, but there are some older worker programs that may be of help if you qualify.
Apply for school bus driver jobs part time if you have a good license. There is usually a great demand for these. Apply for janitor work at your church. Tell everyone you can think of that you need a job, any job! When you see people working, ask how they got their jobs, how you would apply to get on where they are. Talk to your friends and relatives about jobs where they work.
Have yard sales,sell anything and everything you can that you have of value. And above all, look hard for a job, any job. I'm sure you're used to having a pretty good job, and you've had some good ones. These have given you good skills and you'll eventually have a good job again. But apply for everything, including greeter at the big box stores. Good luck to you, I know this is a rough thing.
