Unemployed or out of work because of the slump in the housing industry???

Hello 3rd Street,
This is Shannan Bowen from the Wilmington Star-News. As you know, the unemployment rate is on the rise. In Brunswick County, it's expected to hit double digits next month. Did you know that it's estimated that at least one out of every five jobs there are related to the housing industry? I've heard of several people in the housing industry who are out of jobs - they might be developers, Realtors, electricians, kitchen refurbishers, etc.
I am interested in doing a story about these people and how they are coping, but I need YOUR help.
If you or anyone you know has been hit directly by the slump in the housing industry, I'd love to hear from you for an article I am doing, and I know others would benefit from what you have to offer. I want to write about people's experiences coping with this change.
I am looking for people who have worked in the housing industry in any way - directly or indirectly - who now, because of the economy, have had to change careers or find other work or are even unemployed. Have you, for example, taken a new college course to be certified in another trade? Are you unemployed or out of work? Are you looking for ways to improve the housing industry in Brunswick County? Are you an employer who has had to lay off workers because of the economy? I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! :)

Contact me at shannan.bowen@starnewsonline.com or 910-264-8345

Also, I've created a Ning social network that you can join to interact and share your experiences about development and housing in southeastern N.C. It works just like this network, so join here: http://ncdevelopment.ning.com

Thanks, and I hope to hear from you!