Economic woes rattle Americans’ everyday life

>>> america's largest bank plans to cut 3,500 job this is quarter and in a vast restructuring is said to be planning to cut thousands more. it's the story of our time, an economy in the doldrums and a nation in pain. nbc's chris jansing surveys the damage.

>> don't make nobody walk over you.

>> reporter: for half her life 82-year-old mary leeward has lived in this famous house in brooklyn. after refinancing, she couldn't keep up with the payments, the house was foreclosed and sold. outside, crowds gathered to support her. across the country in california, 35-year-old rosemary gutielle is on the verge of losing her home too.

>> i went to college, i'm an educated woman and i thought at this point i should be able and i have the right to have the american dream like anybody else in this country.

>> gutiell was one of many others protesting foreclosure practices. the ultimate reality to what's happening on wall street . because for millions of americans, the question is not will i have enough money for my retirement, it's will i have enough to pay my bills?

>> it's the rising ranks of the have-nots and you could be one of those in the flip of a coin.

>> i'm just trying to find something that will pay the bills.

>> reporter: outside orlando, florida scores of people at this mall were shopping for job opportunities.

>> i was looking at every nook and krcranny that i can find.

>> and holding at 170.

>> reporter: in chicago, people slept on the sidewalk overnight to get to a free health clinic .

>> it's unfortunately the state of of our economy at the moment.

>> reporter: for more and more americans, life is as uncertain as the stock market . several of these job fairs are continuing through the weekend. next week in miami t constitutional black caucus is holding another job fair and their last one brought in 1,300 job seekers.