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Former low-income person here. When I had nothing, it meant I had no food, brain fog, constant fear of losing my housing, quick to panic, no money for transit, no internet access, cry every day, hard to parent well, hungry kid.
We low-income people just needed money. That's it. https://twitter.com/akurjata/status/1314221897106694151
We low-income people just needed money. That's it. https://twitter.com/akurjata/status/1314221897106694151
Lately, I keep thinking about me wandering down by the welfare office, no money left cause it was never enough. I had asked for more, but they couldn't give me anything. I had tears in my eyes, hopeless, pushing my kid in his stroller, no food at home.
There was no food at home
There was no food at home
Someone told me I could go to the food bank, but I had no transit. I had walked to the welfare office already and I was so hungry. I couldn't imagine figuring out where the food bank was, figuring out how to carry the food, more walking. We were so hungry and I was so tired.
I know the hopelessness was showing on my face because I became invisible to people walking by. I remember thinking that I knew what my face must have looked like.
I walked home and cried and whatever my kid was needing emotionally, I couldn't provide it or even see it.
I walked home and cried and whatever my kid was needing emotionally, I couldn't provide it or even see it.
Thinking about the food bank seemed like something I should do, but the panic and fear and dizzy hunger made it impossible to hold the idea in my mind.
I thought maybe I could just slip into a coma on the floor and then I'd solve the problem later.
I think I had called someone
I thought maybe I could just slip into a coma on the floor and then I'd solve the problem later.
I think I had called someone
There was a knock at the door and my childhood friend was there with her mom with those cardboard flats filled with cheap food. I couldn't stop crying from relief.
I remember the milk and those giant muffins that get kind of sticky on the top. I ate one of those first.
I remember the milk and those giant muffins that get kind of sticky on the top. I ate one of those first.
Anyway, I wasn't bad with money. There just wasn't enough of it and I had fallen into some circumstances.
Actually, I was incredible at managing money.
You tell me how you fit shelter and sustenance for two lives into $900 a month. I wasn't just good with money,
Actually, I was incredible at managing money.
You tell me how you fit shelter and sustenance for two lives into $900 a month. I wasn't just good with money,
I was good with negotiating, asking for help, cutting unnecessary costs, talking to creditors and making food out of flour, oil and water.
Poor people need more money. Then they wouldn't be poor. Then they don't have to live in brain-fog-panic-state 24/7 ...
Poor people need more money. Then they wouldn't be poor. Then they don't have to live in brain-fog-panic-state 24/7 ...
... and who knows what they're capable of when their basic needs are met.
Who knows how healthy their kids can grow, cause let's never forget that when you describe poverty and there's a child involved, that's called child poverty.
Who knows how healthy their kids can grow, cause let's never forget that when you describe poverty and there's a child involved, that's called child poverty.
