Opinion: My family could end up living under a bridge if Republicans cut Medicaid and SNAP

I’ve always supported my government and been grateful that my government supports me and my family. But it feels like things are changing in ways that put my family at risk. 

Nearly a decade ago, I got custody of two of my grandchildren, now ages 10 and 16, because their parents couldn’t care for them due to addiction. I also share custody of their two sisters, ages 12 and 15, with my youngest daughter, their aunt. 

Caring for my grandkids is an honor and a joy. I love them with all my heart and work hard to make sure they have everything they need to grow and thrive. But trying to make ends meet on a fixed income has never been easy. I work part-time, making $8/hour to supplement my partial disability benefits, and as food and energy prices have skyrocketed, my family is barely making it. 

Sometimes I have to choose which bills to pay or essentials to cover. At times, I’ve had to skip refilling my prescriptions so my grandkids wouldn’t have to skip meals. 

Right now, I’m terrified, because I hear Republican leaders talk about cutting Medicaid, which is the only reason I can take my grandkids to the doctor. They’re proposing slashing funding for the free breakfasts and lunches my grandkids eat at school. They’re threatening SNAP – but without it, I don’t know how I’d put food on the table. I’ve even heard that Head Start is not secure. When I first got custody of my grandkids, Head Start helped them come out of their shells and get ready for kindergarten.

My family has also benefited from Medicare, TANF, and the Individualized Education Programs required by the U.S. Department of Education, which two of my grandchildren benefit from. And

North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP) program has been a godsend, and we have been very fortunate to be able to access the support it provides. 

It’s improved our health by addressing non-medical needs like food. Because of HOP, we get fresh fruit and vegetables from local vendors and we get a food bag delivered to our front door each week that includes one or two meals with fresh veggies and snacks. That’s incredibly helpful because, even with support from food pantries, SNAP usually isn’t enough to get us through the month. 

I know the federal government has supported HOP pilot programs like the one in my community and I hope that continues, because families like mine rely on it for healthy food for our kids.

If we lose these programs, I think my family could end up living under a bridge – or worse. I don’t understand why any lawmaker would threaten programs that make it possible for families to survive – but it is truly appalling to know that Republicans want to make these cuts in order to give huge tax breaks to billionaires and the wealthiest corporations. I don’t get it. People with excessive wealth are doing just fine. It’s the rest of us who count on the government for a hand up when things are tough.

So along with filing my taxes last month, I want to send a message to the lawmakers in Washington, D.C. who will decide how these funds are spent: Protect the programs that make it possible for us to feed our kids and give them a good education, access health care, hold jobs and contribute to our communities. Instead of cutting taxes for the extremely wealthy, expand the Child Tax Credit permanently so families will have the resources we need to help our kids grow and flourish.

Families like mine are counting on our elected leaders to put the needs of our children above the interests of the ultra-rich.