Felicia’s Story

Felicia

(MI-07)

Hi, I’m Felicia and I live in Lansing, Michigan. I’m 61 years old, and I’ve been a beneficiary of Medicaid and SNAP for over 10 years. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to afford my high blood pressure or cholesterol medicines, or even afford food. I get about $290 a month from SNAP but it’s still not enough to afford food…I work part-time at minimum wage, but it doesn’t cover much. I have to rely on the food bank and sometimes skip meals to make ends meet. That’s why I’m sharing my story. We need to be talking about expanding these programs, not cutting them.

I have to rely on the food bank and sometimes skip meals to make ends meet.

I live alone in a Section 8 apartment, and without it, I’d be homeless. My rent is $900 a month, and I’m scared it’ll go up. I’ve had this help for years, ever since my kids were in high school. Back then, SNAP was a lifeline. I remember telling my kids we had our food stamps, and they’d jump up and down because they knew we’d be able to eat good that week. I’d make big pots of beans, cornbread, and potatoes to stretch the food, and that’s how we got by.

Being a single mom was hard, and without help, I don’t know how I would’ve done it. It was tough making sure my three kids had food, clothes, and everything else. SNAP and the government programs kept us from going hungry. I used to make sure they didn’t feel poor, even though we were. Those programs made it possible for me to stay strong for my kids and keep going when things felt impossible.

Growing up, my family didn’t have much. My dad worked hard, but there were nine of us kids. We wore hand-me-downs, and people gave us food. We used food stamps, and I remember the government cheese. It wasn’t much, but it helped us survive. It’s the same for me now—I’m doing my best with what I have, but I rely on these programs to keep going.

When I was a single parent, I struggled to get child support, and it wasn’t enough. But with help from SNAP and Medicaid, I could make sure my kids had what they needed. I worked at a church and used their food bank and clothes for my kids. They’d always ask, “Where’d you get these nice clothes?” and I’d tell them the truth—help from the community. It wasn’t easy, but those programs kept us afloat.

If Medicaid and SNAP were cut, I don’t know what I’d do. It’s hard enough now. These programs have been a lifeline for me and my kids, and without them, I wouldn’t have made it this far. They made sure we didn’t go without when things were at their worst, and I’m thankful for that help every day.