Yaquelin’s Story
- California
- Story
- Economic Freedom
Yaquelin
CA-22
Hi, I’m Yaquelin, and I’m a resident of Lamont, California. I enjoy writing, acting, and working towards my dream of going away to university in Massachusetts. I am also a beneficiary of SNAP and Medicaid and have been since my birth.
My parents immigrated to this country in search of a better life for themselves, me, and my siblings. Like many families in my community, my parents don’t make much and we rely on government programs to help us make ends meet. Without food stamps, we wouldn’t be able to afford groceries. Without Medicaid, my parents would be in mountains of debt because of the intestinal issues I’ve had throughout my childhood. When work is scarce for my parents, paying for food could prevent us from paying for bills. We have considered cancelling our Wi-Fi subscription so that we can afford our other expenses, which would make it much more difficult for me to finish my education.
Without Medicaid, my parents would be in mountains of debt because of the intestinal issues I’ve had throughout my childhood. When work is scarce for my parents, paying for food could prevent us from paying for bills.
My parents began working at the age of eight in order to help their families survive. They have since ensured that my siblings and I can have a different life, and with their support and the support of government programs, I have been able to focus on my education and my hobbies, and I only recently got my first job. I worked over the summer to save some money for college, selling books door-to-door. It helped me gain an emergency fund to use for food and other necessities when I am away at university.
I am very concerned that our lawmakers are weighing cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid. This isn’t just about me and my family or my dreams… this is about countless other people in my district and beyond who might go from being able to take care of their health and afford food to being homeless, sick, and starving.
Having access to food stamps made it so that my family doesn’t have to “trade” bills, so to speak. I think having universal access to food and healthcare would make simply surviving much easier. It would unite communities by intertwining their lives more closely. For my family, this would mean that even my parents, who are immigrants, could also treat their health needs without worrying about money.
