Poverty at Issue Winter 2001-2002--Christa tells her story, Making Ends Meet

College of Human Environmental Science, Department of Consumer and Family Economics
University Outreach and Extension, University of Missouri—Columbia

Winter 2001-2002

Christa tells her story
Making Ends Meet

“Christa” is a forty-one-year-old mother of five. She lives in a small, rural Missouri town, caring for her four youngest children at home. (Her twenty-three-year-old daughter is out on her own.) Her three sons are eleven, five and three, and her other daughter is nine. Christa currently receives public assistance for her family.

As a single mom in rural Missouri, Christa was willing to answer our questions about what it really takes to make ends meet in a situation like hers. The unique complexity of her situation reminds us that there is no single, cookie-cutter solution to the differing problems of individual families who struggle just to meet basic needs. The expertise of Christa and others who receive assistance is critical to our understanding of what makes welfare policies effective.

Q. What were the circumstances leading you to public assistance?
A. When I got back to Missouri [from North Carolina], I was six months pregnant. I found out I had placenta previa. I had to be off my feet, so I applied for benefits really not knowing it would be such a nightmare.

Q. What types of assistance have you received or are you receiving now?
A. TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), Food Stamps, Medicaid and MC+, childcare and transportation assistance.

Q. How are you making ends meet from day to day?
A. Scrape! I “rob Peter to pay Paul.” Sometimes I let the rent be late to pay the utility bill. I was even forced a few times to exchange Food Stamps for cash, just so we weren’t homeless. Utility bills exceed my check sometimes. I pay partial payments and tell them not to disconnect and I’ll pay more in the middle of the month. I’ve had to ask churches, [the community action agency], family and DFS for utility bill money.

Q. What is your experience with paid employment?
A. They up your rent, take away Food Stamps, and there you are with hardly no food wondering if you have a home. Working for nothing. Sometimes I did good to have $10 to my name after bills. I’ve worked as a Certified Med.-Tech., Nurse’s Aide, and at a shoe factory. I operated a folding machine and presser, which was very dangerous—hot glue!

Q. How do you feel about the safety and security of your family?
A. Up in the air! Some days I worry about my family’s security and some not. Police show up for children’s antics all the time! I am teaching my children to be “little survivors.” Where I lived in North Carolina there was murders, drug busts, and deals everyday.

Q. What are the challenges you face?
A. I’m trying to get my GED by the end of the year. No wheels, no money to purchase a vehicle. My childcare provider for my four children just moved. It’s hard to find toddler care. TANF time limits “suck.” I can’t keep a babysitter and I have no car but they want me to work any job. Why work? Just working to be broke. It’s not like you will suddenly be a Trump (rich) overnight. Taking care of my children is work—especially with my three-year-old. Being a mother’s stressful—homework, rides, meals, etc.

Q. What is your educational background and what is your need for future education?
A. Eleventh grade in a rural Missouri school. I have a Med.-Tech. Certificate. I want to get my GED and probably go to school for business and open a little store or something.

Q. What do you need to be the most effective parent possible?
A. Finances help. Patience and mutual understanding. I need time to do something for me away from my children.

Q. What is beneficial about being on public assistance?
A. Food Stamps, Medicaid and childcare, when I can get it.

Q. What is difficult about being on public assistance?
A. The hassle you go through just to get your public assistance. The treatment is bad from workers and the public. Struggles you go through just to make it from day to day or sometimes even hour to hour.

Q. What do you wish everyone could understand about being in your situation?
A. If you are caught slipping it can easily happen to you. Then you’ll be in a project, on a time clock ticking away, wondering what is going to happen to you and your family. Will we be hungry? Homeless? In the dark? Sick? Or sh_t out of luck? I’ve found ways to cope but it has a devastating effect on your mental health. I have to find ways to keep bouncing back.

Answering the hard questions kids have like, “How come we can’t have Popsicles? How come we can’t have the new Barbie stuff?” or “How come I can’t have a PlayStation? My friend has it.” And you have to look at your child and say, “Sorry,” or “Do you wanna see this month (keep the lights on)?” or “Do you wanna eat?” or “Do you wanna live on the streets?”

Also, it ups the risks of child abuse and neglect. Parents are upset because their bills are delinquent or they just can’t seem to get their acts together and they are overwhelmed by parenthood. With Christmas coming up and the way things are and as tight as money is, it’s just another day for mothers on TANF.

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