Single moms deserve better

The economy may be rigged for everyone, but it’s especially stacked against single moms like me. I have lived in Nevada for 10 years, am a mother of two girls, and a first-time small-business owner.

Recently, I reached the point where I can no longer afford child care. My rent has gone up each year and I’ve had to file for food stamps twice. The first time, I was denied because I made just over the limit to qualify, but not enough to support myself and pay my bills or even think about purchasing health insurance. Now, circumstances have made me face the possibility of enrolling again.

But when I found out the food stamp program is being threatened, I thought, “What will I do then?” Get another job I don’t have time for on top of my other clients and projects? Even if I went back to work in a 9-5, no company is willing to pay me as much as I can make on my own as a professional in the marketing field.

There are so many millionaires in Congress who have lost touch with reality. For regular people in today’s economy, one accident, serious illness, or layoff can leave a whole family facing hunger, homelessness and sickness, even if they are working hard. As long as we have an economy that doesn’t provide living wages, income security, free health care, affordable child care or any retirement benefits, we are going to need a safety net.

Abi Wright, Las Vegas