My mom kicked me out of the house when I got pregnant. I was 16 years old and I was still in high school. I was very embarrassed. I lived with my aunt for two months and got food stamps and a medical card. Then for about four months I lived in the basement of my boyfriend’s parents’ house while he and his family lived upstairs. I got married to the baby’s father when I was 7-1/2 months pregnant. When we got married, the food stamps stopped abruptly, but the medical card continued.

After the baby was born, we got our own apartment and the baby had a medical card and we got food stamps. By the time I turned 18, my husband left and the baby and I lived alone and got welfare, food stamps, and a medical card. My ex-husband went to prison for eight years. I worked two jobs at the time and was finishing high school. I struggled and couldn’t pay the rent. My high school counselor helped me get into low income housing and my daughter got into a daycare through the school and qualified for the Free and Reduced Food Program. I eventually graduated from high school. We lived in public housing for about two years, and received welfare off and on depending on how much I made. We always received a medical card. I started college right out of high school and was unable to work full time, so I continued to receive welfare.

Through welfare programs, I heard about a house that was available through HUD, and was able to buy it when I was 19 years old. The welfare office sent me a letter about the Institute of Social and Economic Development, which was backed by welfare reform. They taught me to make a business plan and get a bank loan. With the money I received from them, I had work done on my house to bring it up to standards. After 14 weeks of training I opened a hair salon. I reported my earnings monthly to the welfare office to continue getting food stamps intermittently and a medical card. My daughter went to Iowa East Central T.R.A.I.N. for free childcare through Head Start and the state since I was on welfare.

The biggest thing to me was having the medical assistance. Medicaid was a big help to me. I had my gallbladder out when I was 19. My daughter got injured with severe facial injuries in a sledding accident. Medicaid paid these bills in addition to the bills for the births of two of my children. I just got back on a medical card 3 months ago after being off 2 years. Right now I’m going through a divorce and I get a small amount of food stamps and a medical card.

Welfare reform never bothered me because I was always working or going to school.

I’ve always had a feeling of embarrassment for receiving welfare because I am a hard working person.

[T.R.A.I.N. is an acronym for Teach Rehabilitate Aid Iowa's Neglected. – Ed.]

Demographics:
Author’s community or neighborhood of residence: Davenport, IA
Age: 29
Gender: Female
Last year of school completed: 12
Race: African-American
Number of own children at home: 4
Household size: 4 Children; 1 Adult
Does Author’s partner or spouse live in the household? No
Author’s gross cash earnings for previous calendar month: $700
Does Author currently receive any cash public assistance or welfare? Yes
Manner: Transcribed by collector