Front and Center: ‘If You Lose Your Job, You Lose Your Childcare. How Are You Supposed to Make That Work?’ Asks Mississippi Mom of Five

“I really think Trump looks down on people like me,” writes Debra, a single mother caring for her five children, plus her grandmother and niece. “That’s not the type of person I want leading the country.”

Front & Center is a groundbreaking Ms. series that began as first-person accounts of Black mothers living in Jackson, Miss., receiving a guaranteed income. Moving into the fourth year and next phase of this series, the aim is to expand our focus beyond a single policy intervention to include a broader examination of systemic issues impacting Black women experiencing poverty. This means diving deeper into the interconnected challenges they face—including navigating the existing safety net; healthcare, childcare and elder care; and the importance of mental, physical and spiritual well-being.

My name is Debra, and I’m a single mother of five children living in subsidized housing in Jackson, Miss. I recently moved from a different apartment complex where all my kids and I shared a two-bedroom apartment, but now we have a four-bedroom apartment, which has been amazing. My children range in age from 10 years old to 8 months old, with four girls and one boy.

Currently, I’m not working, but I’m actively looking for a job. The main challenges I face in finding employment are lack of transportation and childcare. My dream is to work in the medical field, possibly as a nurse or a phlebotomist.

Financially, things are tight. I don’t have enough income to cover all our monthly expenses, but I’m blessed with a strong support system. My mother and grandmother help out when I fall short. The most I’ve ever made was $20.74 an hour working at the post office, which included overtime. I could return to that job once I have adequate childcare.

I’d like to see more support programs for families caring for elders, including better transportation services and easier access to necessary resources.

My ideal future includes achieving a bachelor’s degree in the medical field by the time I’m 35. (I’m 33 currently). I also hope to buy my first house, set up college funds for my children, and move to a better area—preferably back to the country where I’m from, which is a little under an hour away from Jackson.

The summer cash program through Springboard has been a huge help for our family. It allowed me to provide more snacks for my kids and even organize little picnics when we went to the park. I prefer the cash disbursement over EBT (food stamps) because it offers more flexibility, especially for non-food necessities like medicine.

Childcare is a significant challenge for me. I recently lost my childcare voucher when I was laid off, making it impossible for me to afford the weekly fees for my children. I believe the childcare system needs to be more empathetic to parents’ situations and offer more flexible options for those seeking employment or education—right now it is a lose-lose situation. If you lose your job, you lose your childcare. So how are you supposed to make that work?

And in addition to my children, I help care for my grandmother and recently took in my niece. It’s a struggle to balance everything, especially with limited resources and transportation options. I’d like to see more support programs for families caring for elders, including better transportation services and easier access to necessary resources.

Right now I’m trying to see about a CNA (certified nursing assistant) program they offer at this medical mall. I’m trying to see if I could get on a payment plan for that, or maybe even get a scholarship because I’m pretty good at writing.

I really wish that politicians would put in place programs that helped people like me, like the monthly child tax credit we had during the pandemic.

People with criminal records can’t even get a job at Walmart. But a felon can run for president?

In terms of this upcoming election, I really think Trump looks down on people like me. That’s not the type of person I want leading the country. I want somebody that looks like me, that values me, that has possibly gone through the same experiences I have. 

One thing I think it’s really important to get addressed in this country is the fact that people with criminal records can’t even get a job at Walmart. But a felon can run for president? That doesn’t make any sense. You want to lower crime, you need to make it easier for people who have done their time to get a job. Give them an opportunity to change, don’t just keep judging them. So I think our leaders need to work with employers to make sure that having gone to jail doesn’t mean you’re locked out of getting a decent job. That would really do a lot for communities like mine; I know several people who have been in that situation. 

A lot of days, I wake up just really tired. But I am also finding joy by making sure my kids are doing good in school, learning properly, helping them with their homework. Teaching them that actions speak louder than words.

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