In this episode of Podcast on Wheels with Johanna Calderon, Johanna goes over many details of severe systemic barriers she and others like her face in securing food and housing assistance. She recounts years of difficulty accessing food stamp (SNAP) benefits, including having to initially choose between Social Security (which paid her rent) and food stamps, and later being offered only an unusable amount of $13 per month. Due to the government shutdown, her current remaining SNAP balance is critically low, noted at $5.35. To generate a small income for necessities like laundry, she resells candy, a vital source of funds that was recently stolen (about $40 worth). She explains that working is severely restricted by government assistance rules, citing penalties when she earned money as a student worker (making about $900 a month) and noting the strict limit on bank savings. Housing is "really bad," as she faces long waits for Section 8 assistance and rejection from non−profits and shelters (often due to being "too young" for senior housing at nearly 39, or not having a minor child). The primary physical obstacle is the widespread lack of wheel chair accessibility in apartments, and the prohibitive cost of specialized equipment like stair−climbing wheelchairs (costing $10,000+) which insurance often does not cover. She also critiques how government tax money is primarily spent on the military and war, rather than on schools and feeding people. The host expresses empathy, notes their own family's struggles with SNAP, and offers financial assistance as thanks for her participation, acknowledging that everything she does is "40 times harder."
Music by: bensound.com
License code: 5PY94YGM7NFOFFAK
Artist: : Nick Petrov, Against All Odds
This block of radio was produced at East Los Angeles College's Media Arts Department for KELA Radio.
The views expressed in this show are those of the authors and do not reflect the official stance of East Los Angeles College.
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