<div>Last year I was blessed to work with many dedicated union members of the San Antonio Teacher's Alliance which housed the great startup, Our Schools San Antonio. I spent one whole year fighting with parents and people in SAISD to keep our schools open. 15 schools are closing 2024, and it feels I've failed. My contract ended December 8, 2023, and since then I've been applying for unemployment and SNAP so I can finish job training to maintain the income I've moved into. This is the first year with a salary, most of my year the AGI never exceeded $15k. Last year I made $50k on paper, but net $38k due to deductions, paying my kids $780/month health insurance, and drained my savings when I had to move into a home and pay double rent for a month ($1500 deposit + 1500/month). I tried preparing as best I can for this moment, even having my withholdings be about 15% annually so I'd have some EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) . 
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<div>The needs for this year include finally replacing and repairing my vehicle, which survived a fire during the pandemic. Between broken engine mounts, a leak still over the area of the exhaust that started my fire in the first place, and my exhaust barely hanging on by weld and hangers. It's dangerous to drive and at the very least we need it to work and get around. We're also looking just to make it long enough to finish some job training and get back to employment. 
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<div>My family and I are doing the best we can, but we've hit this hiccup. SNAP/HHSC denied us benefits under the auspices it believes I still have income as of 1/18/2024 even though I've presented my approval for unemployment and showed my employment ended 12/8/2023. I've since also been unable to attain unemployment due to the question asking if I had adequate childcare during the holidays when even if I had been working, I would be on vacations. The state of Texas have black out times apparently for single parents who don't have childcare during holidays. Now that SAISD closed their schools, I'm looking at another week (month according to my claim) of no unemployment eligibility. 
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<div>We've been using all of our funds just to stay afloat but now our savings are tapped, I'm about to use my last $5k in my IRA, and just don't want to fail and be on these streets again. I'm doing all I can, I literally spent the beginning of January training in Javascript on Sololearn. I've been part of Discord and  Youtube community Fireship doing everything I can to be ready to work. 
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<div>Please consider helping me stabilize and transition into a new job. We're doing all we can in appeals and working with the state in getting things we paid into and are entitled but while we contest that, we're still having to live our day to day. Thank you so much for listening and considering help. 
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Katie Brown

Anonymous

Talitha Costley

James Finley

Amanda Hale

Tatiana Powell

Jennah Jones

Raquel Flores

Geoffrey Okolo

Archan Rai

Nathan Katsiaficas

Isaac Arquieta

State Benefits Failed Us, Please Help

State Benefits Failed Us, Please Help

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