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(Editor's Note: We were so impressed
by our speakers that we wanted you to read what they said during the rally.)
My name is Rebekah L. I am a single mom of two children, Alex who is
five, and six month old Victor. I am here today to talk about human rights and
how the Welfare System has abused them. When I was pregnant with my youngest, I was
very sick. I was losing weight, exhausted and had morning sickness and a thyroid
condition.
Because of complications during pregnancy, and a lack of transportation, I was not able to
keep up with the rigid requirements of welfare. I was sanctioned for six of the
nine months of my
pregnancy.
This meant that my unborn child, my four year old and I lived on $97 a month with $168 in
food stamps. I tried to explain my situation to my case worker, but my case worker
was changed. With no case management, I was offered no
options, and I fell through the cracks. Six months on $97 a month. I took
my family to 'food share' but we never had enough. My unborn child & I went
without food so that Alex could eat and we could pay enough on our bills to survive.
We didn't even have enough for that. When I got a disconnect
notice from the power company I had to turn to a church for help. We had no other
way to pay it. I was eight months pregnant & still sick.
Alex's fourth birthday passed by while we were sanctioned.
Alex's presents were a plastic bowl, a
plastic cup, a new toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. When you live on $97 a
month, you cannot offer your child much of a birthday. Even toilet
(Rebekah, Continued on Page 6)
Rebekah, continued from page 3
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