Catalina

Catalina, a single mother of two, took a $10,000-a-year pay cut to make ends meet. Catalina, who has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, worked as a human services specialist at the Department of Social Services interviewing applicants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family Program.

After a relationship with her daughter’s father ended and she moved to Greenville, she discovered that her salary was not enough to pay for childcare for the toddler, an after-school program for her then 12-year-old son, transportation to work, and a place to live, yet was too high to qualify for government assistance.