I graduated from college in May of 2009 with solid professional experience under my belt. I was eventually promoted to manager at the small retail business I had worked at for over two years, but the store was forced to close in January 2010.

I applied for unemployment, FoodShare,* and the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver which allows low-income men, women and teens to access free preventative health care. It was the only health care I had while unemployed. Being out of school I was no longer covered under my parents’ plan, but my parents didn’t have insurance anyway because my dad also lost his job about the same time.

I finally got a part-time retail job in April 2010, but it too was forced to close only a month after I began working there. It was extremely difficult to find a permanent, well-paying job in my field.

In between interviews and writing cover letters, I worked odd jobs to pay the bills - everything from serving festival food to cleaning houses, and holding rummage sales to babysitting. Finally, in August 2010, I got a job in my field with a salary, benefits, and stability. Without unemployment benefits, FoodShare, and the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver, I don’t know if I could have gotten to where I am today.

• The federal supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) provides benefits to eligible households to purchase food from participating retailers. In Wisconsin, the program is referred to as FoodShare Wisconsin, or simply FoodShare.

Data sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2007 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: Statewide poverty percentages, GCT1701, Ratio of income to poverty level, C17002
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2009 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: Statewide poverty percentages, GCT1701, Ratio of income to poverty level, C17002
• Half in Ten analysis of Table 1, 2007 State Expenditure Report, National Association of State Budget Officers.
• Half in Ten analysis of Table 1, 2009 State Expenditure Report, National Association of State Budget Officers.
• Food Research and Action Center.