One Hundred Dollars to Live: A Mother’s Reality on SNAP

Ramonia worked in public service in Ohio for nearly 20 years before a nonviolent criminal conviction in 2019 ended her career and livelihood. Although she avoided prison, she now faces significant challenges finding full-time, good-paying work due to her criminal record.

“It’s very chaotic and frustrating,” said Ramonia.

“I’m applying to between 30 and 40 jobs a week, I’m doing side gigs for DoorDash, and I’m trying to maintain a life for me and my two-year-old daughter while weighing whether I should pay bills or buy groceries.”

Her story exemplifies the experience of 1 in every 3 adults in the United States today who, because of their criminal records, encounter increased barriers to jobs, occupational licensing, housing, and higher education opportunities.

Even when Ramonia managed to find a job with her county transit authority after being honest and open about her history, she made it through a three-month training program and started an initial probationary phase. However, she was still eventually let go because of her record.

“Now I can’t work in public employment for seven years,” said Ramonia.

Ramonia turned to unemployment and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to offset some of her financial struggles as she looked for work. But she soon discovered that the system in place to support people like her was a double-edged sword.

“I was only getting $245 a week from unemployment, but SNAP said that was too much income, and they decreased my benefits,” said Ramonia.

Ramonia also says that SNAP doesn’t consider inflation or taxes when it decides how much to give a person and that navigating the program can be a bureaucratic nightmare because there are no longer caseworkers associated with each SNAP client.

“When you go into their office, there’s no guarantee anyone will even be there to help you. If you call, they either hang up on you, leave you on hold for hours, or promise to call back—but then you don’t hear from them for four or five days,” said Ramonia.

“Everybody you speak to tells you something different.”

Her situation became even more complicated when she finally secured part-time transitional work through the Career Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Cleveland, with twenty hours a week at minimum wage. Her SNAP assistance was reduced again because she no longer received unemployment benefits. Now, she and her daughter receive just $112 a month in food assistance and modest earnings through transitional work.

“Once I factor in rent, utilities, car insurance, and gas, I’m left with just over a hundred dollars for the month,” said Ramonia.

“It’s just not sustainable.”

Like many parents, she's doing everything she can to rebuild her life, but the support systems intended to assist this transition often fall short. For many families, maintaining adequate benefits while they pursue self-sufficiency is an unexpected challenge that seems to run counter to the intention of programs like SNAP and SNAP E&T. While SNAP provides critical assistance, it can be challenging to navigate and doesn't always align with the realities of returning to work. This is particularly true for single mothers, three-quarters of whom are working. Yet even among those working full-time, the typical annual income is just $40,000, and overall, single mothers experience a 28% poverty rate. These limitations make it harder for families to regain stability and security, even when doing everything right.

The Training & Nutrition Stability Act (TNSA) ensures that individuals, especially those returning from incarceration, don't have to choose between gaining critical job skills and keeping food on the table. By allowing people to maintain their SNAP benefits while participating in temporary paid training, TNSA removes a long-standing barrier that has made it harder for individuals to pursue economic stability. This fix means more people like Ramonia can engage in meaningful workforce development without risking their basic nutritional needs.

Since joining the Center for Employment Opportunities, Ramonia’s chances of finding steady work have improved, especially after being accepted into CEO’s Emerging Leaders Program, a 12-week paid apprenticeship that helps participants build skills, gain hands-on experience, and grow professionally as they work toward full-time employment. But the reality remains: if she doesn’t find a job soon, SNAP will be her only source of support—and it simply isn’t enough.

“I may have SNAP, but then I might lose housing, I might lose childcare for my daughter,” said Ramonia.

"I don't want to rely on assistance forever, my goal is to become self-sufficient. But right now, I can't even afford the basics. With SNAP, it feels like you have to have absolutely nothing just to get a little help."

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