I grew up on welfare programs in a small town, isolated from much of the world. Programs like Medicaid made sure I could see a doctor when I was sick and a dentist when I needed one. Food stamps made sure I didn’t go to bed hungry. Those programs didn’t make me dependent.  They made survival possible.

Both of my parents worked full-time. It still wasn’t enough. Without that support, I might not have made it out. But I did. I earned a full scholarship to a college out of state, and a family friend drove us all the way there so I could start fresh. Those programs and that one chance changed my life.

Thirty years later, I have an established career and make a good living. I feel fortunate that I am currently able to support my kids on my own without assistance from these programs. I’m proud of that. But I also know not everyone gets the same breaks I did. The truth is, no one should need luck to escape poverty. Programs like SNAP and Medicaid shouldn’t be the only lifeline; they should be the floor we build a fair society on. 

Even with all my drive and effort, I still needed help. And not everyone gets the same luck, support, or timing I did. So the question isn’t who deserves help. It’s why anyone has to prove their worthiness to eat. Food, water, air, healthcare, and housing are human needs, not merit badges. Some people can’t “pull themselves up” because the ladder’s been kicked out from under them from trauma, illness, systemic inequity, burnout, bad luck. Even if someone doesn’t “try hard enough” by another’s standards, they’re still human. They still deserve food, dignity, and a chance to feel safe.

While we shouldn’t live in a society where programs like these are needed for survival, it is our current reality. And until that changes, compassion must stay non-negotiable.

I’m living proof that when we give people a bridge instead of a wall, they don’t stay stuck. They build something better.