Economic crisis strains families who were already stretched

As low-income families brace for the virtual learning that is such a big part of this school year, advocates wonder how far they can bend before they break.

"It's just like a big circleofstress."THERE'S NO QUESTION -THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEARIS áALWAYS STRESSFUL FORPARENTS ACROSS GREATERCINCINNATI.BUT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIESWHO WERE BARELY GETTING BYBEFORE THE PANDEMIC - BACK TOSCHOOL THIS YEAR ISáESPECIALLY DIFFICULT.WCPONINE NEWS REPORTER LUCY MAYEXPLORES THOSE CHALLENGES INTHIS REPORT."It's just like a big circleofstress."LISA HYDE-MILLER IS THELONG-TIME SERVICE COORINDATORAT THE VILLAGES AT ROLL HILL.SHE SAYS FAMILIES THERE AREHURTING."They already needed helpprior to the virus, and nowthey're losing their jobs,getting their hours cut.

Theyneed morehelp."BEFORE THE PANDEMIC - NEARLY75 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS HERELIVED BELOW THE FEDERALPOVERTY LINE.THAT'S ONE OF THEHIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OFPOVERTY IN THE TRI-STATE.ANDTHE COVID-19 CRISIS IS HITTINGFAMILIES THEREHARD.I was just getting on my feetand it seemed like, boom, nowI'm back down to zero againand having to start all thewayover."MARIE DAWSON IS AMONG DOZENSOF PARENTS WHO VISITED THEVILLAGES AT ROLL HILLCOMMUNITY CENTER LAST WEEK -WHEN HYDE-MILLER HAD FREE FOODAND MILK AVAILABLE - ANDOFFERED OTHER HELP,TOO."I was actually up here toactually help me with my rentand utilities.

So I wasactually able to come up hereand get me some help with thattoday.

So, whew!

Lessstress."DAWSON SAYS SHE SPENT HUNDREDSOF DOLLARS ON TECHNOLOGY HERTWO OLDER CHILDREN NEEDED WHENSCHOOL SUDDENTLY WENT VIRTUAL.THAT'S DESPITE THE FACT THATHER HOURS GOT CUT DURING THEPANDEMIC - AND SHE DIDN'TQUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT."It was like, we needcomputers, we need internet,we need all these things that,it was like, OK, at first Ididn't have.

I had to go buythem so I could feel like theygonnasucceed."ROLL HILL SCHOOL PRINCIPALVICKI HILL SAYS CINCINNATIPUBLIC SCHOOLS IS LESSENINGTHAT BURDEN THISYEAR."Each student will receive adevice which will make thingseasier than they were when wehad to leave in thespring.""I amconcerned."SISTER SALLY DUFFY, WHO CHAIRSTHE CHILD POVERTYCOLLABORATIVE, SAYS STATE,LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTSNEED TO DO MORE FOR FAMILIESTHAT AREHURTING."A year from now, it's goingto be so much more difficultif you're a family that'shomeless than if a year fromnow, you at least still havesome stable housing and stableutilities.""The struggle is city wide,statewide, worldwide rightnow.

But our families that Isee being here is reallystruggling in this thing tosee, what are they going to doabout they children'seducation?"LUCY MAY, WCPO NINE LUCY MAY,LUCY MAY, WCPO NINE NEWS.