Megan's situation reflects a widespread crisis in Santa Clara County, where exorbitant rents consume the vast majority of income for many families. With over 50,000 low-income renters lacking affordable housing options, those with limited income must navigate a demanding rental market where prices exceed their means. The struggle is compounded by proposed federal cuts to essential services like Medicaid and food assistance, which threaten to leave families in even more precarious situations, struggling not to merely survive but also to afford basic necessities, exacerbating an already dire public health crisis.
In Santa Clara County, Megan's story isn't rare. It's the rule. The impossible cost of living here has quietly become one of the most devastating public emergencies we face.
More than 50,000 extremely low-income renters in Santa Clara County don't have access to an affordable home. And the options available are either unaffordable or nonexistent.
When you're paying three-quarters of your income to your landlord, there's nothing left for healthcare. Nothing left for groceries. Nothing left for car repairs, school clothes or emergencies.
Proposed reductions to Medicaid and food stamps could devastate our most vulnerable residents. It's a cruel twist of the knife at a time when families are already hanging on by a thread.
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