October 20238GOVBUSINESS REVIEWIN MY OPINIONRISING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC- IDENTIFYING THE CHALLENGES AND BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN RESOURCES AND LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES The COVID pandemic left the world upside down. While families were dealing with death and tragedy, masks and medical emergencies became the new norm. Working from home took on a new meaning as parents became teachers while also trying to balance their own jobs or lack thereof. The mental stress of the crisis took its toll on everyone's mental health as people wondered what may happen next, how they were going to survive, and how they would be protected from all that was going on around them. The pandemic caused a major hit to the economy, and although stimulus checks and supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits were distributed to a great number of households, this was not enough to sustain families. When tragedies or dips in the economy happen, families or individuals who are hit the hardest are usually the low-income population. Low-income individuals are defined as having a taxable income that does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level. However, Tanya Jones, Associate Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy, HeartShare Human Services of New YorkBy
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