'A new class of poverty'
Eight million Americans have fallen into poverty since May, according to Columbia University.
"40% of US households pre-pandemic could not afford a single $400 emergency," said Dr. Amy Baker, assistant professor of social policy at the University of Pennsylvania. "What I fear is that... we're basically creating a new class of inequality and a new class of poverty where people will not be able to recover."
Kearney says it will take her years to get back to where she was financially before the pandemic. Her credit cards are in default and, if her unemployment expires next month, she will be forced to forfeit her car.