After her son stopped going to school altogether, Montesinos asked the juvenile court system to step in.
âItâs been way too stressful,â Montesinos said in Spanish through an interpreter. âSometimes I thought I was going to give up.â
For bus drivers, supermarket cashiers, personal care aides and other essential workers, the pandemic has unleashed a torrent of setbacks that have knocked families off their feet. While millions of low-wage workers
already living in poverty lost their jobs or had their hours cut as the virus spread, those who remain employed faced once-unimaginable hurdles keeping their children in school while keeping food on the table and trying to stay healthy. Half of households in the country earning below $35,000 a year reported falling behind on rent, and a quarter reported not having enough food, according to census data.