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PLATFORM : Just Getting By

By SABRINA ANTIS
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<i> SABRINA ANTIS of Huntington Beach is a single mother on welfare. She commented on Sacramento's efforts to cut welfare benefits to help reduce the state's budget deficit. She told The Times:</i>

Although I am a “welfare mom,” I am also a full-time business student in college with a grade-point average of 3.9 This would be impossible if I had to work full time. I am really looking forward to earning my degree and becoming a taxpayer and a productive member of my community.

Being a full-time student and a single parent, I receive financial aid to assist me in meeting the high cost of attending school. As a result of this aid, I receive only $10 a month in food stamps, meaning that $200 of the $560 I receive monthly from AFDC is spent on food alone!

Even with HUD assistance, after paying my rent and utilities, I have only $65 monthly for gasoline, car maintenance and clothing.

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With the 9% cut I will have only $15 a month for these expenses. My peers and I are not asking for the 9% for luxury items or entertainment, but to provide the essentials of life.

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