Working poor are struggling

James Lipps also took advantage of those resources, particularly the state Department of Workforce Services' vocational training program. With the agency's help, the 30-year-old now has his commercial driver's license and stable employment.

And after three months at the Road Home, Lipps is preparing to move into an apartment in Rock Springs, Wyo. "I knew that there was a light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "It was a storm, and I just had to wait it out."

Some of the most vital resources and programs for Utah's working poor are at risk, Wilhelm said. Of particular concern to Utah Issues is likely cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, as well as the Earned Income Tax Credit that many people rely on to increase their income tax return and allow them to pay down debt or set aside some money for future expenses.

With so many people already on the edge, Wilhelm said, "we can't pull the rug out from under these people by cutting Medicaid, cutting the EITC."

Andrea Pearson, a single mother with two teenage children, relies on the income tax credit to reduce her debt. She also takes advantage of Section 8 housing, a low-income housing program that has allowed her to rent a house. She also uses what she calls "creative financing" to meet her family's needs while also allowing opportunities for entertainment and fun things.

"I certainly don't consider myself in the poverty basket. We don't talk about that," Pearson said. "We just budget."

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com