Melanie fights for HUSKY and SNAP for her family and community
Melanie delivered the following remarks at the Opportunity Means Everybody Rally outside of the Connecticut Capitol Building on April 28, 2026.
I am a living testimony to how important HUSKY and SNAP are. My mom and dad have always been hard workers, working more than 40 hours a week to provide for my siblings and I.
My dad worked so hard he eventually became a store owner who would help out people who couldn’t afford groceries. His business flourished for years, until life took an unexpected turn. He was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. He eventually got the tumor removed, but got the unfortunate news that he can no longer work because of his new disability.
My parents applied for SNAP and HUSKY, and leaned on these programs to help us survive. SNAP and HUSKY programs are not for those who “fail.” These are programs set up for those the system has failed.
Right now, 36,000 Connecticut residents are at risk of losing SNAP because of federal changes, and more than 32,000 people have already lost SNAP. More than 100,000 are at risk of losing HUSKY.
The State of Connecticut is sitting on a $300 million federal emergency fund and doing nothing to fund SNAP. The system is failing us again.
The state must also protect working class people by making housing more affordable. I have been living by myself with my 4-year-old daughter since I was 19. I originally was paying $1,500 for my apartment when I first moved in, which was expensive, but manageable.
In the last five years, my rent has increased by $500 a month, making my rent $2,000. I had a stable job working 18-hour shifts three to five days a week to keep up with my rent and bills.
Life had other plans, and I unfortunately lost my job. I quickly had to find other ways to make money so I didn’t get evicted, so I worked for DoorDash and Uber from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. I felt like I was failing as a mother because I barely had time for my daughter. It’s extremely exhausting emotionally and physically working overnight.
I’m just one example of many people who are facing housing insecurity. We need more protections. A renter’s tax credit would be a huge help for working class families. The legislature and governor need to step up now. They must fund a state-run SNAP program. They must make a plan to protect HUSKY, and they must pass a renter’s tax credit. It shouldn’t be this hard to survive, especially in a state as rich as ours.