Kwanita Allen was just four years old when she walked to a neighbor’s house and asked, “Can you help me find my mommy? She always leaves us.”
That memory has never faded. “Ask me anytime, any day — I’ll always remember it,” said Allen, now 25. “Losing that parental bond, especially while you’re still developing, is something you never forget.”
That night marked the beginning of a life filled with uncertainty, where social workers became a regular part of her world. Today, another challenge — the longest federal government shutdown — has added to that uncertainty.
Allen, who has a disability, relies on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for groceries while she studies at Jefferson Community and Technical College and lives in Louisville’s Family Scholar House. Her $23 monthly benefit has been frozen during the shutdown, forcing her to visit food banks to find basic supplies.
“I’m not going to resort to anything undignified or lose my dignity,” she said. “But finding nutritious food, especially fresh food, is hard when it’s not nearby.”
Many Louisville ZIP codes are considered food deserts, with few full-service grocery stores, limiting access to healthy food.
Support from Family Scholar House
Sarah Brady, president of Family Scholar House Works — the nonprofit’s parent organization — said most residents in its Section 8 housing rely on SNAP benefits. Anticipating the shutdown’s impact, the organization stocked its campus food pantry to help residents.
Family Scholar House combines education and housing support through federal, state, and private funding. “It’s not schoolwork that stops someone from finishing,” Brady said. “It’s life — unstable housing, child care, transportation, food insecurity. We help people manage those challenges.”
Residents receive coaching on budgeting, health management, and financial literacy, along with training on cooking and homeownership. “It’s about addressing trauma and real barriers, not just putting a bandage on them,” Brady added. About 97% of residents, she said, have faced some form of trauma.
‘I lived that life’
The neighbor Allen turned to at age four called Child Protective Services, and she was moved to live with her father. Despite staying with family, social workers remained involved as she navigated early neglect.
“People came with suits and papers, asking questions about your home — trying to decide if the other parent might be better,” Allen recalled.
She bounced between homes, joined ROTC in high school, and enlisted in the Army at 19. But during basic training, she was diagnosed with pinched nerves, sciatica, and scoliosis, leading to her discharge.
“It’s hard to know what success looks like when your whole life’s been unstable,” she said. “You see others with stability, and you want that too.”
Now pursuing a career in human resources, Allen also advocates for foster-involved youth. “I want them to know they’re not alone,” she said. “I lived that life for real.”
‘These benefits do help’
Even when the government reopens, SNAP recipients may face delays — the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the benefit freeze to continue.
Allen believes there’s an urgent need to end the stigma around public assistance. “People say we use this to be lazy and not work,” she said. “But these benefits do help. I cooked with that food. That’s how I ate. Food is essential.”
Brady agrees some stigma remains, but programs like Family Scholar House are vital stepping stones. “Our graduates become homeowners, nurses, lawyers — but they needed help to get there,” she said. “Breaking a generational cycle of poverty takes courage.”
Family Scholar House operates five campuses serving 279 families, including 32 young adults who aged out of foster care.
“They’re all working hard,” Brady said. “They’re studying, working jobs, doing everything they can to survive and build better lives for their families.”
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