Budget cuts continue to affect families

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By Stephanie Montano

Summary

Budget cuts have affected many families, especially those in need of childcare, who can't afford to leave their kids anywhere.

Story Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 6:42 PM PST

TRI-CITIES - Budget cuts have affected many families, especially those in need of childcare, who can't afford to leave their kids anywhere.

The Seasonal Child care program was cut last month.

It provided more than one and a half million dollars for child care in Benton and Franklin counties.

The loss of the program forced some to quit their jobs to take care of their kids.

Lorena Ponce is one that has been affected by these cuts.

"Sometimes we have to leave a lot of our jobs because we don't have any help to have someone watch our children and it affects us because of the economy and with the way the economy is.. imagine not being able to work and having so many children!”, says Ponce.

Working Connections Child Care provides assistance to some people, but not all.

The organization hopes by the spring, the eligibility process may be improved for agricultural workers to get assistance.