Juana Perez

Juana Perez is just trying to make a good life for her family. Sixteen years ago, when she first came to the United States, she was a stay-at-home mom who took care of the kids and the house. However, when her husband became physically abusive seven years ago, she escaped their California home with her two young children, Lisa and Christian, and came to live with her parents in Houston. She has been working hard to provide for her children ever since.

Juana has been a One Source janitor for three years. She earns $5.15 an hour and does not have health insurance.

She tries her best to provide a good future for her kids but her poverty wages makes it challenging. "On many occasions I've had to choose between paying bills and putting food in the fridge. It makes me sad," she says. "This month's electric bill was $235, and I can't pay for that even with a full paycheck."

Health care is also an issue. A year ago Juana went to the hospital because she was having heart palpitations and couldn't breathe. "I turned out to be a thyroid problem. They gave me medication and now I feel better. But I have not been able to pay the more than $400 I owe."

She sees her kids' education as the key to their future. "I'd like for both of them to go to university someday, but I can't help them with my salary." Fifteen-year-old Lisa would like to go to law school, but her mother worries about her options. "Since she knows that we can't pay for her to go, she's not sure what she's going to do." Lisa is a very good student, and various private schools in different cities have invited her to attend but Juana says she doesn't have the money to send her.

Juana is also concerned about Christian's school and the quality of the education he's receiving "It's dirty and messy," she says. "If students hand in their homework that's good-and if they don't that's fine too. The teachers don't demand enough of the students."

Juana believes poverty-wage jobs are a real problem in Houston. "It affects the community and especially the children. They're the ones that have to come out ahead. With a good contract we'd be a little more at peace. We'd be able to pay the bills, the rent and we'd eat better. The lack of funds closes many doors for us."