A survey from the Louisiana Association of United Ways finds that two-thirds of Louisiana residents need help in paying everyday bills during this COVID-19 pandemic. President of the non-profit Sarah Berthelot says households with annual incomes less than $35,000 face the most setbacks and challenges.
“With that in mind, 42% of respondents reported a reduction in household employment, with employment losses inflicting the biggest pain on low-income workers,” said Berthelot.
Berthelot says another major finding in the study is that 47-percent of residents say their child care situation changed after the stay at home order.
“17% of our respondents reported a job loss as the result of the loss of their childcare and 12% reported a forced reduction of work hours,” said Berthelot.
Half of the respondents also expressed concern about child care availability in the near future.
Berthelot says when it comes to the top concerns, 8% say it’s paying bills, 10% say it’s children’s issues, 12% say it’s housing, 20% says it’s their community and at 32%, the top concern is avoiding the coronavirus.
“We had over 2,000 Louisiana citizens respond to the survey. What we learned is despite everything, the number one concern of Louisiana citizens was contracting COVID-19,” said Berthelot.
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