SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Residents and community leaders in Lackawanna County gathered together Saturday to discuss the rising affordability crisis — citing student loans and everyday bills as barriers to achieving financial stability.
Residents gathered in Scranton for a panel discussion called Affordable Coffee Press, hosted by a total of six nonprofits, including Protect Borrowers, Action Together NEPA, Affordable Pennsylvania, Moms Rising, For Our Future, and Families Over Billionaires.
More than 40 Scranton residents attended the panel, sharing stories that highlighted a connection between choices made by policy-makers and the affects they’ve had on affordability for Scranton families.
The panel gave residents an opportunity to share their experiences dealing with financial uncertainty.
Andrew Granick, a panel speaker and employee of Affordable Pennsylvania, told 28/22 News it was important to the nonprofit to give families a way to voice their concerns about the crisis.
“People don’t always respond to statistics and numbers, and oftentimes, if you’re at an event like this, people forget that information the second they leave the door. We want we want people to feel powered and feel like their voice has meaning. So if we can identify people who want to tell their story and we can uplift them in any sort of way, that’s the- perspective that we take at Affordable PA.”
Student debt was one of the main concerns raised at the panel, which Granick said has deterred many young people he’s spoken to who are hoping to gain financial stability.
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“We were sold the American dream that if you went to college, you would be able to afford everything,” said Granick, “It’s am I going to put $30-40,000 into something if I’m not going to get the return on it? So the young folk that we are talking to aren’t spending money on education.”
The issue of affordability goes beyond debt, however. Other areas like mental health are also affected.
For young people who do attend college, affording everyday needs often contributes to significant life stress, which Wilkes University students Sarah Gore and Natalia Williams shared they both experience.
“It’s more of a challenge to get your everyday needs, like just getting laundry soap because you run out, it’s definitely been having an impact,” said Gore, “My university does supply some things, but anything extra that I do need, I’ve noticed that it is taxing.”
“It stresses me out sometimes, but I have I just have to find ways to cut costs as much as possible, but it does stress me out a little bit,” Williams explained.
Though the conversation surrounding the affordability crisis can seem bleak, the panel also focused on solutions. Panelist Sabrina Hannon shared that fostering community and sharing resources is an important step to overcoming the issue.
“There are so many local resources and community like groups, so, doing things like talking to folks, and like, if you know about these things, let people know. That ability to build community keeps everyone sane. When we come together, that’s when we are the strongest.”
Shawn Reilly, Senior Organizer at Action Together NEPA, and Kerry Ziegler, panel moderator, said voting is a large part of addressing the issue, as they believe the crisis is beyond political party.
“Affordability is not an abstract political issue. It is something families across Northeastern Pennsylvania confront every day when paying for housing, groceries, education, healthcare, and other necessities,” Ziegler stated.
“I think this is not just a partisan issue. This is a cross party issue, and I think that’s the silver line. The silver line is people are energized and they want to see change, and that’s why they’re coming out,” said Reilly.
Families and individuals who may be struggling with affordability can reach out to Action Together NEPA to share their story.
Additional resources are also available online through the Department of Human Services.
Courtesy of Action Together NEPA
Courtesy of Action Together NEPA
Courtesy of Action Together NEPA
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