Kali Daugherty
I am a single mother to two beautiful kids: Sebastian, my 14-year-old and Dahlia, my 2-year-old. I’ve worked at all levels of social services and homeless services in my community for over 15 years. Through that, I realized that policy affects far more people for better and worse than the day-to-day work of social service workers. When I learned that I could meet with elected officials and share the impact of policies on my life, I have never felt more empowered. I joined the PAB because I want to help other parents share their stories and make their voices heard.
1. What is something you’re really proud of as a parent?
Both my kids really care about other people, although they do it in different ways. Sebastian will go up to people and ask how they’re doing and Dahlia can sense when people’s moods are off and will give them a hug to help them feel better. I’m proud that they are aware of the world around them and do what they can to make sure other people are having a positive experience.
2. What do you want lawmakers to know about what it’s like raising children and making ends meet in today’s economy?
If you’re not actively parenting, you can’t imagine it. It’s demeaning as a person to not be able to provide for your child and parent the way you want to because you can’t afford to. I’ve done everything that society tells you are the keys to a good life—I have a master’s degree and have a high-level, leadership position at work, but I still work two jobs. I still struggle financially and rely on whatever assistance programs I’m eligible for. In today’s economy, money doesn’t stretch the way it used to and it’s so overwhelming not being able to meet your children’s day-to-day needs.
3. Why is the Child Tax Credit (CTC) important to you?
It’s helped me in so many ways. I’ve been able to go back to school, save toward a down payment toward our home, and more. I also seen its impact in my work. I’ve seen families be able to leave homelessness, abuse, and more. It gave them hope and a healthy escape.
Back in 2021, I had just lost one of my jobs when we started receiving extra money from the CTC every month. That extra money meant not having to put expenses on credit cards and be caught in that recurring cycle of debt. The year my daughter was born, the CTC was so essential because I was on unpaid maternity leave, and it gave our family some breathing room. Last year, when I got the CTC, I used part of it to afford the down payment on a home for my children. Every year that we’ve received the CTC, it has given my family a sense of stability and has helped me to not stress out when an unexpected need comes up.
4. Why is it important to you that lawmakers expand the Child Tax Credit?
Being a parent is rewarding and stressful. Every child deserves to have all their needs and a few of their wants met! By limiting parent’s access to the CTC, you’re also limiting the dreams of their children. As a society, there’s a pressure for families to be financially independent, but we aren’t given the tools to do that. So many parents are just going in blindly, only to find that all the systems are stacked against us. Expanding the CTC would mean that a lot of parents don’t have to choose which bill to pay every month, and every parent can meet their children’s unique needs, whatever they may be.
5. If you had $500 more for each of your children every month, how would you use it?
I would quit my second job so I could spend more time with my kids. It’d be really nice to just have more time with them, and one of our biggest expenses as a household is childcare. It would mean that Sebastian wouldn’t be doing his homework with his peers, I could help him with that. Dahlia wouldn’t have to stay with her grandmother while I’m working, I could be there more for her. You just can’t put a price on being able to spend time with your children and invest in them the way that you want to.
Another thing I would do is pay for repairs to my home. The cost of housing has gone up so much compared to when I purchased my first home, so it’s so much harder to make the necessary repairs to my home. Basically, I would use that money to invest in our future.
6. In addition to increasing the benefit level, are there other changes to the CTC that you think are important to ensure children and families can thrive?
The most important change to me is to not leave any children out of the CTC. Restricting parents with the lowest income from receiving the full CTC or excluding parents and children without Social Security Numbers, these things don’t do anything except hurt children. If the purpose of the CTC is to assist children, it needs to be available to every child.