Kimm’s Story: Surviving the Coronavirus Lockdown

Meet Kimm, a hairdresser who lives with her children and granddaughter in Houston, Texas.

Who’s in your family?

Me, my kids, and my granddaughter.

What do you do?

Before the coronavirus hit, I was a hairdresser. That’s my life. I’ve been doing that for over 17 years. But I haven’t had an appointment for the past few weeks because of the coronavirus.

What does a day in your life look like during the coronavirus crisis? How is your family coping?

I don’t have a vehicle, so getting around is hard. Currently I’m waiting for my daughter to call back so she can help me get around. She works for a delivery – she does DoorDash. She’s the only one who can work right now since she has the vehicle. She’s 24. I’m praying for her because she’s with child, and she’s out there being exposed to the virus. They have an app – if it’s near, she grabs food from the restaurant and delivers it. She only does 2-3 dashes a day since there are so many people doing the same thing around the area.

How are you staying afloat financially?

I’m just trying to survive, period.

I found a website where you could get a raffle ticket for a laptop. My kids start school online on Monday but they don’t have a laptop or technology to do that.

It’s mandatory for my kids to be in school because there are lesson plans on there, but we don’t have a laptop for them to do work on.

As far as my granddaughter – there’s a packet of food for her. There was a food pantry we were supposed to go to yesterday, but we were a bit too late to get food.

Where are you turning to for resources like food and shelter?

We’ll go to my kids’ school tomorrow for food.

What are you doing right now to help stay grounded during this situation?

It’s just frustrating, to be honest. I’m feeling as if I’m failing my children. I have never had to tell them I didn’t have anything for them to eat.

What do you envision for your family’s future?

After the coronavirus is over, I’m thinking about moving closer to Fort Worth where my daughter is. She’s the one who’s currently working for DoorDash.

I’ll have to start over again. I’m from New Orleans. I was there during Hurricane Katrina.

Have you had to dip into your savings to help weather the coronavirus crisis?

I have already depleted every account, including my savings. I joined a few freelance websites like Veryable, Wonolo, and Trulancer. Not having my car has a huge impact on my ability to work right now.

What does money mean to you in your life?

I see money as a means for survival. Although money isn’t everything and it can’t really bring you happiness, you need it to be able to make ends meet.

How do you feel about SaverLife?

SaverLife has actually been a life saver. The Aunt Bertha has given me tons of resources. Before this disaster, I signed up for SaverLife not knowing how useful it would become.