Clementine Matthias, a single African-American mother, was told that her son would most likely never walk on his own. Born prematurely and weighing barely more than a pound, Frankie had little chance of surviving a week. But with his mother’s tireless efforts, Frankie now walks and attends a specialized high school. Life for the family, however, is a real struggle. Indeed, they are never far from being destitute. They lost their Section 8 subsidized apartment in the Bronx in late 2013, and were forced into a homeless shelter. The fraught situation led Ms. Matthias to take desperate measures. She was caught shoplifting, and she then spent time in a correctional facility. She nearly lost custody of Frankie and her daughter, Nevaeh. But Ms. Matthias fought her way out of the shelter and out of the crisis. The family now has an apartment, and Nevaeh is thriving in school, but finances are exceptionally tight. They live largely off of disability, welfare, and food stamps. They could use much more. They are hanging on, but who knows for how much longer?