It is now nearly nine years since the beginning of the last recession and millions of families nation wide are still struggling to maintain themselves. Formerly middle class families are finding themselves only a pay check or two away from financial disaster and the social safety net has been cut dramatically since the beginning of the economic troubles and now is facing complete obliteration for many essential services.
The filmmakers worked with the hot line 211 which provides emergency information for families in financial crisis in Portland, Oregon. They were permitted to follow a number of the callers to tell the poignant personal stories of the daily struggles of families as they dealt with dwindling resources and the specter of heat shut offs, food insecurity and health issues and expenses.