By Katy Castagna

In Monterey County, we believe in communities where everyone — regardless of income or background — can live with dignity. We believe children should grow up with healthy meals, seniors should receive the care they need and working families should have the stability to thrive. Our mission is to engage the community and focus resources to improve lives in Monterey County. For decades, we have partnered with local organizations to help individuals meet their basic needs and build brighter futures.

But that future is at risk. A proposal currently under debate in Congress — H.R. 1, the “Big Beautiful Bill Act”— would result in deep cuts to essential programs like Medicaid, SNAP (CalFresh), and the Child Tax Credit. These are not fringe benefits or wasteful expenditures. They are the very tools that help working families avoid hunger, keep kids healthy and maintain housing.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s about protecting the well-being of real people: our neighbors, our co-workers, our family members.

This bill does not meaningfully reduce the national deficit. But it would take food from children, prescriptions from seniors, and tax relief from working parents. Here in our congressional districts:

162,300 residents in our region rely on SNAP to keep food on the table.

More than 254,000 working families count on the Child or Earned Income Tax Credits, which help with child care, school supplies and transportation.

One in every three of our neighbors relies on Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, for essential health care.

These are not handouts. They are investments in human potential. Medicaid keeps people healthy enough to work.

SNAP ensures that kids can stay focused in school instead of going hungry. Tax credits empower working parents to stay employed and meet rising costs.

We see the impact of these programs every day. They prevent homelessness, reduce emergency room visits, and strengthen our workforce. They work — and we cannot afford to gut them.

If H.R. 1 passes, we expect a flood of new calls to our 211 helpline from people desperate for food, housing, and medical care.

But our community safety nets are already stretched thin. Stripping away federal supports will only make things worse, especially as inflation continues to affect basic necessities.

What’s at stake isn’t just policy — it’s people’s lives. This bill threatens to unravel decades of progress and push families deeper into hardship.

This isn’t just about “them;” this could affect any one of us. Illness, job loss, or caregiving responsibilities can put any family in need of support. These programs are the scaffolding that allows communities to weather hardship and get back on their feet.

We urge every reader to contact their congressional representatives today. Tell them:

“I’m deeply concerned about the impact of H.R. 1 on my community. These cuts are too deep, too fast, and too dangerous. We need solutions that support—not punish—working families, children, and seniors.”

You can find your representatives at https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.

United Way Monterey County will continue to bring people together to advocate for compassionate, equitable policies that support education, financial stability, and health — because when one family succeeds, our whole community grows stronger.

Please join us in this effort. Together, we can ensure our representatives put people first and reject harmful policies that put our neighbors at risk.

Katy Castagna is the president and CEO of United Way Monterey County.