Sugey Valdez relocated to Connecticut several years ago.  Shortly after relocating, her daughter got very sick and was hospitalized for 4 days following a tonsillectomy.  Without health insurance, Sugey was worried about her daughter’s health and the looming hospital bills.  A couple of weeks after her daughter was discharged, the bills began to arrive. 

In the meantime, Sugey was able to get a small loan to open a hair salon and work toward financial stability and independence.

After the shop opened, Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition Healthcare Advocate Mory Hernandez walked into the salon and introduced herself and the work that she was doing with small business owners on the East Side.  She was screening people to see if they qualified for safety net assistance programs.

Surprisingly enough, Sugey discovered that she was eligible for SNAP (formerly food stamps) and HUSKY insurance, which meant she wouldn’t have to worry about the hospital bills anymore.  And since Mory’s help, Sugey and her children have been able to go to the doctor, and one of her daughters got the braces that she needed.  These programs have helped reduce Sugey’s financial stress as she grows her business.