Camden resident Mark Hopkins grew up in an abusive household and was incarcerated as a young man. He graduated from Rutgers, where he was a prominent student activist.

Monroe Township residents Bill and Rose Morgan lived modestly while working stable jobs throughout their adulthood. They’re struggling to make ends meet in retirement, in large part due to skyrocketing health-care costs.

Highland Park resident Lizette Thomas works two jobs and lives paycheck to paycheck. She cares for her teenage son, who has autism, and her mother, who has many health-care needs.

Old Bridge resident Douglas Wilson ran a catering business that shut down in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. He’s experienced food insecurity and went back to school a year ago to pursue his bachelor’s degree.

Debra Oliveda works for a grassroots nonprofit that doesn’t provide guaranteed hours. Unable to afford her own apartment, she’s been couch surfing for a year.

Formerly the executive assistant to the president and CEO of a nonprofit, Damica was incarcerated for seven months and lost her job and all of her savings. After her release, it took her four months to find a new job.

Christopher Etienne was incarcerated as a young man. He later earned two undergraduate degrees from Rutgers and his master’s from Columbia.

Christine Barilka is raising four of her grandchildren with her husband. She experiences food insecurity and steep health-care costs.

Newark resident Christian Rodriguez is a community organizer with a master’s in business who lives paycheck to paycheck.

Prospect Park resident Mohammad Chowdhury graduated from Rutgers and has significant student-loan debt. He works as a business analyst and was previously unemployed for a year.

Born in Moscow, New Brunswick resident Alexander Lewis has lived paycheck to paycheck and experienced homelessness. He works in journalism and is hoping to go back to college.

Catherine Verduci worked two jobs while raising children and taking care of her father. She has also experienced homelessness.

Clifton resident Mohamed Ismail identifies as a queer Muslim American Egyptian immigrant man. He’s studying for a master’s degree and has experienced food insecurity.

Monica is an undocumented immigrant and single mother from Ecuador who has worked a string of low-paying jobs. She’s now studying online for a degree in fashion manufacturing.

Born in Puerto Rico, Margarita Rivera came to New Jersey in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. She sustained significant financial losses as a result of the storm.

Alexandra survived a brutal sexual assault at a young age and was placed in detention centers and shelters after she ran away multiple times.

Montclair resident Chiara D’Agostino holds a master’s degree and has metastatic breast cancer. She cares for a parent with dementia.

Plainfield resident Learline Jackson works with at-risk youth and is contemplating leaving New Jersey due to the lack of affordable housing.

A West Orange resident in her 70s, Lydia Rainbow lives on a fixed income in federally funded housing and struggles to afford health care.

New Brunswick resident John Pollard has struggled to find employment and housing due to systemic discrimination against formerly incarcerated people.