Story
Justice in Real Life: Aisha
When the safety net has holes, people fall through.
Emporia, VA
Aisha Whitaker came to the Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic in search of relief.
Her teeth have been hurting for over a year– she has a fractured tooth, swollen gums, and no clear path to treatment. Though she has Medicaid, she says finding a provider has been nearly impossible, and she’s been told the dental care she needs could cost thousands of dollars. But dental pain is just one piece of Aisha’s story.
She’s a mother of an 8-year-old son who now lives with relatives while she works to rebuild her life. After losing her housing, Aisha stayed briefly in a motel before the money ran out. She’s been sleeping outside, staying with friends when she can. She makes it to her caregiving job by bike, often in the dark, despite the inconsistent hours and low pay. At one point, she lived for two months without running water. Still, she shows up. She keeps going.
A history that includes legal and health challenges has made it harder for Aisha to secure stable housing, and harder still to imagine a way forward.
“I’m just stuck,” she said quietly.
“I’m in a place I can’t move. I don’t have any choices, any options. I’m running out of hope. I just don’t see any good coming from me struggling.”
No Virginian should have to fight this hard just to stay afloat.
The barriers Aisha faces—gaps in care, unstable housing, and a system that punishes people for their past —are not accidents. They are the result of policies that too often ignore the realities of poverty.
Virginia Poverty Law Center works to change those policies—by defending housing rights, expanding access to health and public benefits, and pushing for reforms that recognize every person’s right to stability and dignity.
Aisha is still standing. The work of VPLC continues to make sure she—and others like her—have somewhere to go.
Justice in Real Life is a photography and storytelling campaign launched by VPLC in 2025. It shares real stories from Virginians facing poverty and injustice, highlighting their struggles and the changes we’re advocating for. Want to tell your story? Contact VPLC Communications Director Connie Stevens, connie@vplc.org.
