it seems like people are. but it s kind of almost like wishing on lost hope. because it s been this way for so long. reporter: her livelihood crumbled when one of the town s biggest employers shuttered, six years ago. i worked at lane apparel. reporter: the big factory. i worked there almost ten years. reporter: were you making a pretty good income there? i done decent there. one of the only decent paying jobs left. i was the highest paid employee on the sewing floor. reporter: but when the factory shuttered? i did too. i mean, honestly. reporter: now taking care of her 5-year-old son hayden, means two minimum wage jobs working up to 60 hours a week, and still relying on $100 in food stamps each month. i don t understand why minimum wage here can t be raised. i don t get that. reporter: more than 43 million americans are living at or below the poverty line.