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Life at the bottom of the income ladder

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In Minnesota, one out of every ten households is living below the poverty line. For many families, that means their paychecks don't cover the basics of rent, food and transportation.

Five guests joined Marianne Combs to talk about how low-income families get by, what kind of help is available, and why it's such a struggle to get out of poverty.

• Erin Currier directs projects on family financial security and mobility at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

• Craig Helmstetter is Senior Research Manager at Wilder Research, where he directs the Minnesota Compass project.

• Janayah Bagurusi is the Supportive Housing Program Manager for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation.

• Lisa Horn is Director of VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People), which is based in Bloomington

• Jill Haltner shared her own experience struggling to make ends meet.