Half Of Frontline Fast-Food Workers Rely On Public Assistance, Study Says

Roughly a year and a half ago, 29-year old Carmam Iverson entered the workforce after having spent her 20's as a stay-at-home mother for her four children. She has yet to complete high school, but would one day like to finish school so she can work as a pharmacy technician. In the interim, Iverson (pictured above) was able to land a crew job with McDonald's in Kansas City, Mo., working as a cashier and prepping food. She makes $7.35 an hour, putting in an average of 27 hours a week. As a part-time worker, she gets no benefits from McDonald's.

An so Iverson must rely on public assistance. She currently makes use of food stamps and is on the waiting list for section 8 public housing. She recently moved out of her house and moved in with her sister. (Her children and their father live with his mother.)

In speaking to AOL Jobs, she explained her struggle with meeting even the most basic needs. "I always have to pick between something -- pick between which meal I can eat, or pick between paying for housing needs or food," she said.