A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to introduce U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren at her town hall in Nashua. I was honored to welcome her to Nashua because she not only has a plan, but because she has strong plans that address two issues of critical importance to our community: access to affordable housing, and the student debt crisis.

I work with domestic violence survivors. Everyday I see first-hand the impact domestic violence has on our community, and how the problem is exacerbated by a lack of affordable housing.

When housing costs are too high, survivors have nowhere to go, forcing them to continue living with their abuser. And as the cost of rent has risen the federal government has actually reduced investments in housing, pushing safe and affordable housing further out of reach for those who need it most.

This is part of a larger pattern. Just as the government reduced investments in affordable housing, they also reduced investments in education. To afford the cost of college more and more students have had to take out loans, myself included.

Because of my student loan debt I work seven days a week, over 60 hours a week, just to scrape by. Even so, the majority of my monthly student loan payment goes towards interest, not the loan I originally took out — and I’m not alone. Thousands of Americans are being crushed by student loan debt. It’s not just holding us back, it’s holding the economy and our entire country back.

Warren understands that we need to make big changes to fix these problems. Her plans for affordable housing, free public college, and student debt cancellation would make a positive impact on my life, and the lives of those I work with.

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