Visalia — Patricia Dickerson holds her baby Terry, 4, while daughters Keera, 10, left, and Koreena, 15, recline on the living room sofa, one of the remaining bits of furniture they were not forced to sell to make extra money, from their home in Visalia, California. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — The Dickerson family have macaroni and cheese for dinner. Proposed cuts in the state budget could put the family's already precarious financial health in further jeopardy.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Patricia Dickerson, right, looks through her kitchen cabinet filled with donated canned goods as her daughter Keera, 10, helps make dinner. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Patricia Dickerson worries about her family. She lost her job two years ago. Her husband earns minimum wage. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Terry Dickerson, 4, crawls down a hallway on her way to bed. She shares a bed with her mother and sister.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Terry Dickerson holds one of half a dozen cats that live with the family. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Four-year-old Terry Dickerson sleeps on the coffee table in the family's living room. Her parents had to sell most of their furniture to make ends meet. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Patricia Dickerson accepts a plate of food from neighbor Jacob Bastardo, 25. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Patricia Dickerson, left, dabs a dash of paint on her daughter Keera as the family paints their rented home in Visalia. Her husband, Mark, and daughter Koreena look on. Local leaders say they are trying to meet social service needs in the face of state cuts. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Mark Dickerson plays with his daughter Keera near their home in Visalia. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Terry Dickerson, 4, plays in the front yard while sister Keera, 10, washes the walkway to their home. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Keera Dickerson, 10, paints the trim outside the family home while sister Terry, 4, plays inside. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — Mark Dickerson puts up a sheet over the front windows as daughters Koreena, Terry and Keera play before bedtime.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Visalia — The Dickersons take an evening stroll after dinner.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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