Cleveland.com

Roe v. Wade abortion decision likely to hurt Ohio’s economy and families, women advocates say

Click to read Cleveland.com’s article featuring OWA Deputy Director Alana Bella.

The people most affected by changes in abortion access will be those with the least resources, said Alana Belle, deputy director of Ohio Women’s Alliance, a statewide organization that works for reproductive justice.

“Many low-income workers are hourly employees without much job security, if any,” Belle said in an email. “Before even thinking about raising an additional child, managing the logistics of a full-term pregnancy can be daunting.”

Belle listed some of the many hurdles women face when pregnant: Transportation to and from doctors appointments, insurance co-pays attached to those appointments, along with finding childcare, appointment times compatible with work schedules, and income to support the household when parental leave isn’t available.

Restricting access to abortion will spread underfunded programs such as SNAP benefits even thinner, Belle said. “It will deepen food insecurity for our most vulnerable community members,” Belle said.