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Mercedes Bristol, 68, Executive Director of Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, left, and her youngest grandson, Paul Chavez, 12, right, hold each other in their front yard in San Antonio on June 16, 2023. Bristol is the primary caretaker of her five grandchildren, including Chavez, who is the youngest. Bristol has taken care of Chavez since he was five years old. “Paul has attachment disorder, he’s really scared not to have anybody,” Bristol said. “He didn’t see his mother for 10 years until last year when I knew her addiction had gotten better… be doesn’t know anybody but me that’s been there.” Due to the value of her Bristol’s car being too high, even after a recent improvement in House Bill 1287, Bristol and her family are not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits including food stamps starting Sept. 1. “We’re called the invisible foster care, the hidden foster care, nobody knows about this group of people that are raising grandchildren,” Bristol said. “If we die out, it’s just a moment, but if we stay persistent, we’ll see real change,” Bristol said.

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Paul Chavez, 12, carries a laundry basket down the stairs for his grandmother, Mercedes Bristol.

Hope and criticism

“Invisible foster care”

Gloria Adams, Intake Coordinator with Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, is the primary caretaker of her five grandchildren and works from home in San Antonio on June 14, 2023. Due to the value of her car being too high, even after a recent improvement in House Bill 1287, Adams and her family are still not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits including food stamps starting Sept. 1. “If I could qualify, then I would be able to not have to live from from paycheck to paycheck,” Adams said. “What we're doing for our grandchildren is out of our heart, but we need the help to be able to continue to help them.”
From left: Arihanna Battle, 13, Amare Battle, 11, Daequan Battle, 14, and Gloria Adams, 74, stand in front of their car outside their home in San Antonio on June 14, 2023. Gloria Adams, Intake Coordinator with Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, is the primary caretaker of her five grandchildren. Due to the value of her Adams’ car being too high, even after a recent improvement in House Bill 1287, Adams and her family are not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits including food stamps starting Sept. 1. “If I could qualify, then I would be able to not have to live from from paycheck to paycheck,” Adams said. “What we're doing for our grandchildren is out of our heart, but we need the help to be able to continue to help them.”

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