Participants Cite Rising Back to School Costs, Student Loans, and Utility Bills as Barriers for Their Families’ Futures
September 26, 2026 | SCRANTON, PA — Northeastern Pennsylvania community members gathered at “The Affordable Coffee Press,” a panel discussion featuring stories and Pennsylvania data about the growing affordability crisis, hosted by Protect Borrowers, Action Together NEPA, Affordable Pennsylvania, Moms Rising, For Our Future, and Families Over Billionaires. The event tied stories from Scranton residents directly back to failed policy choices such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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“Pennsylvania residents are really feeling the pinch. From grocery bills to student loans, folks can’t get ahead and are relying on debt to pay for necessities. Something has got to give, and elected officials have a responsibility to take action to make their constituents’ lives better,” said Amy Czulada, Senior Advisor for Outreach and Engagement at Protect Borrowers.
“Affordability is not an abstract political issue. It is something families across Northeastern Pennsylvania confront every day when paying for housing, groceries, education, healthcare, and other necessities. This event gave residents an opportunity to share those experiences directly while holding elected officials accountable for the policy choices that determine who pays, who benefits, and whose needs are prioritized,” said Olyphant resident Kerry Ziegler.
“Under the SAVE student loan payment plan, I was able to make my monthly payments without an issue. Since the SAVE plans have been eliminated my student loan payments have quadrupled to equal that of my mortgage. I, along with countless other working professionals, simply cannot afford my student loan payments especially when everything else is on the rise,” said Sabrina Hannon, resident of Glenburn Township.
“I used to believe in the American dream. I thought working hard, getting a good education, and avoiding risky behavior, would eventually result in financial security. That American dream no longer feels out of reach. It feels like a lie. I’ve done what I’m ‘supposed’ to do for many years now and that security is still pending. Our elected officials, who could make that dream a reality for all Americans, continually choose otherwise,” said Emily Adams, Dunmore resident.
“Paying off student debt isn’t about skipping coffee; it is about living without a margin for error. It means driving a car past 150,000 miles, working multiple jobs, and putting off dental care and life milestones just to feed an interest rate. Many of us took on our debt in exchange for the promise of Public Service Loan Forgiveness. But when the system mismanages consolidation, strips away hard-earned credits, and then removes repayment options, the obligation changes after we’ve already signed on the dotted line. Accountability cannot be a one-way street. If everyday borrowers are held strictly accountable for every dollar, the institutions managing our debt must be held to that same standard,” said Scranton resident Alexander Lester.
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About Action Together NEPA
Action Together NEPA is a grassroots progressive organization dedicated to community action and political advocacy. We support bold progressive policies that will preserve our democracy and promote social and economic justice. More information about the organization can be found at www.actiontogethernepa.org.
About Affordable Pennsylvania
Affordable Pennsylvania is a Pennsylvania organization focused on holding elected leaders accountable for the decisions they make and their impact on working families. We make sure Pennsylvanians have the facts about how federal policies and votes affect the cost of everyday life, including groceries, health care, child care, utilities and transportation.
About MomsRising
MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to achieve economic security for all moms, women, and families in the United States. Find out more at www.MomsRising.org.
About For Our Future
For Our Future mobilizes and empowers people and community-based organizations to drive real change and advance our shared agenda – this is community organizing to win!
Fundamental to our core are progressive values, like creating shared economic prosperity, building strong public schools, addressing climate change, and supporting racial justice. What sets us apart in this hyper-political circus-like atmosphere is our ability to listen to and talk with people, not at people, and work with people, not around people.
About Families Over Billionaires
Families Over Billionaires is a nonprofit organization that supports movement in the states and nationally to make wealthy individuals and the most profitable corporations pay what they owe so that all of us can thrive. More information about the organization can be found at www.familiesoverbillionaires.org.
About Protect Borrowers
Protect Borrowers (formerly Student Borrower Protection Center) is a nonprofit organization led by a team of experts, lawyers, and advocates fighting to build an economy where debt doesn’t limit opportunity. We investigate financial abuses, take predatory companies to court, and push for policies to protect working people from debt traps. We aim to deliver immediate relief to families while building power, driving systemic change, and fighting for racial and economic justice.
Learn more at protectborrowers.org or follow us on social @BorrowerJustice.