The Great Depression caused a drastic change in the lives of millions of Americans. Almost 25% of Americans lost their jobs, which meant that they had no regular income to buy food or pay bills. Some families didn't know where their next meal would come from and most barely got by. Even the people who did have a job during this time were suffering because they were either reduced to part-time or had their wages lowered. The range of the quality of life was widespread during the depression because to some it was just some discomfort but to others it meant losing their homes or not eating. Some people, mostly older children, abandoned their families because they didn't want them worrying about feeding them. Children would go out on the streets and beg for food and sometimes would go to bed hungry.