Ronnie Cortes and Kevin Garcia had a system.

While Cortes, 19, worked six hours at a minimum wage job, followed by six hours of high school, Garcia, 20, watched their infant son in the mornings. Then he’d head to work at a nearby supermarket, and a friend’s mom took over the babysitting.

After picking up Mason, Cortes cleaned the half of the room the three share with Garcia’s sister and her child. Then came homework, until 2 a.m. or later.

But recently, their house of cards collapsed.

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