Family Economic Mobility
At No Kid Hungry we know it takes more than food to end hunger. We can't solve childhood hunger without addressing its root causes. That’s why we have expanded our work to include programs that help families, especially single mothers attain economic mobility and ensure food security for their children.
The Family Economic Mobility initiative through No Kid Hungry serves as a national convener and catalyst bringing together organizations committed to advancing economic mobility for single mothers and their families. Grounded in the belief that increasing income/wages and reducing the cost burden of food access are key to ending childhood hunger, the initiative invests in scalable solutions like financial coaching, affordable childcare, income boosts and convenience equity to help build a future where all families can thrive.
Supporting Single Mothers: Policy Solutions for Economic Justice
Single mothers are one of the fastest growing family demographics in the United States, yet they consistently face disproportionate economic hardships. About one in four single-mother households live in poverty, and systemic barriers like racial and gender wage gaps, lack of income supports and unaffordable childcare, deepen the challenges they face. In comparison to other wealthy nations, the U.S. offers far fewer supports for single mothers, resulting in higher poverty rates and limited economic mobility for them and their children.
In partnership with the Washington Center for Equitable growth we have identified three key policy solutions that could significantly improve outcomes for single-mother families:
- Eliminating harmful and outdated work requirements for public benefits.
- Streamlining and simplifying access to income supports.
- Investing in childcare infrastructure to reduce the “motherhood penalty” in the workforce.
These three policy solutions are backed by research that shows that when single mothers thrive, so do their children and the economy.
Explore how these policy shifts can drive long-term economic change in this column.
Building an Economy that Cares: How Childcare Infrastructure Can Empower Single Mothers
Affordable and accessible childcare is not just a family issue but an economic issue. For single mothers, who rely heavily on child care, the lack of affordable options can be a barrier to employment, education, and long term financial stability. In fact, single mothers are more likely to leave or avoid job opportunities due to caregiving responsibilities and child care expenses can consume more than half their income in some states.
This factsheet explores how strengthening the U.S. child care system would improve economic outcomes for single mothers and foster broader more equitable economic growth. From increasing employment rates and reducing poverty to challenging discriminatory “motherhood penalties” in the labor market, child care investment is a critical investment. Included in the factsheet are outlines of recent federal policy efforts and promising bipartisan proposals aimed at expanding childcare access and affordability.
How Streamlining Benefits Can Boost Single Mothers and the Economy
For single mothers navigating low wages, high costs and limited time, accessing income supports like food assistance, unemployment insurance and child tax credits can be a lifeline. However, too often the application process can be quite complex and burdensome, keeping families from getting the help they are entitled to. This results in increased poverty, lost opportunities and preventable hardships that ultimately decreases economic growth and opportunity.
This factsheet from Washington Center for Equitable Growth breaks down why streamlining access to income supports is a critical strategy for advancing equity and economic stability. It reveals how outdated eligibility rules, racialized work requirements, and excessive paperwork disproportionately impact single mothers, many of whom already face heightened stress and financial insecurity. The factsheet also highlights promising policy solutions, like integrated application systems, expanded refundable tax credits and targeted outreach to communities most affected by administrative burdens.
Breaking Barriers: Why Eliminating Work Requirements Helps Single Mothers Thrive
Work requirements for public assistance programs are often justified as a way to promote employment, but the evidence tells a different story. For single mothers, these policies create obstacles, reduce access to vital support, and worsen poverty without increasing hours worked or wages. From Medicaid to food assistance programs, the administrative burdens and rigid rules tied to work requirements are hurting families rather than helping them.
This factsheet outlines how eliminating work requirements would not only improve outcomes for single mothers but also support stronger, more equitable economic growth. It breaks down the myths behind these policies, highlights the real-life impact on single mothers and their children, and offers policy solutions rooted in data. It also explores alternatives that actually improve employment outcomes, such as subsidized child care and simplified application systems.
Exploring Policy and Structural Interventions to Improve Economic Stability
Economic mobility is not just about increasing wages it requires comprehensive policy solutions that address systemic barriers faced by low-income families, particularly single mothers. Key levels for economic mobility include:
- Workforce Development & Training - Ensuring access to skills training and career pathways that lead to higher wages and stable employment.
- Guaranteed Income & Cash Assistance - How direct cash transfers provide stability and reduce food insecurity.
- Childcare & Family Supports - The critical role of affordable, accessible childcare in helping parents participate in the workforce.
- Housing & Transportation - Addressing cost burdens that prevent economic advancement.
Understanding the Barriers & Opportunities for Single Mothers
Millions of children in the United States live in households headed by single mothers, who are both the primary caregivers and primary earners. Despite their hard work, structural inequities in wages, childcare, and income support systems make it difficult for them to achieve financial stability.
To fully understand economic mobility for single mothers, it is essential to recognize the key factors shaping their financial security:
- Demographic & economic trends
- Barriers to employment and higher wages
- Policies