Three policies to improve economic outcomes for single mothers and their children across the United States

Supporting Single Mothers: Policy Solutions for Economic Justice

Single mothers are one of the most fast 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• Eliminating harmful and outdated work requirements for public benefits.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 back by research that proves that when single mothers thrive, so do their children and the economy.