The mission of the North Shore Community College - Support for Single Mothers Program is to increase the number of single mothers earning a living wage by offering emergency, non-tuition financial support to single-mother students pursuing degrees or certifications.
Single mothers face tremendous challenges: juggling low-wage jobs, parenting, childcare and often unreliable transportation. Going to school means adding ‘student’ to their already full plate.
An unexpected utility bill or car repair of $500 could be the financial catalyst for a single mother student to drop out of school.
177 single mothers have been served since the program began. In 2022, the average grant was $500. The average GPA for recipients was 3.04.
The Women’s Fund began the Support for Single Mothers Program in 2017 believing that education is a critical pathway to greater economic security. The Women’s Fund also sees this program as a dual-generation program. When single mothers earn a certificate or degree, they not only increase their earning potential, they also increase their children’s chances of completing their education.