Every mom wants the same for her kids: a full belly, a safe home and a future filled with opportunity. But for too many single moms, ensuring that for their kids is harder than it should be. Rising costs of food, limited childcare options and low wages make it difficult for even the most hardworking mothers to make ends meet.
In the U.S., there are 9 million single mothers and over half of them live on low incomes. 1 in 3 of these single moms and their kids struggle with hunger, the highest percentage among any household type. These women serve as community leaders, economic contributors and caregivers, yet they face some of the steepest barriers to financial stability.
When we support single moms, we are reaching kids most at risk of living with hunger. When single mothers have what they need to succeed, including good jobs, childcare and nutrition assistance, their children succeed too.
At No Kid Hungry, our work has long focused on ensuring kids have access to the meals they need, through school and summer meals and by strengthening food programs like SNAP. These programs are essential lifelines for millions of children living with hunger, and without them, we couldn’t end childhood hunger.
We also know that hunger is rarely an isolated issue. It is connected to low wages, high costs and barriers that make it hard for families, especially single moms, to get ahead.
That’s why in 2022, we launched an effort to advance economic mobility for single moms, building on years of experience and the success of our No Kid Hungry campaign. Today, in partnership with 18 organizations nationwide, we are investing in four key solutions designed to boost incomes and create lasting stability for moms and their kids.
Expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC): The Child Tax Credit is a federal benefit that gives parents money back at tax time to help cover the cost of raising kids. When it was temporarily expanded in 2021, it helped millions of families afford food, rent and childcare, and cut child poverty nearly in half. Our investments help build infrastructure to scale the CTC, connecting leaders who advocate for its expansion and sharing research and lessons about what works.
Holistic coaching models: Single moms navigate complicated systems involving education, health, housing and work. Many don’t have the support networks they need. Holistic coaching connects moms with resources to help them raise and feed their kids. Our partner LIFT is one example of how benefits access and personal support can make a difference.
Accessible and flexible childcare solutions: Affordable, reliable childcare empowers mothers to fully participate in the economy. When childcare works, moms can pursue new jobs, advance their careers and build stability for their families.
Equity in food access: A trip to the grocery store shouldn’t require impossible tradeoffs between time, transportation and money. Innovative food access models, including tech-enabled retail partnerships, help families get the healthy food they deserve.
At the heart of our approach is a fundamental truth: hunger isn’t caused by a lack of food. It results from poverty and policy gaps. By scaling what works, solving what’s stuck and investing in futures, we are building systems that reflect families' strengths and unlock their potential.
No Kid Hungry is committed to continuing to connect kids to meals. Helping millions of kids means supporting the single moms who are doing everything they can for their families. When moms have stability and opportunity, their children won’t be hungry.
Stay tuned for stories about how each of our four strategies for helping single moms and their kids come to life through our partnerships and family stories.
