Education United States Project #45056

Empower & Equip Single Parents Enrolled in College

by H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People be Empowered)

Summary

H.O.P.E. Inc. breaks cycles of poverty by providing resources that economically disadvantaged, low-income single parents in the Atlanta, GA area need to successfully obtain their college degrees. We eliminate barriers to education. We provide financial assistance for housing and childcare, counseling services, life-skills training, spiritual support, and financial literacy advisement. Our goal is to make positive impacts on the life-trajectories of both the single parent and their children.

$15,000
total goal

$5,245
remaining

120
donors

0
monthly donors

3
fundraisers

3
years

Challenge

There is a direct correlation between education and income levels. Nationally, 1 in 8 college students are single parents and face daunting obstacles in their efforts to obtain a degree. Compared to married parents, single parents are more likely to have low-incomes and greater challenges in paying rent and childcare costs, forcing them to drop out of school. Atlanta ranks 99 out of the 100 largest U.S. metro areas in terms of single-parent income, access to community resources, and education.

Solution

We recognize this is a systemic problem that requires a holistic approach to solve. We provide emotional support through personal and life-skills counseling, boost personal savings through financial literacy programs, and address educational needs by offering childcare and rent assistance, thereby eliminating a barrier for attending classes. Our facilitators connect single-parents with community resources needed while enrolled in college and after they graduate. These steps break poverty cycles.

Long-Term Impact

This project ensures 7 Atlanta-area single parents can attend college classes and graduate with a degree, pulling themselves and their children out of poverty. According to our 2019 graduate survey, 84% of our graduates increased their savings by 70% once they earned their degrees. 42% of our graduates have increased their post-degree income by 121% and improved their credit scores by an average of 75 points. 21% of our graduates own a home, while 5% are in the process of purchasing one.