Single Moms

In BC today, 20% of families are headed by single moms – half of whom live in poverty. They have great difficulty obtaining affordable housing and are among the most likely citizens to go hungry. These are common experiences for many YWCA clients.

Recent work by Dr. Paul Kershaw, UBC Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), documents what single moms and the YWCA have known for some time – the poverty in which many single moms and their children live is not a result of poor personal choices, but rather a combination of factors, including lack of child care and housing, low minimum wage rates, reductions to funding for education, as well as the challenge of balancing parental and work responsibilities.

The YWCA has a special role to play in advocating on behalf of single mothers to reduce the barriers to their full participation in education, employment and economic independence.

Learn more about YWCA Vancouver Single Mothers' Services.