Why Women?

Women are disproportionately affected by poverty, as they tend to hold jobs in low-paying sectors and bear greater responsibility for caregiving in their family. In our region, nearly 18% of women are living in poverty and 69% of the children in poverty reside in a single female-headed household. The Federal Poverty Level is not a true representation of who is struggling financially as families continue to be economically vulnerable until they reach self-sufficiency levels (generally 200%-250% of the Federal Poverty Level) or more. We believe, and research shows, by improving the circumstances for women, the entire community will benefit.