economic mobility & Stability
Public Policy
current reality
Single Mothers Face Systemic Barriers
Single mothers represent 80% of single-parent households and face disproportionate economic challenges.
37%
of single-mother households live below the poverty line
46%
of single mothers are severely rent-burdened
33%
of single-mother households experience food insecurity
shifting systems
Centering Public Policy Within JP
Our policy pillars address the systemic barriers that prevent single mothers and their families from thriving. In partnership with JP’s core programmatic pillars, they drive sustainability and build the foundation needed for economic mobility.
JP’s Public Policy Pillars
Supporting Student Parent Success
Our programming helps moms matriculate, persist and graduate, but public policy determines whether they can afford tuition, access on-campus child care, or receive flexible supports as student parents.
Affordable & High-Quality Child Care
We deliver high-quality early learning and early learning experiences—but we also know our families live in child care deserts, face excessive wait times for financial assistance, and confront overwhelming monthly costs.
Affordable & Stable Housing
Our program offers access to housing or housing supports —but our policy pillar ensures local and federal systems prioritize affordability, eviction prevention, and supportive housing options for single families.
Mental Health & Women’s Health
Our Empowerment & Leadership programming builds confidence and skills—but public policy determines whether a mom can access comprehensive health care that supports her physical and emotional well-being.
Food Security & Nutrition
Without access to nutritious food, families can’t focus on learning, leading, or growing. Public policies that strengthen programs like SNAP, WIC, and school meals help us foster the supportive, thriving environments families deserve.
“There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.”
― Audre Lorde
Reimagined pillars
Built by Moms, for Moms
One of JP’s guiding principles is that women experiencing poverty are uniquely equipped to scale the solutions necessary to meet the needs of their communities. This principle has never been more evident than in the voices and vision of the 2024–2025 JP Alumni Fellows.
Through their guidance, JP has redefined its public policy pillars. These pillars are rooted in real lives, challenges, and solutions born from single moms’ lived experiences. They highlight what’s possible when moms take the lead — together.
Jp in action
JP Alumni Fellow Story: Shannon Armstrong
JP Alumni Fellow Shannon Armstrong wants other women to know that there is help for them and their families — they just have to ask.
JP Alumni Fellow Story: Stasia Saunders
When JP Alumni Fellow Stasia Saunders was a young mother, she had to choose between staying in school and working full time. She chose education.
Community Is a Verb
2025 has reaffirmed a core belief for JP President and CEO Chastity Lord: Community is active, intentional, and always worth it.