50% of lone-parent families in BC live in poverty. Most of these families are female-led.
Too many single mothers in Vancouver are living in poverty with no way out. Solo parenting is already a tremendous challenge. When this responsibility is compounded with the soaring cost of essential living expenses, the scarcity of childcare, and the physical and emotional isolation of motherhood, every day is a struggle.
Research shows that children living in poverty are the most likely to have compromised cognitive development, poor mental and physical health, and poor educational outcomes. Without intervention, these outcomes create what’s called “the cycle of poverty,” where children raised in poverty face exceptional barriers to achieving health and stability in adulthood.
“Counselling, doctors, social programs, all that stuff is available - but what my fellow clinical researchers and I keep coming back to is this: what people really need is a mom. That’s what was missing, the attachment, the development of self-esteem, the guidance and structure of how to take care of oneself — that’s all rooted in family.”
Moms are doing their best.
Most moms facing the dual challenges of poverty and solo parenting are doing their best. They are striving to raise their children in loving, stable homes. But when the constant stress of poverty threatens to overwhelm, they stumble. Canada’s current social system simply does not provide enough support on this journey and children are paying the price.
That’s why everything we do is centred around supporting moms.
Every mom in our program is paired with a volunteer who builds a consistent, caring relationship with her.
These volunteers are women from different backgrounds, often who have raised families themselves and want to use their knowledge to support other moms. They are stable, non-judgmental allies who offer active listening, emotional and practical support.
For many participant moms, this may be the first person offering support who has no agenda to judge her suitability as a parent, and poses no threat of removing her children. These relationships—which truly develop into friendships—help our participant moms thrive as mothers and leaders of their families.
When we support moms, children benefit.
“I was most excited about talking to another mom and having peer support. Sarah-Jane is very good at listening and talking to me; she is really helping me. She can really understand what I’ve been through. I thought there was nothing like this — it’s like a Big Brother’s program like my son has, but for me.”
