"A Different Mother's Day"

Dear Friends,

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, it’s important to remember that Mother’s Day looks different for single moms who are the heads of an ALICE household. Courtney - an incredibly hard-working mother who loves her children - has graciously agreed to let us share her story as an ALICE mom.

Through no fault of her own, Courtney went from being a stay-at-home mom with three kids to a single mother who was forced back into the workforce to provide for her family. Courtney works as a waitress at an upscale restaurant with plans of going back to school but faces one big problem: the deck is stacked against hard-working single moms like her. 

Courtney pays nearly $1,000 per month in childcare but doesn’t qualify for most forms of government assistance because her income is slightly above the federal poverty threshold. This outdated, antiquated, and arbitrary limit keeps single moms like Courtney stuck and epitomizes what it means to be ALICE. 

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. The heads of ALICE households are hard-working members of society who strive for independence but are one financial crisis away from falling into poverty. They are gainfully employed people who make just enough money to not qualify for the state and federal assistance that they desperately need as prices continue to rise. Single moms like Courtney disproportionately fall into the ALICE category. 

The Brookings Institute published a study claiming that single moms who fall into this category experience high rates of psychological distress. Here’s the quote that stood out to us, “On average, single mothers have lower levels of wealth, are more vulnerable to economic shocks, and have more caregiving responsibilities. They are also more likely to experience mental health challenges.” While 38% of single moms live below the federal poverty threshold, a growing number of them qualify as ALICE but are increasingly being swept below the poverty threshold. 

As financially difficult as Courtney’s situation may be, Courtney has hope. Her three children are the light of her life and exude the joy and happiness that only children can show. They love their mom and are excelling in all areas of life. Despite her circumstances, Courtney has plans to attend Middle Georgia State University to earn her undergraduate degree and plans on entering law school later down the road. When asked where she wants to be in five years, Courtney said, “Through hard work and dedication, I hope to be in law school and on the path to providing a better financial future for my children.”

As United Way has adopted the ALICE framework, stories like Courtney's are ubiquitous across communities like ours. Our goal is to help at-risk ALICE families succeed financially and prevent them from falling into poverty. When you support United Way, you provide hope to people like Courtney. I hope you will join me.  

With Heartfelt Gratitude,