Commentary: How Jeremiah Program Serves Single Moms

Minnesota Women’s Press is sharing this commentary as part of January’s National Poverty in America Awareness month.

Poverty is a cycle that limits access to health care, food, stable housing, and high-quality education options, resulting in reduced job opportunities. In Minnesota, many of the 89,970 single mothers and their children face these systemic barriers daily. Poverty is more than a temporary hurdle; it’s a persistent obstacle that prevents families from building a strong foundation for a better future.

Rising costs of essentials like housing, food, and child care, compounded by economic uncertainty, further deepen the struggles of families already on the brink. Many single mothers find themselves at a crossroads, needing greater support to keep moving forward but lacking the resources and support systems to do so.

Jeremiah Program (JP) started serving Minneapolis families in 1998. The program founder was motivated after discovering why most moms experiencing poverty had to drop out in the first semester of an initiative that offered 38 of them a free college education — sick children, broken vehicles, unstable living situations.

With a focus on ensuring access to stable housing, affordable child care, and educational opportunities, JP has grown since then to serve mothers striving for a better future with their children. The program’s approach is rooted in the belief that economic mobility is not achieved overnight but is a marathon requiring dedication, resources, and support at every step.

At the core of JP’s mission is its two-generation model, which tackles intergenerational poverty by simultaneously focusing on mothers and their children. Over the past year, this model has served 403 mothers and children in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

For mothers, the program has offered more than 2,200 tailored coaching sessions, addressing key areas like college enrollment and persistence, career advancement, and holistic family well-being. These sessions are complemented by wraparound services, including affordable housing and quality early childhood education, designed to remove barriers and create opportunities for growth.

For children, JP provides access to enriching early education experiences that lay the foundation for lifelong learning. The program also fosters a nurturing environment where families can thrive together, underscoring the importance of community and shared success.

The vision: A world where poverty is no longer feminized; where race is not divorced from gender; where career and financial opportunities are not gentrified; and where women who experience poverty not only hold a seat at the table but hold the mic and curate the agenda.

Locations where the Jeremiah Program, started in Minneapolis in 1993, now serves.

Impact

Since opening its doors in 1998 and 2007, the Minneapolis and Saint Paul campuses have supported hundreds of mothers and children on their journeys. In 2023 alone, 99 moms enrolled in classes, 75 new moms completed JP’s Empowerment & Leadership Program, and 81 children attended the two onsite Child Development Centers. These centers, which serve children from birth to age 5, set the foundation for lifelong learning and development.

Behind every number is a story of perseverance and transformation.

Rebecca, for example, says of her accomplishments because of JP, “I am the first generation to attend college in my family.”

Mariela says, “Jeremiah Program has provided a real community behind me with child care, my family coach, affordable housing, and the whole JP staff. Meeting with my coach biweekly helps me feel more empowered about myself and supports me in reaching my educational and career goals.”

Says one Minneapolis-St. Paul alum: “Jeremiah Program provided a space where I could imagine the future I wanted for my child and me, and dared me to live them out.”

In these tough times for nonprofit organizations and the clients they serve, please consider supporting Jeremiah Program through donations, volunteering, or advocacy. Your contribution helps expand access to affordable housing, child care, and education, which empowers moms to transform their lives. Now offered in several cities around the country, JP is expanding in 2o25 to serve more families.

You also can spread awareness with your network about the challenges single mothers face. Together, we can create a future where every family has the opportunity to thrive.

Details: jeremiahprogram.org

Karla Benson Rutten is executive director of the Jeremiah Program’s Saint Paul Campus.