Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/481579
March/April 2015 15 A s you drive through your town, do you see peo- ple you assume are homeless—a man, whose hair and clothes beg for a wash, walking with a backpack? A disheveled-looking woman pushing a cart? What about the young woman working at your child or grandchild's daycare facility? Or the fast-food-chain employee? They may also be homeless or teetering on the edge of homelessness. In communities throughout the United States and the world, there are thousands of peo- ple who—because of low income, limited job opportuni- ties, mental health issues or a series of ill-timed minor events—find themselves homeless. One of the fastest growing homeless populations is families with children. 1 And most homeless families are led by single mothers, 2 who, because of their gender, are likely to receive less pay than their male counterparts. That's why Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services (PCHAS) created its Single Parent Family Program. The program helps single mothers who are facing home- lessness due to poverty, spousal abuse, abandonment or other crises. PCHAS gives these women a chance to become strong and self-sufficient. The program offers safe, affordable transitional housing, emotional and spiritual support from caring social workers, educational and vocational guidance, money management training and other life skills training including parenting, wellness and nutrition classes. Support with Dignity and Love A "graduate" of the Single Parent Family Program said, "I worked at a daycare facility, but the wages were too low for me to be able to provide for myself and my two children. I didn't have savings to fall back on. That's when I heard about PCHAS. If not for the Single Parent Family Pro- gram, I would probably be living in my car. If I hadn't been Helping Single Mothers on the Brink BY MARGARET BARRY Housing + Caring = Thriving