Strengthening support for single mothers

The responsibility of a single parent is colossal. 84% of single parents are women. They shoulder the struggles of raising children on their own, oftentimes with no one to support them. They deal with the stresses of having to provide and support their families. With rising inflation and higher costs of living, their time is focused heavily on aiding their families than themselves. Often, their support system is sparse, the access to mental health services is almost nonexistent.

Humaniti’s One Parent program focuses on supporting these parents in every way possible. The One Parent program is just one of the many ways Humaniti extends its mission, recognizing that single parents—especially mothers—are some of the most overburdened yet under-supported individuals in society. By focusing on mental health support, financial aid, and community-building initiatives, Humaniti ensures that these parents receive the care and assistance they deserve.

One way is by providing mental health services to parents through online therapy. Every parent we serve is given a minimum of five free sessions to talk through their day-to-day challenges and work toward acquiring tools and resources that allow them to focus on the betterment of their well-being. 

Humaniti has partnered with several shelters that provide vital services to women who have survived challenging circumstances and are working to stabilize themselves. One key aspect of these services is mental health counseling. Humaniti launched a project to employ a mental health counselor at a women’s shelter for a year. This counselor was able to facilitate 50 group sessions and impact over 1,000 women. These women were able to discuss their strifes with a counselor whose purpose was to empower and aid these mothers. By providing this safe space, mothers were able to feel comfortable enough to discuss their concerns, stresses and anxieties without feeling judged or scrutinized.