The number of female head of household families living in poverty in Maricopa County has increased over the past decade.
According to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, a survey between 2010 and 2014 shows that the percentage of these families in poverty was 30.1 percent. That's up 5.4 percent from the previous American Community Survey five-year estimate from 2005 to 2009.
Organizations like Helping Hands for Single Moms assist these low-income single mom families while they pursue education and financial independence.
“For the most part, the best chance of getting out of poverty is to earn a degree and so I think the local community needs to recognize that there’s no quick fix. I think the government and nonprofits focus on short term job training,” CEO Chris Coffman said.
Helping Hands for Single Moms currently assists 103 single mom families in the Phoenix and Tucson areas with scholarships through their program.