Over 30% of Tarrant County single mothers are living in poverty, report shows
A new report reveals a harsh reality of obstacles faced by single mothers in Tarrant County, including poverty, housing instability and educational disruptions for their children.
The Center for Transforming Lives, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit focused on disrupting the cycles of poverty for women and children, recently released a report with sobering statistics on what local single mothers are experiencing in their day-to-day lives while highlighting solutions to address these issues. Notably, one-third of single mothers with a child under 5 years old live in poverty, but in some neighborhoods, up to 70% of single mothers live in poverty. Lack of affordable housing, child care access and health care are among the main factors preventing single mothers from accessing upward mobility, according to the report.
Among the report’s findings, which focus on Tarrant County, are:
- Single mothers spend more than half, or 51%, of their income on rent.
- Women with children under age 6 have the highest rates of unemployment, almost 7%.
- Up to 40% of single mothers lack health insurance.
- For every 100 children in need of subsidized child care, there are 11 seats available.
“This research is essential to understanding the challenges faced by single-mother-led families living in poverty and identifying effective ways to support them,” said Bethany Edwards, director of research and evaluation at Center for Transforming Lives, who authored the report.
“For the first time, we have a comprehensive picture of the very real challenges facing these families, from lack of affordable housing to lack of child care to lack of mental health support. You can really see how these factors play into one another and why it is so difficult for these families to break the cycle of poverty without integrated support,” Edwards said.
Four in 10 renters in Tarrant County were evicted between January 2021 and November 2024, which is almost five times the national average. Evictions disproportionately harm children and their families, especially for female-headed households and Black and Hispanic families, according to the report.
In 2022, the average monthly income for single-mother households in Tarrant was $3,398 while the average rent for a two-bedroom residence was $1,733. This means 51% of the family’s income went toward housing.
“Due to the perfect storm of record high rent rates, lack of affordable child care and wages that have stagnated, low-income families headed by single mothers are simply priced out of the market,” said Carol Klocek, CEO of Center for Transforming Lives. “Even working multiple jobs, single mothers have a difficult time keeping a roof over their children’s heads.”
The impacts of these obstacles to children are far-reaching, according to the report. Developmental delays, chronic health issues and lower academic achievement are more likely to be experienced by children who are raised in poverty. For children experiencing homelessness, research shows they’re also subject to a greater risk of emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression.
“Evictions exacerbate educational disruptions for children, leading to absenteeism, lower academic performance, and long-term declines in their educational attainment,” the report states.
Potential solutions to help single-mother families
The report outlines several interventions, known as accelerators, that communities can facilitate to address these issues impacting vulnerable populations such as single mothers and their children. The report’s conclusion calls for investment and focus on these accelerators.
These include:
- Earned Income Tax Credit to help low- to moderate-income families receive a tax break
- Enrollment in the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to address short- and long-term health needs
- Health insurance to also improve health outcomes and reduce financial strain
- Secure attachment between children and their mothers consisting of emotional support and trust
- Social capital to access community resources when facing financial or personal challenges
- Path to a living wage through educational opportunities
- Service integration to coordinate resources for single mothers more efficiently, rather than navigating multiple agencies and programs separately
“These interventions work best when they’re combined,” Edwards said. “Helping a mother find a better job won’t last if she loses her child care or housing. The wraparound services that Center for Transforming Lives offers truly meet families at their point of need. Research shows this is the most effective way to not only reduce poverty but to help families create long-term financial independence. When we support mothers and their children together, that’s when real transformation happens.”
