We hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! Mothers are the backbone of our communities. We know that being a single a mom is hard. That's why we work diligently every day to advocate for resources for Mississippi Moms. Our Employment Equity for Single Moms Program is helping to fill in the gap and give you the help you need.

Raising child/ren alone is challenging. The most common struggle single moms face is financial. Raising a family on one income, while juggling other responsibilities is daunting. You work hard and still struggle financially. It never seems to be enough. 

Expenses

You may ask yourself - how much is enough? The Employment Equity for Single Moms program uses a tool called the Living Wage Calculator to determine how much is enough. The tool looks at typical expenses incurred by single moms and determines how much income is needed. While expenses will vary based on your county of residence, the table below looks at the average cost of living in Mississippi for one adult with 0 to 3 children.

Tool Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2020. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

livingwage.mit.edu. 

Living Wage

The living wage shown in the table below is the hourly rate that a single mother must earn to support herself and her family. The assumption is that you are working full-time (2,080 hours per year) and receive no additional assistance to cover the cost of living expenses. The tool provides information for individuals and households with one working adult and up to three children. Click here for more information.

Help for Single Moms!

Your participation in the Employment Equity for Single Moms program can help you connect to resources and opportunities to build a better life for you and your children. The EESM team of case managers will work in partnership with you to develop a plan of action that leads to higher wages. Ask the case manager assigned to your county of residence about training for occupations and careers that pay a living wage. 

Visit the Employment Equity for Single Moms webpage by clicking on the button below to learn more!