The Issue

Dallas is at a tipping point . . . .

As we continue to grapple with the economic downturn, working poor families struggle to balance rising costs of gas, food, and rent on an already limited income. According to Economic Issues for Women in Texas, 60% of Texas mothers were breadwinners prior to the pandemic, with women of color and low-income mothers more likely to be the sole breadwinners. For many low to middle income workers, rent accounts for 50% of earnings, childcare is around 30%, leaving 20% of the remaining income for food, gas, transportation, and emergencies. While two income households are certainly not immune to these struggles, single mothers, who account for 97% of Interfaith clients, are especially vulnerable to poverty and homelessness. Thankfully, Interfaith Family Services is poised to provide the tools and resources needed for parents to obtain family sustaining wage jobs through focusing on middle-skill jobs – those that do not require a college degree yet offer annual incomes of at least $35,000.