Plan to Support Women in Crisis in 2024
When we think of December, what comes to mind? Time with family, friends, and loved ones. Holiday celebrations and annual traditions. The season of giving back to others.
December is a month that typically involves a lot of anticipation, but it also requires a lot of planning--balancing budgets and calendars and expectations. And at the end of the month, when the holidays are coming to a close, we begin to look toward the future.
We ring in the new year and usher in our fresh, blank January calendars with good intentions. We begin to plan. But even with all of our preparations and resolutions, no one is ever planning to fall into crisis.
On average, the American public is increasingly less equipped to financially handle a crisis. According to the latest annual report on the economic wellbeing of U.S. households, 37% of people would not be able to cover a $400 emergency expense. Additionally, nearly 1 in 4 individuals said that the largest expense they could cover with their savings was less than $100.
This means that over one-third of the population must rely on a support system for money during a crisis. Individuals reported making large purchases on credit cards or relying on family and friends to cover costs.
What does this mean for individuals without a support system? What does it look like for a single mother when crisis strikes?
Every Uplift grant applicant is a woman or child who has experienced a crisis. 88% of grant recipients are single mothers with extremely limited options. When you imagine these women, it might seem like their situations are completely foreign to you. But when you consider the day-to-day life of a single mother with a limited support system, one issue can cause a domino effect that sends everything into chaos.
Consider a single mother who relies on a car to transport her children to daycare so that she can go to work. What happens if her car breaks down and she cannot afford repairs? If she does not have immediate support, this situation can escalate quickly. No transportation can result in no childcare, which can affect her ability to do her job and receive a paycheck.
But what happens when there is a support system? If this single mother has immediate, flexible support within reach, she can keep those dominoes from falling. If a grant application is approved, women have access to direct financial support within 72 hours of submitting their request. This means they are empowered to immediately address their situation and achieve stability.
As we reflect on this holiday season and anticipate this upcoming new year, would you consider planning to be part of a single mother’s support system? Your generosity will have an immediate, lasting, and far-reaching impact.
