A new report highlights the barriers single mothers face in Tarrant County in North Texas.

According to the Center for Transforming Lives, one‑third of single mothers in Tarrant County with a child under age 5 live in poverty.

Charity, 23, is a medical assistant studying to become a court reporter– and she’s the mother of an almost‑2‑year‑old. “She’s literally the most joyful child, and I’m grateful for her,” said Charity.

Just a few months ago, she found herself living out of her car until she was introduced to the Center for Transforming Lives, which provided rental assistance, counseling and hope.

Charity said she doesn’t know if she would have been able to afford a stable place to live without their help.
“It’d be really hard, especially being a single mom in this economy. I’d probably still be living in my car,” she said.

The non‑profit’s new report highlights the struggles facing single mothers like Charity in Tarrant County—among them the lack of affordable housing, access to childcare and health care.

On the issue of affordable housing alone, their data shows single mothers now spend 51 % of their income on rent, and the eviction rate in Tarrant County is five times the national average.

Carol Klocek, CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives, hopes the data will empower policy leaders and providers to invest in wraparound services to support better mothers who are working to lift their families out of poverty.

“If a single mother comes for services but she has a hard time making it consistently because of transportation barriers or childcare barriers, sometimes she’s perceived as unmotivated or she’s not trying hard enough, but these mothers, I can tell you, are trying extremely hard,” Klocek said.

For Charity, the investment in her mental health and housing is already paying off.

“I wake up, my feet hit the floor, and I’m thanking God instantly for the progress that I’ve made, the places that I’ve come, the lessons that I’ve learned, the people that I’ve met, the mentors that I have,” Charity said. “None of this would have been possible without the people surrounding me.”