Our Issues and Programs

In 2008, about 56 percent of America's 39.8 million people living in poverty were female. Of the nation's 13.5 million children living in poverty, 8.5 million were being raised in single-parent households -- 89.7 percent of which are headed by women. We believe, and research has consistently shown, that providing the supports these women need to move out of poverty is the most effective way to boost economic security for all America's struggling families.

In 2009 and 2010 WESC will focus its efforts on policy and programs that support low-income women in securing stable jobs with good wages, benefits and opportunities for advancement. This effort builds on our local advocacy work aimed at helping low-income women with children achieve long-term economic security.

Although much of the attention during the recession has focused on job loss among men, women have also been hard hit. In March 2010, the unemployment rate for women who maintain families was 11.3 percent -- the highest rate in the past 25 years. By comparison, the unemployment rate for all women was 8.6 percent, for married men it was 8.1 percent and for married females it was 6.7 percent.

Women of color have been especially hard hit. In March 2010, the unemployment rate for white women was 7.3 percent compared with 12 percent for Hispanic women and 12.4 percent for African American women.

Many of the key policy debates of 2010 could dramatically influence the employment picture for low-income women - and potentially move millions out of poverty. These include the green jobs components of climate change legislation, and reauthorizations of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) legislation, the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), and the Workforce Investment Act.

During the next year WESC is releasing a series of policy reports that argue for greater attention within these key legislative initiatives to providing low-income women with the help they need to secure good, family-supporting jobs. In addition to the reports, we will provide a tool kit in each issue area that will include a variety of resources for taking action and elevating the voices of women's foundations as we work together to ensure greater employment opportunities for low-income women and their families.

Green Jobs
Creating Opportunity for Low-Income Women in the Green Economy is the first of three policy reports by the Women's Economic Security Campaign

Education and Training
Aiming Higher: Removing Barriers to Education, Training and Jobs for Low-Income Women, is the second in a series focusing on job creation, training and supports for low-income women.

Child Care
A third policy brief on helping low-income women access good, affordable and reliable child care will be released later in 2010.