A local nonprofit has launched a new program aiming to help single mothers finish college.

The Gatehouse in Grapevine is a nonprofit working to help single mothers find permanent self-sustainability. To this end, it has launched Education Track, a program tailored to the individual in order to provide rent-free accommodations, a monthly stipend to cover living expenses, childcare, and additional resources ranging from legal assistance to counseling.

In order to be eligible for Education Track, an applicant must:

  • be a single mother aged 21 and up,
  • have legal custody of one or more children between the ages of 1 and 18,
  • live in Tarrant County,
  • be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
  • be within two years of completing an accredited college degree program,
  • maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0,
  • have no active addictions within the past three years,
  • and have a driver’s license and vehicle.

Priority is given to applicants enrolled at one of The Gatehouse’s university partners, which are Parker University, Texas Woman’s University, and the University of Texas at Arlington, as well as those pursuing healthcare or teaching degrees.

Many people across the United States are struggling to pursue higher education amid rising costs, yet single mothers have the added challenge of having to provide for their children.

While research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research has shown that only 8% of single mothers enrolled in undergraduate degree programs end up finishing within six years, this achievement makes a considerable difference in lifelong earning power. For instance, a single mother who earns an associate’s degree is 52% less likely to live in poverty in Texas compared to one with only a high school diploma, and they are 70% less likely to live in poverty if they earn a bachelor’s degree.

The Gatehouse Education Track was developed with these facts in mind.

“For many single moms, achieving a family sustainable wage is impossible without further education,” explained Gatehouse CEO and founder Lisa Rose, according to Southlake Style. “Not only will this new Education Track help single moms achieve more and change the trajectory of their children’s lives, but this program can also help address some of the trained workforce gaps in our community. This is a win for everyone.”