This month, we honor and recognize Women’s History Month. As a financial empowerment organization, focused on supporting single mothers and their families, this month also offers an opportunity to better understand the economic contributions of these women and how they trickle down to the next generation and our local communities.
In the United States, roughly 25 percent of children live with a single parent, and about 80 percent of those households are led by mothers. This rate is among the highest in the developed world. These single mothers are the breadwinners, consumers, and decision-makers shaping the economic futures of their families. When mothers are able to build income, savings, and financial assets, the effects extend past their familial walls.
These dynamics are particularly visible in California. As one of the largest economies in the world, it is still among the most expensive places in the United States to live, work, and raise children. Zoom in closer, and the pressures become even clearer in regions like Silicon Valley and the broader Bay Area. According to the 2026 Silicon Valley Index, the annual cost of full-time infant childcare in the region now exceeds $30,000, and childcare costs have tripled since the early 2000s. Costs at this scale shape the decisions many families (even those who are dual-income and do not qualify as low income) make about employment, housing, and long-term financial planning goals.
These realities also make current policy debates hard to ignore. Some emerging policy frameworks, including the blueprint known as Project 2025, place greater emphasis on traditional family structures and reduced federal involvement in social programs. At the same time, state-level efforts continue to expand financial literacy in schools and increase access to wealth-building opportunities for women.
For single mothers, the compounding implications are immediate. When childcare becomes less accessible, workplace flexibility narrows, or support systems are reduced, staying afloat financially becomes nearly impossible. The effects extend beyond individual households. These setbacks reshape labor supply, earning trajectories, and long-term financial growth.
So how can the surrounding structure, the safety net, the village, and our broader community ensure that these women are supported and offered stability in moments like this?
Rather than viewing these single mothers primarily through a deficit lens, it may serve us better if we truly recognize their broader role (and greater potential) in our local community. Let’s flip the script and promote policies that expand opportunity for these women through affordable childcare access, career advancement pathways, and financial education like WANDA strives to provide. Together, we can lift up and strengthen the economic power of single mothers.
In partnership,
Danika Dellor, Executive Director of WANDA