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Organization	H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People be Empowered)
Region	United States
Website	Website
Facebook	Facebook
Twitter	@Twitter
ProjectLeader	Kenita Smith

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H.O.P.E. Inc. breaks cycles of poverty by providing resources that economically disadvantaged, low-income single parents in the Atlanta, GA area need to successfully obtain their college degrees. We eliminate barriers to education. We provide financial assistance for housing and childcare, counseling services, life-skills training, spiritual support, and financial literacy advisement. Our goal is to make positive impacts on the life-trajectories of both the single parent and their children.

Challenge

There is a direct correlation between education and income levels. Nationally, 1 in 8 college students are single parents and face daunting obstacles in their efforts to obtain a degree. Compared to married parents, single parents are more likely to have low-incomes and greater challenges in paying rent and childcare costs, forcing them to drop out of school. Atlanta ranks 99 out of the 100 largest U.S. metro areas in terms of single-parent income, access to community resources, and education.

Long-Term Impact

This project ensures 7 Atlanta-area single parents can attend college classes and graduate with a degree, pulling themselves and their children out of poverty. According to our 2019 graduate survey, 84% of our graduates increased their savings by 70% once they earned their degrees. 42% of our graduates have increased their post-degree income by 121% and improved their credit scores by an average of 75 points. 21% of our graduates own a home, while 5% are in the process of purchasing one.