why

Being a single mom is one of the toughest jobs out there—and doing it without affordable, stable housing or support can feel impossible. That’s where Fellowship Housing steps in. We exist to walk alongside single mothers who are working hard, raising children, and striving for a better future.

Of the 11 million single-parent families in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020, more than 80% were led by single mothers. And according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Center, as of 2022, 34% of children in Illinois were living in a single-parent household.

All of the women Fellowship Housing serves are working full-time yet still face overwhelming financial pressure— often spending more than half their income on rent and a third on childcare, with little or no child support. Many are one unexpected car repair, medical bill or other small crisis away from homelessness. 100% of the families served fall in the extremely low- to low-income categories based upon U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) local income guidelines. The majority have also experienced the trauma of divorce and/or domestic violence.

When moms reach out to us, they’re often in the middle of eviction, couch hopping, staying in a hotel, living in a shelter or their car. Fellowship Housing provides more than just a roof—it offers stability, dignity, and a new path forward. With safe housing, financial coaching, and a community that believes in them, moms find hope and begin to rebuild. And when moms thrive, so do their children.

We believe breaking the cycle of poverty starts with two things: housing and education. Fellowship Housing is here to make both possible, empowering today’s moms, their children and generations to come.