A home for Every single-parent family - Calling for housing programs in Washington DC
The Issue
Major changes can seldom be achieved alone, which is why it is better to work together for a common cause rather than work individually.
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There are about 63,000 children currently being raised by single parents in DC—49-53% of the District’s children in total—who are more likely to be financially vulnerable, with very little help to grow up in a normal home. Given this unfortunate state of affairs, I seek to work with public support and other local advocates to address a facet of the housing crisis that affects many DC residents: single-parent households (SPHs). SPHs make up about 10% of DC’s households. On a single salary, many families struggle to afford adequate housing. At the same time, there is also a general lack of resources to assist SPHs, which intensifies the already heavy burdens of caring for a child and yourself as a single parent.
There are currently no SPH-specific support mechanisms to help this important part of the community become homeowners in the District, despite great demand. DC’s exorbitant prices condemn thousands of households to escalating rents and insecurity.
The councilmembers who may help this effort are: At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds and Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau. The former serves as Chair of the Housing Committee, which regulates rent prices and other housing-related matters. At the same time, the latter, Councilmember Nadeau, is responsible for human services, child welfare, and community programs. By contacting both council members about the issue, it would be possible to maximize the chances of something being done, especially when combined with the petition and the number of SPHs.
Most importantly, this issue is non-partisan, meaning that wherever on the political compass the councilmembers happen to be, their disagreement on this issue would be purely personal, making it much harder to justify voting no and helping us see change sooner. As someone raised by a single mother, I find it grotesque how little the state supports SPHs. As I see my mother sacrifice for me day after day, I believe the weight on her and others’ shoulders should be lightened by something very achievable that would combat the broader housing crisis in DC. Provide every child in the District with a part of the American Dream by adding your voice to this petition.
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The Issue
Major changes can seldom be achieved alone, which is why it is better to work together for a common cause rather than work individually.
-
There are about 63,000 children currently being raised by single parents in DC—49-53% of the District’s children in total—who are more likely to be financially vulnerable, with very little help to grow up in a normal home. Given this unfortunate state of affairs, I seek to work with public support and other local advocates to address a facet of the housing crisis that affects many DC residents: single-parent households (SPHs). SPHs make up about 10% of DC’s households. On a single salary, many families struggle to afford adequate housing. At the same time, there is also a general lack of resources to assist SPHs, which intensifies the already heavy burdens of caring for a child and yourself as a single parent.
There are currently no SPH-specific support mechanisms to help this important part of the community become homeowners in the District, despite great demand. DC’s exorbitant prices condemn thousands of households to escalating rents and insecurity.
The councilmembers who may help this effort are: At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds and Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau. The former serves as Chair of the Housing Committee, which regulates rent prices and other housing-related matters. At the same time, the latter, Councilmember Nadeau, is responsible for human services, child welfare, and community programs. By contacting both council members about the issue, it would be possible to maximize the chances of something being done, especially when combined with the petition and the number of SPHs.
Most importantly, this issue is non-partisan, meaning that wherever on the political compass the councilmembers happen to be, their disagreement on this issue would be purely personal, making it much harder to justify voting no and helping us see change sooner. As someone raised by a single mother, I find it grotesque how little the state supports SPHs. As I see my mother sacrifice for me day after day, I believe the weight on her and others’ shoulders should be lightened by something very achievable that would combat the broader housing crisis in DC. Provide every child in the District with a part of the American Dream by adding your voice to this petition.
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Petition created on July 14, 2026