Finding A Home: Jeremiah Program
Words by Janine Stankus Photos Courtesy of Jeremiah Program
“Home,” for most people, is more than a mere residence. It’s where comfort and security are found, a place to work and recharge, a place to be ourselves and nurture our families. But for too many single mothers stuck in the cycle of poverty, “home” is something out of reach.
Twenty-four percent of single mothers experienced poverty in 2020 according to census.gov, and lack of basic security is one of the biggest barriers to economic advancement. “It’s really hard to focus on school and your kids if you don’t feel like you’re in a safe environment or if you’re worried about how you’re going to pay rent,” explains Deirdre Anderson, Director of Development for the Jeremiah Program in Austin. “[Home] is a foundation for being able to move your family out of poverty.”
Jeremiah Program (JP) was founded to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers by providing the support both they and their children need to succeed. Safe and affordable housing is a key pillar of the program, along with career-track college education for moms, early childhood education for their children, empowerment training, and last, but not least, community.
Launched in Minneapolis in 1998, JP came to Austin in 2013. They partnered with Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation (GNDC) to rehabilitate a brownfield lot near Austin Community College’s Eastview campus. In 2017, JP opened their residential campus, featuring 35 fully-furnished 2 bed/1 bath units, a computer room, laundry facilities, and a childhood education center.
GNDC handles leasing and management of the property, while JP works with mothers to facilitate course enrollment in career-track education programs, connects them with financial aid, and provides critical training and mentorship. The program’s mandatory 12-week Leadership & Empowerment curriculum is what Deirdre calls their “secret sauce” for success. “It sets [mothers] up to envision that they can achieve their college degree or their professional certification.”
Because JP’s approach is two-generational, the program focuses equally on the children’s experience (most of whom are under five, as a prerequisite). In the child education center, there’s an emphasis on social and emotional learning, which builds skills and confidence—as well as a sense of community. “I always think about one child who would call the complex ‘Jeremiah City,’ because she had all her friends in the classroom, and her mom had friends on campus,” Deirdre recalls fondly.
The shared, and often difficult, experiences of JP mothers, which they talk about during the empowerment training, forges strong bonds among the residents. When speaking with moms about the program, Deirdre hears a common refrain. “It’s this feeling like they’ve found their people or their place and can now be themselves.”
Since 2017, JP Austin has produced 24 graduates, and some have even gone on to pursue social work or advocacy inspired by their experience. More than just a residence, JP provides a sustainable sense of security for single-mother families. Summed up elegantly by alumna, Alyssa Rosario says, “…No matter where [we] go, both the mothers and the children will all maintain that idea of what an ideal, supportive, and positive empowering community looks like and how to function within that.” Looking back on her experience with JP she says, “Our family is no longer just surviving, we’re thriving!”
Community Life
Recreational events at the campus include fall harvest, movie nights, and mom’s night out. JP also has a residents’ council where moms can elect representatives to resolve issues on campus or propose new events and programming, serving as an opportunity for mothers to exercise their leadership training.
Stepping Up in Crisis
During the 2020 pandemic, many mothers lost part-time work and had to switch to at-home learning. Jeremiah Program Austin was able to provide $15,000 for emergency aid which went towards groceries and supplies, diapers, devices, and infrastructure upgrades to make sure the campus could accommodate these changes.
Contact:
(512) 770-9036
1200 Paul Teresa Saldana St.
jeremiahprogram.org
@jeremiahprogram
@jeremiahatx
GIVE: jeremiahprogram.org/give
