Against the Odds
In the United States, 50.4 percent of female householders living below the poverty line have not finished high school, and 10.9 percent hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Wisconsin, the numbers are worse.
For single mothers living below the poverty line, Austin is the exception. Before she went into labor with her son in 2010, Austin thought about her college finals.
Kayden was born Dec. 13 in the middle of exams. Austin continued studying in the hospital and sat for her political science final after she was discharged, on time.
Photo by: Stephanie Wezelman
Austin is most passionate about sociology and anthropology, but she’s majoring in human services. Unlike many other undergraduate students, Austin has a family to think about. “When I did become single, I chose human services for the simple fact that I needed to provide an income for the kids very quickly.”
While her aspirations are economically mobile, the image others see when they look at her is mired in under-expectations and stereotypes of the “welfare mom.”
They imagine a past of promiscuity, jail time and drug abuse, Austin says. They couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Austin has worked since she was 15—babysitting, cleaning and waitressing. Until November, she counseled clients with disabilities in their job search. Just two weeks after Austin gave her notice, she had already lined up four interviews for new jobs.
“Knock me if I wasn’t working. Knock me if I had kids for a welfare check. I know that there are people out there, but separate them from me because I’m what the real problem is in the economy and America today,” Austin says.
Her family and friends motivate Austin, according to Brian Downey, a case manager for the Central Wisconsin Community Action Council.
“There are a few people that do abuse the programs that are available. I hate to see it when somebody like Micheal considers herself a part of that because she’s really not,” Downey says. “She’s an honest, hard-working mom. The only problem she has is finances.”
A Hair Away
Austin was enrolled in Project Chance, a program that connects homeless families with rent, food and day care assistance. Participants in Project Chance can remain in the program for two years. This November, Austin’s two years were up.
“Aid is there, let’s just say hypothetically a program like Project Chance, it’s there to supplement income. It’s there to help somebody have a better life. I don’t think we’ve taken advantage of that at all. I think it’s helped us survive until things do get better,” Austin says.
A scholarship Austin won in the second week of November will allow her family to remain financially afloat through December.
Austin tries not to let the stress distract her from her kids and her studies, but it’s hard to forget past struggles finding housing in Adams County. The reason? Austin has kids. “It’s not so easy to call out Joe Schmo that you see in church and file a complaint against them for not renting to you.”
The hotels in Adams County where homeless families live serve as haunting reminders that financial security can be precarious.
“Everybody makes fun of them when they drive past,” Austin says. “I feel grateful that we’re not in that situation, but I want people to understand I’m a hair away from that. That could be us too.”
