Even with steady employment, many families are challenged to provide basic necessities. Single parents spend, on average, 36% of their income on childcare, and that often does not leave enough to pay the bills or buy nutritious food, especially for those living paycheck-to-paycheck. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely exacerbated these needs.
Happy Horizons Childcare in Moscow, Idaho, provides affordable daycare for ALICE families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). With the help of Happy Horizons, parents no longer have to choose between going without childcare and going without dinner. The program gives children age-based curricula, two nutritious meals per day and a healthy place to play with other kids.
With basic needs covered, parents have the opportunity to pursue further education and seek higher-paying jobs. Happy Horizons also plans to offer scholarships to help with those educational goals, and they are partnering with Palouse Care Network to provide parenting classes.
With normal activities on pause during the crisis, Happy Horizons received a $10,000 grant from Innovia Foundation as flexible funding to promote and help support financial stability for low-income households. The ultimate goal is to interrupt the generational cycle of poverty and improve the economic wellbeing of our entire community. It starts with meeting the fundamental needs of vulnerable populations, ensuring that every person can pursue their potential without worrying about their next meal.
