Background
In Los Angeles County 16 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, this number is higher than the national average of 13 percent. In a 2020 study conducted by the Social Change Institute of Rising Communities formerly known as Community Health Councils (CHC) researchers found that 85 percent of mothers found themselves short on income for the month at some point in the year resulting in 77 percent of respondents expressing that income shortages impacted their mental health at least some of the time. The median reported monthly shortage was $443.00 and the range of shortages was from $50 to $2,000. Of the respondents, most mothers were most frequently worried about bills, unexpected expenses, debt, COVID-19, job loss and the financial and emotional well-being of their children.