Maine has the distinction of being a national leader when it comes to ensuring access to, and support for, low-income parents pursuing post-secondary education. There is an understanding here of the critical importance of education as a route out of poverty. In 1997, when new federal legislation gave states leeway in deciding to either continue or abandon access to post-secondary education for families receiving federal assistance, Maine created Parents as Scholars (PaS). Opening educational doors for low-income parents was further expanded with the start of The Higher Opportunities Pathways to Employment (HOPE) program, established under Maine’s LIFT 2.0 legislation in 2018.

State programs like HOPE and PaS offer vital financial and navigation aid; student-parents enrolled in them say they could not have advanced their education without them. Despite the critical support these programs provide, persistent financial challenges, which diminish the prospects of their completing their studies, remain.

Launched in 2022 by Maine Equal Justice, the Build HOPE Project provides additional assistance via financial grants, to HOPE and PaS students for emergent needs. To offer policymakers valuable insights into how this support impacted Maine families and workforce, a research component, which we led, was added. Our engagement in research on this topic over nearly three decades has given us a firsthand look into how hard parents, especially those with young kids at home, work to stay on track, learn, and graduate. Independence and family security is their end-goal.

The newly released report,” Build HOPE: Post-Secondary Support for Parents with Low-Incomes in Maine – Charting Success, Bridging Gaps and Illuminating Pathways for Economic Mobility,” offers a comprehensive picture of the significance of the PaS and HOPE programs as well as of the impact of the additional support from the Build HOPE grant, and issues an urgent call for both additional resources and substantive policy changes.

The findings call policymakers to action — investment in programs like HOPE and PaS is essential for empowerment, addressing disparities, and fortifying communities and Maine’s workforce. Parents who reach their goals through HOPE and PaS seek careers in high-demand fields, such as social work, counseling, and health care, are helping address Maine’s workforce shortages. The state’s economic well-being is intricately linked to the success of these families, making proactive measures and targeted policies essential for a brighter future.

Post-secondary education is an important catalyst for achieving economic stability. Individuals enrolled in programs like HOPE and PaS are more likely to be women, single heads-of-households, parents of children with special needs, first-generation students, and people of color — communities which have historically faced marginalization, economic insecurity, and barriers to accessing higher education.

The Build HOPE grants were used by 90% of parents to reduce financial stress. A participant expressed the impact: “The stress of bills was uplifted for a moment. I was not worried about the electric being shut off… to help me finish up the last bit of my certification.”  Transportation, housing, utilities, and food costs topped parents’ lists as being both a pressing need and an on-going challenge. Securing basic needs is pivotal to academic success.

Flexible income support through the Build HOPE grant also empowered families to address diverse needs, enhancing education and family time. These parents face endless and overwhelming household demands often alone, lack personal support, face childcare issues, and confront financial constraints.  Reduced financial stress allowed moments, one parent noted, to “have a lot of fun … and feel healthy on all levels.”

Struggles with car affordability is especially tough for rural parents. Increased transportation assistance for repairs and other transportation costs would ease the obstacles incurred when their car breaks down. Housing instability has documented consequences for child health and well-being. Rent relief to stabilize and secure adequate housing is crucial for low-income families. High energy costs also require remedial actions.

Considering Maine’s rising cost of living, fortifying support for these families could not have come at a better time.  Additional income support can lessen the financial stressors that might otherwise impede progress toward a degree or certification. As a single mom near graduation attests, “When you are not using all your energy just to survive, it gives you an opportunity to make steps forward.”

The report urges targeted policy initiatives — increased flexible income support, transportation assistance, affordable housing, and energy cost solutions. It calls upon state departments, educational institutions, and training programs to come together to work toward a unified effort that will both secure success for these parents and attend to the workforce challenges confronting the state. Increased public education of available resources, program navigators to assist students, and coordination with special needs services can boost awareness and support, while ensuring families receive necessary assistance.

One current policy initiative that would make a difference for some of these student-parents is  L.D. 1877: An Act to Reduce the Number of Children Living in Deep Poverty by Adjusting Assistance for Low-Income Families.  Our report reveals that while these parents are determined and optimistic about their futures, they, like countless other families, exist and raise their children with too little support. Providing a reasonable level of assistance to poor and low-income parents is a critical first step to stabilizing families and building the economy of the state.

Maine must take that step.

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