New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed the launching of a pilot program to help and empower single parents overcome poverty.

The governor’s proposal, the Family Empowerment Community College Pilot Program will support up to 400 single parents attending SUNY and CUNY community campuses every year.

The program provides opportunities for single parents to attain higher education, land good-paying jobs, and eventually lift their family out of poverty.

Program participants will receive on-campus child care and intensive personalized advisement. They will also get educational supports such tutoring and counselling, and assistance in transitioning to a four-year degree.

Ensuring single parents have the necessary resources to succeed

In a statement, Cuomo said, "Access to child care can make all the difference in the life of a single parent who often has to choose between going to classes or caring for their children.”

"By providing child care and other important resources to single parents attending SUNY and CUNY schools, we are opening new doors to opportunity and making a critical investment in the future of our State,” he added.

On the other hand, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the Child Care Availability Task Force, said, “We want to ensure that single parents are provided with the resources they need…”

Meanwhile, Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor and Chair of the Council on Women and Girls, commented that the gender gap is disproportionately affecting single mothers in New York. She also stated, "We will not continue a cycle where women are being held back, while men continue to propel ahead.”

The program is part of the Cuomo’s 2019 Women’s Justice Agenda to ensure pay equity and close the gender wage gap. Last year, he proposed a legislation that prohibits employers from asking prospective workers about their salary history.

The State of New York is leading the nation in closing the gender wage gap. It has the smallest gender wage gap nationwide. Currently, Women in the state are earning 89 cents for every dollar men earn. Women nationally are just earning 80 cents for every dollar men earn.