Immigrant Single Mothers on Government Assistance in Brooklyn, NY: A Study of Exclusion, Access, and Aid

Abstract

This study aimed to better understand the experiences, application accessibility, and barriers to aid faced by single mothers on government assistance in Brooklyn, NY. The research was designed in interview format with 19 single mothers and complemented by ethnographic observations in the field. The study emphasized the role of exclusionary practices among government assistance policies that produce barriers for single mothers with varying citizenship statuses. Findings from the interviews emphasized immigrants’ appreciation for assistance programs in New York as compared to a lack of aid in their home country. These findings remained consistent despite a variety of application and access barriers. However, the gratitude expressed by participants was often misattributed to government assistance programs despite the fact that the aid was offered by a private charity. The study proposes further implementation and funding of navigator programs to increase accessibility and government assistance literacy.