ABSTRACT
Higher education opens doors to opportunities that change lives. Single mothers surviving on the reformed welfare system no longer have the freedom of choice to enroll in college. Mandated Work First programs have shut the doors on this pathway out of poverty. The public discourse is silent on this crisis and we cannot afford to ignore their lived experiences any longer. A brief overview on current welfare statistics is introduced. The stories of three single mothers, and the author, are shared to demonstrate the struggles that come when you are forgotten. A call to action is presented for higher education and the government to acknowledge their needs and the opportunity education brings to all of our futures.
