Project Self Suffiencency Foundation

Project Self-Sufficiency’s mission is to help low-income single parents graduate from college with the skills necessary to achieve economic independence. We do this by providing customized, wraparound services throughout their educational journey and transition into career.

Since 1994, Project Self-Sufficiency assisted numerous single moms and dads to get a college education and become economically self-sufficient from government assistance programs.  Project Self-Sufficiency was previously part of a public/private partnership through the City of Huntington Beach.  In 2018, Project Self-Sufficiency received a large grant that allowed us to become an independent nonprofit and serve students throughout Orange County.

In 2023, PSS earned a total of 15 degrees, including nine associate's and six bachelor's degrees in fields like nursing, psychology, and welding. Since 2009, PSS Scholars have earned over 130 bachelor's and associate's degrees. Graduates report higher incomes, increased access to stable housing, and improved self-esteem.

In 2023, PSS:
- Disbursed over $100,000 in family assistance, including emergency rental assistance, childcare assistance, auto repair, textbook assistance, and more
- Gave out $30,000 in scholarships to single parents in college in the Orange County area
- Provided holiday gifts for nearly 100 children
- Coordinated the delivery of 65 Easter baskets, 60 Mother’s Day care packages, 50 Thanksgiving meals, and back-to-school supplies; sponsored summer activities for the children of our single-parent scholars
- Expanded our Professional Development Program to include more workshops and in-person networking events
- Brought in our largest cohort yet of 21 single moms in college in fall 2023

Our program's impact is currently limited by capacity constraints. Despite expanding our program size by a third this year to meet demand, this spring we anticipate only being able to admit 25% of qualified single parents. In order to bring in more hardworking families, we need funding for direct client services for our PSS Scholars program. This program supports single-parent families holistically, in form of case management, professional development workshops, emergency rental assistance, security deposit assistance, childcare assistance, auto repair, gas cards, healthcare assistance, and children's programs.

We spend, on average, $1000-2000 per scholar per year based on their most pressing needs.  Here is a snapshot of how far your contribution goes: 
$100 provides a summer activity for a low-income child, like swimming lessons or day camp
$200 provides a month of childcare assistance
$250 provides professional headshots and a career readiness workshop
$300 provides a semester’s worth of textbooks
$400 provides critical dental work for under-insured parent
$500 provides auto repair assistance for essential work on brakes, tires, transmission, etc.
$1000 provides emergency rental assistance to keep family housed
$1000 provides a scholarship for education-related expenses
$1500 provides assistance with security deposit for families to obtain safe/affordable housing

We are also always in need of volunteers to assist with special scholar events.

PSS serves single parents who are currently enrolled in college, have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, live/work/attend college in Orange County, California. We are also in the pilot stage in the city of Long Beach and have a small cohort of Long Beach student parents.

As a former PSS scholar, I know firsthand how impactful and essential community organizations like PSS are to the survival and success of families. The services, resources, and network of support provided by PSS were instrumental in ensuring I and so many other parents are able to be invested members of our community. I am honored to partner with community leaders, businesses, and neighbors to serve families as the work towards self-sufficiency and independence.