INDIANAPOLIS — Applications are now open for a local organization working to help single moms.
The program is partnering with big-name companies, helping Marion County moms become more self-sufficient. Two mothers who were just recently accepted into the program, shared their stories with 13News.
"I live in a rough neighborhood," Candice Pimpton said. "A lot of responsibilities, lots of bills, and I'm only one person."
"I lost everything while I was incarcerated. So, whenever I got out, I didn't have a home to go to," Erica Pickett said.
Both are seeking a better life while dealing with difficult situations.
"I've applied for programs, just to (be) put on a wait list to tell me, 'Oh, you don't qualify now,'" said Pickett, who is a mother of four.
Pimpton is a mother of five and wants to be a medical assistant.
"There's a lot of resources for single mothers, but this one, it's huge," Pimpton said.
Both women were just accepted into the Pathway Program at Dream Center Indianapolis.
"I was so ecstatic, like finally," Pickett said.
The 40-week program coaches single mothers on ways to overcome barriers and graduate with a stable career.
"I just found out that I can get help with my taxes. They will match whatever you save during the program to put down on a home. To hear that is just like, I don't have any words," Pimpton said.
In Marion County alone, 65,000 single moms are struggling, according to Dream Center. Nearly 23,000 of those mothers make too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to make ends meet.
"That statistic is staggering. I think we're surprised at just how much of a need there actually is in Marion County," said Gabriel Espinoza, administrator for Dream Center.
That's where the Dream Center comes in. It's working with community partners like Ascension St. Vincent to serve as a direct job pipeline for graduates.
"It'll help a lot, change somebody's life, and I'm ready," Pimpton said.
These moms start their journey in September. Both are ready to make their kids proud.
"I want them to know that no matter what, we'll get through it," Pickett said. "I want them to grow up and be strong, successful women."
Enrollment for the program is open through Aug. 23.
The Dream Center provides a solution for families in central Indiana living with the pressure of poverty. The organization helps residents go from poverty to prosperity by offering long-lasting solutions — all under one roof.
It's also accepting applications for its October Cohort.
Dream Center started in Los Angeles. Since opening in Marion County in 2014, the Dream Center has helped more than 110,000 local families.
Dream Center Indianapolis is located off Township Line Road in Indianapolis.
It's now working on a main campus to house all of its partners, thanks in part to a $4.7 million grant from the state. The grant awarded to the Dream Center Indianapolis is from a portion of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families through the Indiana Department of Family Resources.