For Portia Jackson, a mother of five, the concept of “home” was once elusive.
“I lived on friends’ couches, cousins’ floors, neighbors’ three-season porches, homeless shelters, rundown motels, and transitional housing,” Jackson recalled about her childhood. “I always longed for permanency.”
She eventually found a path forward after connecting with the Jeremiah Program (JP), a national organization dedicated to disrupting the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children two generations at a time by supporting them to achieve economic mobility and long-term success. One of JP’s services is providing affordable housing options, either through its own residential buildings or by partnering with community organizations.
“After 20-plus schools, three states, and several cities, I was finally afforded the opportunity for housing stability,” Jackson said. Through JP’s network, she said she secured an apartment for herself and her young children. “As long as I followed the rules, no one could take it from me.”
It’s been over 25 years since Jackson first walked through the JP doors. It was there that she acquired the tools to build a foundation for the future. “I earned my A.S. in human services, made lifelong connections and friendships with my fellow Jeremiah sisters, and secured a three-bedroom Section 8 voucher,” she said.
Today, Jackson owns a home in north Minneapolis, has a master’s degree in Health and Human Services Administration from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, sent two of her kids off to college and works for the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity as director of programs and services. There, she helps others seeking stability by making “sure that people in my community have somewhere to lay their heads.”
That’s what JP staff call a “full-circle moment.”
“We know the systemic barriers that single moms face, such as rising grocery prices, unaffordable rent, and the skyrocketing cost of child care; and with current economic conditions, every single day, they are being asked to do more with less,” said Chastity Lord, president-CEO of Jeremiah Program, which has its roots in Minneapolis-St. Paul but locations in seven states. “Our work is about changing that narrative, creating spaces where single moms feel seen, heard, and supported.”
Services beyond safe and affordable housing support that JP offers, includes college access and career support, empowerment and leadership training, networking and community-building support. JP also offers on-site child development centers in five of its nine locations, as well as connections to local early childhood education programs at its four off-campus locations.
Lord said the program’s mission is one that is deeply connected to “collective dreaming” – the idea that no single mother should have to navigate poverty, childcare challenges, or career barriers alone.
As the organization prepares for its 2025 Summit Weekend (March 7-9 at Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake) and its expanded virtual SummitX, JP continues its mission to support single mothers and their children, proving that success is not just about surviving — it’s about thriving. And its alums are walking proof that the program works.
“When I first joined Jeremiah Program, I was in dire need of a support system that my own family was unable to provide,” Nekey Oliver shared. “The women I had the privilege of meeting have become like a second family to me. In fact, I am now the godmother to one of their children.”
JP became more than just a second family and safety net; it was a launching pad for Oliver’s career and leadership journey. While at JP, she was introduced to influential mentors, including the founder of Evereve, who became a lifelong friend and inspiration.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in sociology, Oliver pursued a career in government relations and community engagement, determined to advocate for families like hers. Today, she serves as director of government relations and community engagement for the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
“I am one of the youngest directors at a state agency, and I attribute a significant portion of my success to the opportunities and experiences JP afforded me,” she said. Her full circle moment includes serving on Jeremiah Program’s Minneapolis-St. Paul Community Board of Trustees.
“Serving on the JP board allows me to contribute my voice and share my experiences as a mom and alum, inspiring and supporting other moms in the program,” she said. “I’m proud to advocate for those who are often misunderstood, but undoubtedly deserving of support.”
Others have been on similar journeys, including Stasia Saunders who, when she was in her early 20s, faced a choice that many single mothers encounter.
“I found myself a single mom, trying to go back to school, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t make ends meet,” Saunders recalled. “I had to choose between getting my education to make a better life for us or dropping out and working nonstop just to survive.”
Her heart sank as she prepared to tell her academic advisor she would have to drop out. But that conversation changed everything.
“Thank God I had the advisor that I did,” she said. “He told me about one last possible solution – the Jeremiah Program. I had never heard of it before, but I thought, why not? Maybe this is the answer I’ve been looking for.”
That single moment, choosing to take a chance on something unknown, became the turning point of her life. After graduating from JP, Saunders’ life didn’t become perfect overnight, but she was better equipped to face challenges.
“Life still had challenges, but JP gave me the skills to push through and approach them differently,” she said. “Because of the program, I was able to secure a stable job with a regular salary, benefits, and child care assistance. That stability made all the difference.”
But, she said, the most valuable part of the experience was the network of women she built along the way.
“The friendships I made at JP have lasted 20 years. We still check in, celebrate each other’s wins, and support each other. Our kids play together. That community is everything,” she said.
Today, Saunders works as a team lead for a client services team in a financial institution — something she never expected but deeply values.
“I never imagined working in finance, but it has been invaluable,” she said. “Growing up, we lived dollar to dollar. Saving money wasn’t something I thought was actually possible. But now, I see how important financial education is, and I want to pass that knowledge on to others.”
For women like Portia Jackson, Nekey Oliver and Stasia Saunders, the Jeremiah Program provided more than just resources, it offered a foundation for transformation.
“At Jeremiah Program, we believe that community is a verb – active, intentional, and sometimes messy, but always worth it,” said Lord. “The moms we serve aren’t just surviving day-to-day; they are reimagining and building a world where they and their children can thrive. And we stand with them in that vision.”
For more information about the Jeremiah Program, visit www.jeremiahprogram.org.
Sheree R. Curry is the Director of Communications at the University of St. Thomas. She also was recently awarded for the 2025 Women in Business Honoree by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.