How can you tell the story of poverty when it is such a complex issue? 

This week we wanted to look at poverty in Crookston, Minnesota. According to Data USA, approximately 15.3% of Crookston-ites live in poverty, a figure higher than the national average of 12.5%. Most of those living in poverty are women aged 35-44 with children, followed by females aged 75 and older, and then males aged 16 to 17. The saddest statistic of all is that Crookston’s child poverty rate is 29.9%, more than twice the national average. 

Poverty is a complex issue, and the causes and solutions of poverty change over time. Trying to show the data in a way that makes sense can be confusing to wrap your head around, especially if you’re trying to accurately portray the face of poverty. 

This section looks at the life of a single mother in Crookston over the decades. 

Crookston Through the Decades: Stories of Four Women 

Mary: 1960 

Mary’s story begins in 1960, in the wake of tragedy. At just 22, she became a widow after her husband James died in a car accident. Left alone with two small children, she moved to Crookston, Minnesota, to be closer to her parents and siblings. James had carried life insurance, and the $10,000 payout allowed Mary to buy a small home outright, sparing her the burden of rent. However, even with that financial cushion, Mary’s life was anything but easy. 

Mary worked 40 hours a week at Dairy Queen, earning the federal minimum wage of $1.00 per hour. This brought her a monthly income of $141, which was supplemented by $200 in survivor benefits, giving her a total monthly income of $341. Her expenses totaled $290, leaving her with a narrow surplus of $37. 

Mary’s largest expense was transportation, as her late husband’s old Chevrolet was inefficient and prone to frequent repairs. Her parents helped significantly, watching her children while she worked and providing meals to stretch her grocery budget. These small acts of kindness allowed Mary to make ends meet in a time before organized community assistance was widely available. 

Though poverty weighed heavily on Mary, her resilience carried her forward. She found joy in her children’s laughter and the quiet moments of peace in her modest home, even as she juggled the relentless demands of survival. 

Linda: 1985 

Linda’s life in 1985 was marked by upheaval. At 24, she returned to Crookston after her divorce, bringing her two young children with her. She rented a small apartment for $300 per month and worked part-time at Pamida, earning $4.00 per hour, which brought in $480 per month after taxes. Her ex-husband, who earned $16,000 per year, paid $333 in child support under Minnesota’s 25% rule for two children. Linda’s total income of $813 per month was far from enough to cover her $1,252 in expenses. 

Expense Category	Monthly Cost
Rent	$300
Utilities	$120
Groceries	$279
Transportation	$150
Healthcare	$83
Clothing	$30
Miscellaneous	$40
Childcare	$250

Linda faced a monthly deficit of $439, forcing her to seek help from both government programs and community resources. She qualified for $150 per month in food stamps, which helped stretch her grocery budget. It was during this time that Linda turned to Care and Share of Crookston, which had opened its doors just a year earlier in October 1986. 

Care and Share provided Linda with essential support. The food shelf supplemented her groceries, and she received winter clothing vouchers for her children. The soup kitchen offered warm meals on the toughest days, while volunteers helped her navigate additional resources for utility assistance and school supplies. These services didn’t erase her financial challenges, but they gave her a lifeline. 

Despite her hardships, Linda found strength in her children and the small victories of each day. Care and Share, with its emphasis on dignity and compassion, became a beacon of hope in her life, ensuring that she wasn’t alone in her struggles. 

Jennifer: 2010 

In 2010, Jennifer’s life reflected the challenges of modern single motherhood. At 30 years old, she worked as a retail cashier, earning $7.25 an hour for 30 hours a week. This brought her a monthly income of $1,526 after taxes. Her ex-husband paid $200 in child support and shared the cost of childcare, reducing her share of the $1,200 monthly daycare bill to $600. 

Jennifer’s monthly expenses totaled $2,127, leaving her with a $401 deficit despite her careful budgeting. 

Expense Category	Monthly Cost
Rent	$450
Utilities	$100
Groceries	$300
Transportation	$200
Healthcare	$417
Clothing	$30
Miscellaneous	$30
Childcare (Shared)	$600

Jennifer drove a 2005 Toyota Corolla to keep her transportation costs at $200 per month. The car was fuel-efficient and reliable, but she carried only a basic liability insurance policy to keep her premiums low. Gas and routine maintenance accounted for the rest of her transportation expenses. Any major repairs would have been financially catastrophic. 

Jennifer relied on SNAP benefits, which provided $200 per month, and enrolled her children in CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) to help with healthcare costs. These programs, while essential, didn’t cover everything. Jennifer often turned to local charities for additional support, ensuring her children had warm clothing and school supplies. Her life was a balancing act, but her determination to provide for her children never wavered. 

Madison: 2024 

Madison’s story in 2024 illustrates the unrelenting financial pressure faced by single mothers today. At 32, she worked full-time as an office manager, earning $18 an hour and taking home $2,496 per month after taxes. While her ex-husband paid half of their $1,200 monthly childcare expenses, he provided no additional child support, leaving Madison to shoulder the rest. 

Her monthly expenses totaled $3,593, leaving her with a $1,097 deficit. 

Expense Category	Monthly Cost
Rent	$750
Utilities	$300
Groceries	$450
Transportation	$500
Healthcare	$833
Clothing	$120
Miscellaneous	$40
Childcare (Shared)	$600

Madison’s transportation costs reflected the rising expenses of car ownership in 2024. She drove a 2012 Toyota Highlander, a practical SUV for Minnesota winters and shuttling her kids to daycare and school. Her monthly costs included $150 for insurance, $200 for gas, and $150 for maintenance. While the vehicle provided reliability, it came with a constant worry about unexpected repairs. 

Healthcare was her most significant financial burden. Her employer-sponsored insurance covered her children but cost her $500 a month in premiums, with an additional $333 for out-of-pocket medical expenses. Rising healthcare costs made every doctor’s visit a financial stressor, but skipping coverage wasn’t an option. 

Madison relied on SNAP benefits for $300 a month and received $400 annually in energy assistance from LIHEAP. These supports, while helpful, barely made a dent in her overall deficit. Her children often felt the strain, learning early to go without extras. Madison found some solace in the stability of her job, but the weight of her financial struggles never truly lifted. 

Summary Table of Budgets 

Name	Income	Support (Childcare, Benefits, etc.)	Expenses	Deficit/Surplus
Mary (1960)	$341	$200 Survivor Benefits	$304	+$37
Linda (1985)	$813	$150 Food Stamps, $333 Child Support	$1,252	-$439
Jennifer (2010)	$1,726	$200 SNAP, $200 Child Support, CHIP	$2,127	-$401
Madison (2024)	$1,810	$300 SNAP, $600 Shared Childcare, LIHEAP	$3,593	-$1,783

These four stories, spanning six decades, reflect the evolving challenges of single motherhood. While the specifics of their struggles differ, the common threads of resilience, sacrifice, and reliance on community support are woven through each woman’s life. Crookston, through its people and resources, has played a vital role in helping them survive, even when thriving seemed impossible. 

Lisa Rakow-Drafall