United States sees shift in American Dream with rising women wealth and Kansas poverty‑program graduates

Women across the United States are increasingly achieving financial independence. As of 2026, about 20 million single women own homes, outnumbering single men and representing 21 % of all homebuyers. Women also own roughly 43 % of U.S. businesses—over 14 million firms that generate an estimated $2.7 trillion in annual economic activity, according to the National Association of Women Business Owners.

In Kansas, a Core Communities program helped 12 participants graduate from a 20‑week curriculum aimed at moving families out of poverty. The graduates, including Xavier Carey, completed training on financial literacy, health, and navigating a middle‑class world. Kansas still has 11.3 % of its residents living below the poverty line, with higher rates among minorities, underscoring the program’s role in addressing entrenched economic challenges.