Bituach Leumi officials announced that 147,000 students who live in single-parent low-income homes will receive a one-time NIS 1,383 grant per child from ages 6-11 towards assisting in preparing them for school, to purchase necessary supplies. NIS 768 will be allocated for children ages 12-14. The grant will only be given to families already receiving government assistance.

This year, 55,000 families will benefit from the program, reaching about 77,000 children. In addition, 25,000 large families receiving government assistance will also receive the grant, reaching an additional 70,000 children.

According to Bituach Leumi Director-General Esther Domenici, 13% of Israeli families are classified as single parent homes today, representing 130,000 families. The single parent homes in most cases are headed by women, 11% being widows, 65% divorced, 20% never married and 4% separated.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)