Jade Crossfrench relies on DoorDash gig work to support family in Chicago

Jade Crossfrench, a 32‑year‑old single mother of three, works a full‑time insurance sales job in Chicago but still cannot cover rent, childcare and groceries. To bridge the gap, she has been delivering food for DoorDash for the past year, often with her children strapped into car seats in the back of her sedan. She says the extra cash is the only thing keeping a roof over her family’s heads.

The need for gig work has surged nationwide as wages have stalled while living costs have risen sharply. In Chicago, rent for a two‑bedroom apartment has climbed more than 15 percent since 2022, and the city’s poverty rate for single‑parent households sits at roughly 30 percent. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about 36 percent of workers hold a side gig, and a larger share of low‑income families rely on such jobs to survive. For many single parents, traditional hours and benefits are unavailable, pushing them toward flexible but unpredictable platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart.

Crossfrench estimates she earns an additional $350 to $500 a week after gas, insurance and vehicle wear, enough to pay utilities and buy school supplies. She worries about safety, fatigue and the lack of any health benefits from the gig. Local advocates point to her story as evidence that Chicago’s “living wage” ordinance needs stronger enforcement and that the city should expand emergency cash assistance for families in her position. A recent city council hearing on gig‑worker protections cited similar cases and called for clearer regulations on driver pay and insurance coverage. Crossfrench hopes the discussion will lead to a pilot program that offers guaranteed minimum earnings for delivery drivers, a step that could reduce the reliance on multiple jobs and give families like hers a more stable future.