Life as a single mother can be very challenging. In today’s economic condition, it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine the plight of single motherhood.
With absolutely zero support, these women have to juggle full-time parenting with a full-time job, while struggling to do the very best they can to “make ends meet”. Granted, it is a lot easier if there are two working partners. But to manage all this alone especially with little or no income, it can be quite a struggle.
According to the 2011 U.S. Census Bureau, out of approximately 11.7 million single parents in the U.S, 85% are single mothers out of which one-third of them live in poverty with their children1
Helping Single Moms Cope with Single Motherhood
To help single moms cope with the challenges of single parenting, there are several grants that have been developed to help them with the financial burden of raising a child. Though it isn’t a guaranteed entitlement, these grants are freely awarded on the basis of economic hardship which unlike “borrow money”, do not require any repayment.
The first step is researching what’s available and finding out whether or not you qualify for them. A very good source of information is the internet. You can get all types of information online and decide what best suits you. Check your State, Government websites and sites like www.grants.gov is a good resource to find information about grants available for singe moms.
Among the plethora of programs aimed at helping single-mother families, the earliest and most important form of government aid is the cash assistance program — also commonly referred to as “welfare.” Other initiatives include food stamps, Medicaid, housing assistance & education grant.
Grants such as the Pell Grant is a unique grant provided by the US Department of Education that helps the neediest students to pay for college. Special emphasis is given to single parents who wish to complete their college education. Eligibility for this grant is based on one’s financial need and the applicant is required to complete a FAFSA form each year to qualify — and it’s FREE.
And for those who are struggling to meet the escalating cost of higher education, the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program has helped many achieve their educational goals and led them to self-sufficiency after they graduate from college. Scholarships for single mothers are also available for single women with children on the basis of academic achievement.
To find “what’s available” in your state of residence, check out the listing of State Higher Education Agencies where you’ll find a whole plethora of state’s education programs, financial aid assistance programs, grants, scholarships, continuing education programs, and career opportunities.
More “Pro-Single Mom” Assistance
More ways of availing government assistance is to apply for
- unemployment benefits — up to 26 weeks,
- special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants & children,
- childcare subsidy,
- disability benefits,
- low-cost healthcare insurance for kids2, etc.
All these are meant mostly for those with children who are finding themselves unable to afford even the basic necessities.
Though these grants are meant for assisting during difficult times, it does not cover expenses for private tuition fees, house rents, social funds repayments or personal debts etc. It is only meant for you to get yourself up and build a foundation to help you become self-sufficient and less dependent of “public assistance”.
References:
- Poverty rates are highest for families headed by single women, particularly if they are black or Hispanic. In 2010, 31.6 percent of households headed by single women were poor, while 15.8 percent of households headed by single men and 6.2 percent of married-couple households lived in poverty. Source: http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/ [↩]
- The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides free or low-cost health coverage for children up to age 19. To learn more, make a free call to 1-877 KIDS NOW (1-877-543-7669) [↩]
