Being a single mom is one of the toughest jobs on planet earth. If you have several children or just one, the daily responsibility of caring for your child or children can be a challenge – even frightening at times. Where can you turn when the things you need are just not right there? Here are 5 ways you can reach out for assistance if you’re a single mom, even help from the government.
- Family and Friends
Sometimes those closest to you can be a great help. They not always might able to help with a temporary financial setback like having to pay for a month’s rent or an unexpectedly high utility bill, but perhaps they can get a couple of bags of groceries or help to take care of your kids on a Saturday or Sunday while you take on some extra hours a weekend job and cut back the cost of childcare. Families can also have connections with friends, co-workers or others who might know of opportunities that would benefit you in some way.
2. WIC
Among single mom government benefits, WIC — which stands for Women, Infants, and Children — is one of the most generous. It’s a supplemental nutrition program for women who are
3. Food Pantries
They also may be able to help you even if you’ve already been told that you “earn too much” to qualify for government assistance.
Another source of assistance is your local food pantry network. These are also called ‘food banks.’ They work by providing staples like pasta, rice, canned vegetables, and even some toiletries. In most cases, food banks are limited to non-perishable goods, but some do also provide milk and eggs. And around the holidays, they may also offer frozen turkeys or hams. Food pantries also tend to be well-connected resources, so they may be able to point you toward other sources of assistance for single moms in your area.
4. Get Help Paying For Child Care
Government Programs
- Child care subsidies (also called vouchers and fee assistance): Each state receives funds from the federal government for a state-run child care subsidy program. These programs help low-income families pay for child care so they can work or attend school. Eligibility requirements are different in each state. Visit our state resources section to find information about your state’s program.
- Head Start and Early Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start programs help prepare children to start school and provide services to support their mental, social, and emotional development. Families who have low incomes or meet other requirements may be eligible for Head Start. More information about Head Start and Early Head Start is available here.
- State-funded prekindergarten: State pre-k programs serve children between 3 and 5 years old. They focus on early education and school readiness. Some states offer these programs to eligible families at low or no cost. Programs may be part-day or full-day. Your state child care resource and referral agency can usually tell you if there is state pre-k where you live and where to find local programs. Find your state CCR&R agency here.
5. How to Get Help Paying Rent
If you need help paying your rent, contact your state housing finance agency or your local public housing agency office. You may qualify for government programs to get help with your rent payments.
Contact your state human or social service agency:
- If you need immediate, emergency assistance
- To find out what other help may be available for you locally
Even if you don’t qualify to get help with your rent payments through these agencies, they may be able to provide referrals to community organizations that might offer help. You may also search for and contact community or nonprofit organizations in your area directly for help or referral information.