Cash assistance for single mothers is something that can be very important for all of the single mothers that are struggling to make ends meet on their own. Times are tougher than they have ever been before and some single mothers are only just surviving. The good news is that there is a lot of assistance available to you, the bad news is that knowledge of it is still limited. You might think that there is a lot of information about this on the web, but the sad truth is that there is a LOT of misinformation out there which makes things confusing.
The worst possible scenario is finding yourself in a position where you have no job and no help and are being forced to try and raise your child effectively blind. But you must never give in because there are people working long hours every single day to get you the assistance you need. All you need to do is ask.
There are different kinds of assistance available. For example, you might need help with any number of the following:
- Cash Assistance
- Spiritual Assistance
- Rent Assistance
- Emotional Assistance
- School Assistance
There are many private organizations working to provide you with many programs that will ease your stress and worry by providing invaluable support. These organizations will also help you with applications for grants, loans and scholarships if you are thinking of furthering your education. These packages will put money in your hands to help you get things done and improve your life. It is important to remember that the only way you will qualify for these programs is if you are within a certain low income bracket.
The Federal Government also offers a wide variety of assistance for single mothers including, but not limited to, the welfare program which will help you with basic needs, scholarships and grants, and even low cost housing. There are over 900 programs available and they all can be found on the government websites. There are private websites that will charge a fee to disclose information to you. You should avoid these as all this information is freely available and no private company will have more information about government programs than the official websites themselves.
There are also certain programs that offer funding for single mothers to start up small businesses, including training and help with planning. Therefore if you feel you are up to taking on a new challenge, especially since you can base your business at home, then this might be the ideal option for you. Remember, though, that the majority of these programs come as loans, but generally with better afferent costs. Still, the independence a small business will offer you and your child is invaluable and worth a little difficulty in the beginning.
However, regardless of the assistance available to single mothers, the point is that unless you put the work in, you will not get anywhere. You need to search every single day and call in favors off of anyone that can help you out. Keeping this up will mean that sooner or later, something will come of it, and since pride comes before a fall, you shouldn’t let it stand in your way to guaranteeing a good life for your family.
Remember that cash assistance for single mothers is possible. You can pursue some type of loan program, look into getting grants, seek out scholarship, hunt down some welfare programs, or even visit local single mother shelters that offer tangible aid for moms in need.
Use these programs effectively and you may soon find that you have little to worry about. The secret is persistence, and you will have put the effort in and long hours of searching and filling out applications, even if some programs reject you, then you must try others. Don’t be discouraged after one rejection; try again as there will be the perfect program out there to suit your needs.
Ok, let’s talk about SOME of the options you can pursue if you need some cash assistance.
Loans as Cash Assistance
The easiest way to get some cash is to take out a loan. This could a personal loan from the bank, utilizing your bank overdraft for some extra money, taking out a payday loan, or even dipping into your credit card. Loans should ALWAYS be the last resource you look at. Please moms, before you consider taking out any sort of loan, remember that you are going to have to repay said loan and repay it with MORE money (called interest). Because of this, SingleMotherAssistance.net does not recommend single moms looking for emergency money seek out any sort of loan.
Note that loans are connected to your credit score. If you have bad credit, you won’t be able to get a loan (except a payday loan) or if you do manage to qualify, somehow, you are going to pay skyhigh interest. So please moms, don’t go applying for loans if your credit score is bad. And certainly, don’t go getting loans if your credit score is bad and your income situation is unstable. You should also find out what your credit score is, if you intent to get a loan of some sort in the future. You can get check your credit score for free online or simply write to the major credit agencies (there are three of them), and request your report — by the Fair Credit Act, you are entitled to a free report each year.
If you absolutely need some quick cash and you can be sure you can repay what you borrow QUICKLY, you can look at a payday loan. These loans have some of the highest fees on the market though and if you don’t repay them quickly, you can land yourself in an even worse financial situation than you start with. Payday loans should only ever be used for absolute emergencies (medical, dental, etc). Don’t take out a payday loan to buy that new Sony Playstation for your kid’s Christmas present! A better (cheaper) option would be to see if you can get a personal line of credit from your bank. This requires good credit on your part, but the interest rates are lower.
Nevertheless, here is a quick breakdown of the type of loans out there and some links to some recommended lenders:
Payday Loans
These are small cash loans (under $2000) that are ridiculously easy to qualify for. There is no credit check, so nearly anyone (within reason) can qualify. This also makes them very dangerous loans, especially if you have no reliable income or are already in a financial hole. SingleMotherAssistance.net strongly advises that you don’t take out one of these loans unless it’s an absolute emergency AND you can repay the loan within a couple weeks. Payday loans have some of the highest interest rates out there and you can easily get into a situation of owing MORE interest than the principal amount after a couple missed payments. If you need a payday loan, then one reputable online payday lender is 60 Minute Payday.
Personal Loans
These are loans of varying amounts. The typical way to get a personal loan is to approach your bank. Personal loans can be used to fix up your house, buy a car, or meet some financial need that you need a large sum of money for. You can get these loans from your bank. Typically, you’ll have to pass a credit check to qualify for an unsecured personal loan. One recommended online personal loan lender is Lending Club.
Student Loans
If you want to go back to college and you can’t foot the bill yourself (common these days), your best option is a federal student loan. The nice thing about these is they are student friendly — you typically don’t have to start repaying them until you finish your schooling. And often, you are given a grace period before having to make your first payment. Of course, this depends on the type of student loan you get. The main federal student loan is the Perkins student loan and the Stafford student loan. Go here for more info.
If you need more money (and it’s possible federal student loans won’t provide you with enough money to pay for school), you can pursue private student loans. Look at privatestudentloans.com to match yourself up with a private student loan lender.
Mortgage Loans
A loan given out by the bank to help fund your home purchase. You can see our whole mortgage assistance section for more info about these type of loans. In terms of mortgage loans for financial assistance, there are a type of loan. These are called reverse mortgages and are basically a loan where you take a loan out against the equity of your home. If you have a home and equity (and these days, after the housing crash, most of you likely Won’t), you can take out money on your home to fund other purchases. While you can do so, we don’t recommend it as if the equity drops, you are in serious trouble. If you want to get a mortgage, consider the FHA home loan — one of the easier to qualify for mortgage loans these days. You can check with LendingTree.com to see if you qualify for the FHA.
Business Loans
Loans that you can start a business with. For the average single mom looking for some cash assistance, these loans are not applicable to your situation. If you need cash assistance for a business start up though, you might look into these kind of loans. You can read more about them here.
Verdict: Avoid loans for cash assistance unless you can pay them back quickly
Grants for Moms as Cash Assistance
First off, let me get this out of the way. If you’ve been reading about “grants for single moms”, “Obama grants for moms” or any sort of special financial assistance grant given to needy people, you’ve been reading non-sense information. I’m going to be straight with you: the US government is not going to hand you a wad of cash to bail you out of your financial problems, especially with the whole financial problems the entire US is experiencing. Sorry, there is not enough money for that right now. That’s not to say there are NOT programs backed by the federal government where you can’t get some money, but these programs are very specific.
In general, government grants (especially those found on places like grants.gov) are only given out to organizations that are involved with something like education, public welfare, or science. You as an individual won’t qualify, sorry.
The government does make available grant money for individuals in one specific circumstance: school. You can qualify for these grants (the biggest being the Pell Grant which can run up to a few thousand dollars every school semester), but you must be
1. Attending an accredited school (college or university)
2. Be an American Citizen
3. Have Financial Need
4. Fill out the FAFSA application (financial aid form that gives you access to federal student loans and federal financial aid programs).
Getting grants for education like the Pell grant will take time — you need to go through the application process.
Verdict: If you are a single mom that doesn’t go to school, then government grants are not a solution for emergency cash!
Private Grants for Assistance
There are SOME programs that you can find that will offer private grants. Again, most private grants (i.e. non government grants) are given for things like education or business. Most organizations are not going to toss you a few thousand dollars just because you are needy — it doesn’t work that way. So what are private grants? Well, you may find Corporations offer charity organizations that may hand out money. Or if you are an employee of some large corporation, you may find there are daycare grants or scholarship grants given out for employees to attend school.
Verdict: Unless you are seeking education assistance, private grants are not a likely source of cash for moms
Web Giveaway Sweepstakes
There are quite a few websites online that offer giveaways of some sort. These websites offer giveaways to either promote themselves in some way or are paid to by companies looking to advertise. Most of these giveaways function as sweepstakes. Some websites will even give you something free for signing up.
These are too numerous to really list them all, but I’ll list a few programs that relate to moms:
- Fill out the form to apply for the 10k Scholarships for Working Adults
- Sign up for a free Familyplanning.com membership and get grocery coupons and access to free baby samples
- Complete a brief survey out for a chance to win a $3500 shopping spree
- Fill out a survey and get a chance to win a $1500 gas card
- Win a $3500 dollar nursery makeover for you baby by filling out a survey
- Get a Free $250 Gift Card to your Favorite Baby Store
- Get ready for school with $1,500 shopping spree — short survey
- Do You Have a CuteKid? Submit photo for a chance to win 25k if you’re kid is the cutest!
- And here’s one where you fill out survey and get a ton of grocery coupons for online savings
Verdict: Worth filling out for the chance of winning some money or getting some free stuff for signing up
State Assistance
The federal government is usually not the best source for financial assistance. It’s true that there are a few federal programs like the HUD and housing choice voucher programs that do offer some assistance, but from what we’ve found, most of the assistance programs that single mothers can easily apply for are offered at the state level. We call these state assistance programs.
We’ve spent a good deal of time compiling a state by state list of the state assistance programs (if any) that might be of interest to single parents.
Verdict: State assistance programs are a single mom’s best bet for getting REAL financial help from the government
Charity/Non-Profit/Religious Organization Assistance
Another great resource for assistance comes from non-profit organizations. The assistance offered is usually not financial, but often material. You may be able to get free food, clothing, emotional counsel, job training/help and even a place to stay as a single parent in need. We suggest you look at our resources for single mothers section for a huge list of links and phone numbers to organizations that CAN offer you some direct assistance of some sort.
Verdict: Non-Profit Organizations are one of the best ways for single mothers to get some direct assistance in the form of shelter, food, clothing, emotional support, and career advice.
Need More Information About Financial Assistance? We’ve written extensively about financial assistance for single parents elsewhere:
- If you are looking for a list of money resources, we suggest you read our money for single mothers post.
- For a list of general resources (including money resources), you should also check out our Single Mother Resources section with a list of direct links to financial assistance programs
- Be sure and check out our Financial Help Section and our Financial Assistance Post
- Look at our State Assistance for Moms section
- If you are Canadian, then read our Canadian Assistance section.
This video below gives one example of many of the legit single mom organizations out there that can lend that helping hand. Not all organizations will give out loans, grants, or scholarships to moms — but there are many other resources that they can share like education, counseling, and strategic guidance.
my name is victoria brown and i have three children. we have been staying with my mom and i have been looking for a job for months and i hope i start at the school soon but with school getting out soon iam still notgoing to have money coming in. I just have child support and sometimes i do not get that. my mom is moving out saturday 5-1-2010 and me and my kids can stay in the house intill 5-20-2010 and after that i do not know what we are going to do. I donot family here in flordia that we can stay with and i do not know what ian going to do.my number is 850-305-0917 please call me if u can help me. thank you
I am a single parent and I ‘m looking forward to finding a place to stay at. In this economic times.
It’s hard to find a job. I wanted to know if there anyway I can get some financial assistance on a house or
apartment. I prefreably prefer a house.
Thanks,
Rolanda Russell
Iam a single mother in need of financial assistance ASAP…. I have three children and am preparing to go back to school to get a certificate for hemodyalisis. Please I am about to loose me vehicle and my rented home is two months behind… HELP
I am a single mother looking for help with living expenses, housing and going back to school
i am a single mother and need assistance with remaining in school. it has come down to paying the rent, buying food or books and traveling expenses for my daughter and i. i need help fast!
I am a 25 year old single mom of two. I am seeking help for finding a home to live. If there is any help for me please let me know. I have gone as far as looking for grants and still have had no luck…..please help. I have a deadline before i have to leave the place we are staying at now.
hi. im a single mother of 3 almost four in 2 weeks and i am looking for assistance in getting a grant to go back to school for a phlebotomy course and ekg. i recently lossed my job of 3 yrs after the person i was taking care of has passed away and its hard getting a job being i am 39 weeks pregnant and i get no kind of financial help from the father please any suggestions im all ears
I am a single mother of 3 and i need help paying my rent for this comming month. Please help me if you can. I do not wish to loose my kids because i dont have a place for them to stay.
i am a 45 year old single mom.my husband passed away of a heart attack, i have four children,all in school.i got a job as a nurseing assistant,been employed at same job for 3 years.i get no kind of assistance..i just need some help with clothes&school supplies..if anyone can..have a blessed day and thanks for listening to my problem.
Marilyn.
It is hard to get assistance, especially with the current state of the government/US. There are some online solutions in the form of work-at-home jobs. I’m not talking about the scammy type programs that steal from people. Writing articles for websites, making websites, online data entry jobs, etc. Check out the Jobs for Moms section for more information
hi i am asingle mother of 2. my lids father is in jail and i cant get child support. im staying wit my mother rite now but i hav 2 b out of here by oct.1. and hav no where to go i cant find a job i hav no money at all. if anyone can help i will b willing to do anything. i live in beaufort north carolina. my phone number is 252-269-7638. thank u so much
I am a single mom of two….and having hard times making in me and my children just came out of homelessness 2009. And when I thought I was doing better in life something is always knocking me down….I am starting to feel depress again school started I had no money to get all the school supplies my daughter needed for High School both of my children got on uniform a piece and my son is wearing uniform clothes from last year in bad condition. I try not to cry because I don’t want my children to see me sad. We moved into an apartment with no furniture so I am sleeping on the floor and we eat on the kitchen floor and the sad part is I have a job and can not make it…..I cry in my office at work trying to find ways to survive…..I still feel like I am out on the streets even though I am employed there is no help out here as far as funds I’ve called several places and they tell me there is no money……I am setting here at work trying to figure out how am I going to make it into work next week because I am down to my last $6 I travel to work about 80miles a day from home…..I am just to my breaking point I want me and my children to live comfortable…and not have to go back into homelessness
Hi I am a single mother. I have a one year old daughter. I left a domestic relationship about 4 days ago. i am staying with a friend and my time is limited. i am currently looking for a job. I do not have any income coming in. I am struggling and i really need your help. You can reach me at 252-985-6002. My childs father will be serving 25 years to life if convicted of the crime. The state took the charges. I really would like to start fresh and brand new. I want a better life for my child. Please help us we are in dieng need of your help. Thanks.
HI
I AM A SINGLE MOTHER MYSELF LOOKING FOR HOUSING.MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL MY YOUNG LADIES. WE CAN DO IT JUST REMAIN FOCUS AND LOOK AT YOUR BABIES.MY DAUGHTER KEEPS ME GOING.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND I KNOW WE WILL BE FINE JUST TRUST IN THE LORD AND SOMETHING WILL COME THRU……PUT YOUR BEST EFFORT..AND IT WILL BE ALRIGHT…ADIOS
IM A SINGLE MOM OF ONE IM 17 AND IM LIVING OFF MY PARENTS AND MY BABY DAD ISNT AROUNT ANYMORE AND IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A JOB BUT CANT FIND ONE FOR THE LIFE OF IT. THIS IS MY EMAIL YO_ITS_LOVEE122@YAHOO.COM
I NEED HELP I DONT EVEIN NO HOW TO GET BENIFITS….
Hello,
my name is misty im tryin to help my sister she has just had a baby..she has no job and no money.. where she is living now is not working . Im trying to find some way to help her like finding some housing. she just so deppressed(sad)..but when she holds that little boy nothing else matters..so if someone could help will you? i dont have a phone but plz e-mail me at mistyjane18@gmail.com thank you and god bless you. peace
There are a couple options:
Local Women’s Shelters – most cities do have shelters set up for women in need. Try looking at your phonebook or do an online search for women shelters in your town/city
State Assistance — there is state assistance you can apply for — WIC, food stamps, and whatnot. Go here and look at the State Assistance section.
Private Assistance — There are private assistance available — emotional councelling and even food and shelter support. Look at the same link given above for a list of private programs for single mothers. The Nuturing Network is one such organizations that may be of help
This is really of no help to me at all. I don’t need a scholarship…….I can get a Pell Grant for college. What I need is help paying my back rent….keeping my electricity from being disconnected…….keeping my oil tank filled. How is this website a help to me when all I find is an article saying help is available yet there is no links to that help???????
I am a 42 year old single mom who has been in a car accident and has has three surgeries in one month. I have 19 screws, 2 rods and 3 plates in my neck and am unable to return to work until April. I am an RN and my doctor decided to replace me when I could not return at the end of my FMLA. I have NO INCOME but SNAP. Anyone have any suggestions at all??
Hi im a 17 year old single mother.who has been in an domestic relationship while pregnant.I still live off my mother and so does my baby.Im having a hard time getting my life together.I want to be able to be more independent and believe i can do it…If any one has any information about any places i can go,abou welfare,etc.Please send me an email Lexis317@aol.com. Thank you
hi i am a single mom n st.louis..i need housing plz help me..i already applyed for section 8 n was rejected idk..my number is 314 837-8442
I am a single partent of 2 who parents are putting me and my kids out, i eill be homeless yet again im in dire need of help im in college reach me 816-337-0161
i am a single mother of three. After losing my job of two and a half years, i cant find another.i lost my home now living with a friend. im starting school oin april for beauty. i need some help me and my kids need a steady place to stay and clothes and som reliable transportation.
hello everyone, im a single mother of 2 and its hard out here for me also . i need help getting a place for me and my kids, i have limited family, mother is deceased and father no where to be found. ive tried to apply for assistance but it seems to not be goin my way. ive been puttin in apllication everyday and i still havent gotten a job. so if u can help jus to get me started with the apartment i would appreciate it and may god bless u… thbrittney@ymail.com
im near atlanta ga
Hi, my name is Trish… I am a single mother and a full time student at a private college that does not participate with companies for private student loans and does not include living expenses in our tuition. I am struggling with paying my bills and am looking for work. I know it will be hard going to school 20 hours a week and taking on a job with two toddler boys but i am going to end up worse off if I dont find something fast. I would take out a loan but I dont thik my credit is good enough to be approved. I could really use some useful advise and guidance. please contact me if you could help at all. thank you
bless your days and loved ones.
Trisha
Reno, NV
trisha.shepherd@yahoo.com
Hi i am a single mother of two. Lost my job, car an now living with a friend. My youngest has seizures and really need a car to be able to get her to doctors. Really not making ends meet with welfare. Trying to find job. No luck
im a single mother of 3 children in i live in mississippi i have tried to get help from the goverment for houseing i live with my mother right now who has lung cancer and i need to find help before something happens to her and we are out in the cold please help amyleah6@yahoo.com i have looked all over this site and nothing is helping
I am a single mother of 2 little girls. I left my ex boyfriend (father of my children) about 2 weeks ago. He was abusive. He was very obbsessive and controlling. I’m 22 and I don’t have a drivers liscence, an education, job, or any way of supporting my children. I am living with my parents. My mom’s been a home maker for over 20 years, so she is having a hard time finding a job, and my dad has had a heart attack and an enlarged heart, so he is having a hard time also. So, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m looking into getting my GED. My mom is going to watch my girls, and get paid by state. But, I don’t know what I’m going to do about money for diapers, and other personal needs. No one in my area is hiring and if there are I just can’t seem to get hired. I’m not getting child support yet. I am calling DHS today for the first set of papers to be mailed to me. Theres alot of papers, court dates, and time till I start recieving child support. So, I’m stuck. And I cannot go back to him. I will end up losing myself. He has kept everything for the girls and I. Its starting to get cold and all I have for my girls and I are summer clothes. We don’t even have a bed. We are sleeping on a couch. I am just searching for some help and support. I believe that we will get through this. Everyone has hard times and this is mine….
Wow Amber, but God knows everything. You will make it through this in Jesus name. God bless you and I love you.
ITS A FAMILIAR STORY. I AM A MOTHER OF TWO. I AM A FULL TIME STUDENT. LET ME TELL U ITS POSSIBLE. YOU JUST HAVE TO WAN T IT AN D DO EVERYTHING TO HET IT. I WAS IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP BUT I LEFT AND I MADE IT . IT WAS HARD AT FIRST BUT WITH TIME IT GETS EASIER. IT SEEMS LIKE FINDING A JOB IS IMPOSSIBLE BUT I CONTINUE LOOKING. WORKING AND GOING TO SCHOOL IS NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS. JUST GET YOURSELF TOGETHER AND DO THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FIRST. LIKE GETTING YOUR LICENSE AND GED. HOPE EVERYTHING GETS BETTER AND PRAYER REALLY WORKS!
I am a single mother stuggling with Cancer unable to work a 9 to 5 job I am looking to establish an on line retail website. This is my only chance to work due to my illness I never know when I am well enough to work. I resently left an bad relationship thought i would be able to provide for my daughter and myself. I invested my last cent on a distributor that turned out to have bogus merchandise leaving me in debt beyond return,i am 2 months behind on my bill going to lose my car and apartment if I dont get help catching up and getting a buisness up and running.I know I can make it work if I have the resourses. I need this so if I dont win my cancer battle I know my daughter will have my buisiness to survive with.
If anyone can help or has any IdeasI need my car for treatment and cant depend on anybody else
but myself.HELP ME FIND THE FINANCES TO CATCH UP AND GET MY BUISNESS UP AND RUNING.PLEASE REALLY DONT THINK I HAVE ALOT OF TIME. CBROC22@YAHOO.COM
ALL GOOD COMES TO THOSE THAT WAIT ON THE LORD. i AM GOING THROUGH SOME STORMS MYSELF AT THIS TIME. BUT NOTHING i CANT HANDLE. i NEED A CAR, A JOB AND JUST SOME PEACE OF MIND, I TRY EACH DAY TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN. AND WHEN i GIVE IT ALL i HAVE THAT DAY I THANK GOD FOR GIVEN ME STRENGTH TO GET DONE WHAT I PUT MY BEST FOOT FORWARD TO DO. AND THEN I SAY GOD YOU SAW MY GOOD DEEDS AND ACTIONS. SO NOW I WAIT ON YOUR BLESSINGS, SOME TIMES WE ARE PUT IN SITUATIONS TO MAKE US STRONGER, AND NOT WEAK. AND WHEN WE HAVE CHILDREN TO RAISE ON OUR OWN, WE HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO HOLD IT TOGEATHER FOR THEM. LADIES WE MUST BE STRONG AND NOT BREAK , FOR OUR CHILDREN, WE CAN DO THIS. GOD MADE US STRONG ENOUGH TO ENDURE ANYTHING, SO TODAY LETS STAND TOGEATHER and be a winner