Single mothers have do not have the benefit of having a combined salary to make paying for living expenses such as bills, food and clothing a little easier. Single mothers are also one of the groups to more likely be in a poorer socio-economic bracket because of this. Looking after children on their own can also prevent single mothers from starting or resuming higher education to increase their earning potential. But there is help available in the form of grants and scholarships. This article with give some tips on how to apply for grants for single mothers. And yes, it is possible to get a grant.
First up, let’s talk about educational type financial assistance. If you are looking to start a further or higher education course, then there are many forms of financial assistance for single mothers going back to school. You can start with www.grants.gov — it is a website with a database of thousands of grants available for people in different categories. There are over 900 grants that specifically may apply to low income person on the website. Now as a bit of a disclaimer, most grants are given to organizations so you MAY or MAY NOT find grant assistance. On the website, there are different categories to search for what you want. The advanced search option may be useful to filter out any inappropriate results. You should also enquire at the finance office of your desired college to see what schemes and help they can offer you before you accept a place there.
If you are an older woman looking to go back to school, there are charities that give scholarships for this alone. The Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation is one of the organizations that can offer this kind of grant. They award these scholarships at several colleges throughout the United States, so make sure you check whether the colleges you are interested in offer this award. The award amounts vary on individual circumstances but the average amount granted is $2,270.
For food assistance, there is a government program called the WIC. Essential foods like milk, butter, cereal and beans are provided for single mothers with children under the age of five. The mother is given vouchers once a month by The Department of Children and Families and exists to make sure all children are able to get key nutrients from the foods provided in the scheme.
If housing is the issue then there is also help in the way of grants through the government and private grant funding. Grants are offered to mothers who show financial need but will be able to pay back low interest loans. You will need some documents to apply for these grants. The documents you will need to provide include proof of income and you and your children’s birth certificate, social security card and a driving license (if applicable). The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers counseling on buying or renting a home and will be able to tell you if you qualify and what route to take. You can also try to Nehemiah Foundation. They can award low income families with up to a 6% grant of their housing loan.
For more information on how to apply for grants for single mothers and what grants are out there, remember to check out www.grants.gov and search for grants in search power engines.
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