With Single mothers playing such an important role in our society the recognition of their value is long overdue. They often provide the only example of how a grown up should function to the next generation of Americans. It’s for this reason and many others that there are a growing number of grants available to help the single mom:
- Child Care Grants
- Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Raise The Nation Student Loan Repayment Grant
- The R.O.S.E. Fund Surgery Grant
Child Care Grants
For those that work full time or are looking at going in to full time education there are grants available that can help with day care for your child. Means tested, these grants can sometimes fully cover your child care costs or of not, they will require a small contribution. The best place to find these grants are The Department of Human Services. This is usually the body that vets all child care providers and will have details of registered care centers or individuals that accept payment by the state. Sometimes the department states that you must pursue child support to get qualify.
Pell Grants
If you want to go in to post secondary education then the first thing you should apply for is a Pell grant. This is a means tested grant that will contribute towards your college’s COA (cost of attendance). AS a single mother, your chosen college will often have unique grants available that can help with stuff like books and equipment. Speak to the college student finance department to find out exactly what is on offer.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
In some other circumstances you can receive grants or full scholarships from other places. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is similar to a Pell grant because it is not repayable. You qualify for this if you are in the lowest income bracket which is determined when you apply for your Pell grant. After your application is received and processed your will get notification of your EFC (expected family contribution) score. Then you can ask your college about the FSEOG if your EFC was low enough.
Raise the Nation Student Loan Repayment Grant
If you have outstanding debts because of student loans and are finding them difficult to pay off, there could be some help available to you. Raise The Nation is a national charity that can help you pay off your student loan with a grant. The grant is provided to women who contribute to their community by way of volunteering. These are primarily meant to be single mother grants, and so is a prerequisite for qualification unlike some of the other grants mentioned here.
The ROSE Fund Surgery Grant
If part of the reason you are a single mom is because you have been in an abusive relationship then there are agencies and charities out there that will help. Each state will have its own programs but there are only a few that cover more than one state. One national organization is The R.O.S.E. Fund (Regaining One's Self Esteem) is a non-profit organization that can help with medical, dental, and facial reconstructive surgeries. When someone leaves an abusive partner they often have low self esteem and through grants from ROSE you can pay for procedures that are otherwise unreachable.
There are many other single mother grants available for education and work placement assistance if you ask in the right places. As a general rule, funding is available through the place or people that deal with what you need funding for, you just have to ask.