Grants for Single Mothers

You have probably seen them - there are millions of ads out there on the internet, declaring that the Obama administration has all this free money available for single mothers. Most of the ads are targeted to women who want to go back to school, but some are more general in nature, promising huge amounts of money if you just ask for it.Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that is not exactly true, and it's definitely not as easy as most of those ads make it seem.But there is some good news, in that there are some legitimate ways to get help, and you don't have to pay an upfront fee to find it.Housing and FoodIf you're truly in a desperate situation, in that you don't make enough money to keep a roof over your family's head or food on the table, the first place you should turn is to your state's Department of Human Services.  Food assistance is available under SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which is also known as "food stamps".  There is also a program for pregnant women and those with small children under the age of 5, called the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program.Cash assistance for housing and other non-food necessities can be obtained through the TANF program (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), if you qualify.You can also check with local charities and church groups, which sometimes offer shelter and food on a temporary basis.There are also state (but no federal) and non-profit programs that can help with a downpayment, if you want to purchase a house. Or the FHA (Federal Housing Authority) offers loan programs with lower interest rate and lower downpayment requirements than commercial lenders.EducationYou can get money to pay tuition, if you want to go back to school to continue your education or get trained in a new career. Most grants are geared toward accredited colleges and universities, but some target trade schools as well, since there has been such a surge of enrollment in certificate programs that prepare you for a career.Pell grants are a federally-funded source of money for tuition for low-income students who have not yet obtained a four-year degree. It is provided by the Department of Education and you can apply for one using the free FAFSA website (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). There are many websites out there that provide helpful information about where to look and how to apply for financial aid and scholarships. Be sure that you do not get suckered into paying for information - it is all available for free.