“Everyone has a right to a university degree in America, even if it’s in Hamburger Technology.”   Clive James

I know it sounds like an off-handed remark made to sound witty and humorous but I think it has a ring of truth in it. I believe that we all have that right to get a degree and I would like to think we all get to exercise this right if and when we want to. However, the world is not so idyllic that it will conform to my notions.

Single motherhood is nothing new nowadays. They are in a very difficult situation because they have to be both mother and father to their children but it is even more difficult for those single parents who have low-incomes especially those who do not have a university degree. So, even if the single mom going back to school is the best option for the family, they are unable to do so because they cannot afford it now. It’s a vicious cycle.

There are a lot of grants and scholarships for single mothers to go to college. Some of these are student grants for low-income families, under which most families with single moms belong to. The single mother can also opt for student loans. The following are some groups catering to single parents:

Programs Offered by The Assistance League

This is a philanthropic society which has programs for family. They provide scholarships, shelter outreach, and monetary grants. They have bases all over the US. To find the nearest location: The Assistance League.

College of DuPage Foundation Single Parent Scholarship

A scholarship, specifically for single parents with dependent children. Ten $1000 scholarships are awarded each year. You can find more info about this here: http://www.cod.edu/dept/fin_aid/scholarships/cod_singleparen.htm

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund

This was a fund established to address the need of single-parent families in Arkansas. If you are a single parent living in Arkansas, you can apply for this. Other states also have a similar scholarship fund for single parents.

Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship

For single mothers, who want to pursue a degree related to business. This is only for single moms who are studying at the undergraduate level.

There are more scholarships to choose from, there is even one where all you need to do is register and you have chance to get $10000 for college. The best place to look tor them is at the college you plan to attend. Contact your school’s financial aid office. Don’t delay. Start applying now!

  • Do you feel like your life somehow was put on-hold the day you became a mother? Do you wish to finish your education even if you know you can not afford it right now?
  • Do you constantly feel you could achieve so much more and earn a lot more if you only had a degree?
  • Do you often wish you can both be a successful career woman and a mother?
  • Do you wish you had the means to provide for your child and complete college at the same time?

Well, I’ve got news for you, you can stop tormenting yourself with those feelings and thoughts. There is a way, in fact, there’s more than one way to help you. Single mothers who can’t afford to finish their education because all their money is needed to support herself and her child have an alternative. That is, scholarships for single moms like you!

Yes, there are scholarships for single mothers who want to finish their education. But just make sure it is a reliable source and steer clear of scams like the Obama grant. On a lighter note, various private and government groups cater to people who need financial aid especially when it comes to education. To aid single mothers among other things is one of the objectives of these groups. To name a few:

The Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship Program

This program was made in honor of an incredible woman to help adult women who have financial difficulties, it provides scholarships for single moms returning to school. They are all about empowering women and so they provide more than college scholarships, to know more please go here: http://www.rankinfoundation.org/

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation for Low-Income Women and Children

For 2011, this Foundation is dedicated to help women with children who want to complete education or get training. This organization helps these women not only achieve personal success but improve the living circumstances of her children.

Women’s Opportunity Awards

This is a private organization helping single mothers as well as other women and children. They give scholarship for single moms. This is given by Soroptimist whose greatest desire is to give a better life for women and children through the provision of resources that will help improve their education, skills and job opportunities.

Indeed, there are quite a number of scholarships for single moms out there. I’ve only just named a few. I know it sounds amazing that there are private organizations helping single mothers but they are real and they can help you.

07. May 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,

Single mothers are probably one of the most fearless warriors out there. They face great challenges head-on and they do so alone. I do not mean to say no one has made an effort to somehow help them, what I mean is, at the the end of the day, the only one who shoulders the burden of paying for the bills and supporting her children is her. No one else but her. I do not think they are pitiful because of their circumstance but I do think they must be really strong to overcome so many hardships.

One of the biggest problems for low-income single mothers is related to housing because most of their money is spent on daily living expenses. They barely have enough money to cover rent and often cannot afford to buy their own house. It seems like their are no other options for them. Will somebody care enough to give home loans for single mothers? Any loans for single moms, for that matter, which can help them with their daily expenses?

Yes. There are organizations which can even provide loans for single mothers with bad credit. The groups and links mentioned below can help single moms looking not only for home loans but other types.

Charities

There are charities that cater to housing problems of those with low-income and they are funded by private individuals who want to help. They look for affordable housing for others. One such group is the Charities Housing organization which also helps other look for job opportunities. For more info visit www.charitieshousing.org. Either way, these groups make sure that there are less homeless people in the streets, in the hopes of completely eliminating homelessness.

Loans

There are groups that give loans for housing, for example, the Basic FHA Insured Home Mortgage. If you get this loan, you will be given the amount you need, unlike in the U.S. Housing and Urban Development where money is not given directly to you. The program description, eligibility, and application process can be found at www.govloans.gov. There’s also a loan for people who are in danger of losing their homes. It is aptly called “Hope For Homeowners”. To learn more go here.

Shelters

There are shelters all over the country. Find the nearest shelter by visitinghttp://4homeless.hypermart.net/soup_kitchens.html. There are shelters for single mothers, or more appropriately there are groups that help find housing for single mothers like the CoAbode Single Mothers Sharing.

It’s a fascinating concept because you live in a house with a fellow single mother, which means you get a partner who can help you with your tasks and you can also split the house bills between the two of you. More importantly, you get to have a support group, somebody who is going through the same thing as you are and understands your situation. The organizers of this programs carefully select a family to match with you. Amazing!

23. April 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

The world today is a far-cry from what it was before. The differences are clearly distinguished just by looking at the changes in our mode of transportation, and even in how easily and quickly we can contact people who are miles and miles away from us. But technological advances and innovations have not destroyed the need for every human being to fulfill their dreams, even for single mothers, beaten up by financial burdens and parental responsibilities.

It must be quite daunting for single mothers who were not able to get their degrees due to more pressing obligations. All their money is used for child-rearing and getting a degree seems like a distant dream. So what can be done for them?

Scholarships and Grants

Believe it or not, there are grants and scholarships for single mothers. Despite the financial constraints which circumstances have forced upon you, you can still pursue your dreams because there are college grants for single moms who want to go back to school. The government and a few organizations and institutions are willing to help your cause. Allow me to point out some of the grants available to help you on your road to pursuing your dreams.

Federal Pell Grants

This is a student aid grant which provides for undergraduate students who are financially-challenged. The Pell grants provides varying educational grants from one person to another because financial circumstances and other factors of the recipient are taken into account. If you want to know more about the eligibility criteria for this grant, visit here: StudentAid.ed.gov.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (TEACH)

This was tailored for those who want to pursue a career in teaching but do not have the financial resources to sustain and pursue a degree in education. So, for single moms who want to be a teacher but do not have the means to pursue it, this is the education grant for you! The conditions and eligibility requirements can be found here: TEACH.

Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) and Special LEAP (SLEAP) Grants

These school grants provide the funds necessary for states to help people who really need money. These grants provide money to your state so they can assist those of you who truly need financial assistance.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

Depending on the funds available, schools under this program, provide financial assistance to select students who are in dire need of help. It offers grants for college. Detailed information can be found at www2.ed.gov/.

Institutional Grants and Scholarships

Most colleges provide institutional grants for students who need help financially. Single mothers who need financial assistance can try applying for college grants as well. To know some of the schools that provide grants and scholarships, go here: scholarship-positions.com.

These are only a few out of the many grants and scholarships for single mothers available for you. If you try browsing the net you will find a lot of grants and scholarships for you like this amazing $10000 scholarship for moms, just be careful of scams like the Obama grant and make sure your source is reliable. And now, you can go forth and pursue your dreams!

03. April 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Are you a single mom tired of paying for a house that’s not even yours and wouldn’t be yours in the end? Are you fed up with moving from one home to another or having to live in a cramped space just because its cheap? It must weigh on your nerves knowing that you’re paying month after month on a home and it isn’t exactly your dream home!

The (Im)Possible Dream

As a parent, we want to give everything the world has to offer for our children. We want our children to grow in a house that has enough space for them to run and enjoy their childhood. We’d like to give them roots, and a place they can go home to and get a break after or in between: a long and tiring journey towards their dreams or a series of battles that comes with growing up.

In order to give these things to them, we slave away and work so hard to provide for them. But the money we earn is always just enough to get by, we do not have extra money to afford a home of our own so, we resign ourselves and tag our visions as impossible dreams. But it is POSSIBLE!

Housing

With the housing assistance for single mothers programs available for us, we need not fret, it ceases to be a pipe dream, but rather becomes a compelling vision, something which can be realized. We can turn it into a reality, and the first step is knowing where to go for housing help. There are many housing programs which can help in providing housing for single mothers, like the following:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

This develops programs that offer government housing assistance for low-income families look for a home of their choice like single family homes. They also help you find emergency housing. You can also choose your own house as long as they meet the requirements of the program. For more information you can visit the HUD website.

USDA – Rural Development / Housing & Community Facilities Programs (HCFP)

This program targets rural Americans. It assists them in being able to own their homes and they offer rental assistance to help you keep up with your rent. This can be a housing assistance for single mothers who are having difficulty paying the rent of their apartments and as such can’t afford their own house. Visit here to know more about this: www.rurdev.usda.gov.

Housing Finance Agencies

This group offers help to people and groups who have low-income. This includes businesses and families with single parents. It regulates twelve federal banks. Learn more about it this alternative at MakingHomeAffordable.gov.

These are just a few of the many options available to you in helping provide housing, rent assistance and housing for single moms. Check them out!

11. March 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Are you a single mom who is wondering what in the world has happened to your life? Is all this what you imagined for yourself when you were younger?

At this point in our lives, regardless of the challenges of motherhood without a partner in life, I think we can all agree that even if we might not have been able to get the best, we want the best the world has to offer for our children. They are, after all, the driving force that motivate us to work hard and triumph over seemingly endless storm of obstacles.

But there’s only so much we can do and sooner or later, we’re faced with our own inadequacy, the stark realization that what we earned so painstakingly is not enough for the survival of your family. Should you start wallowing in despair now?

NO!

There are government and non-government programs which provide living assistance for single moms. The following are some of the organizations which provide help for single mothers.

Mercy Housing Live in Hope

This group intends to create and provide low-cost housing for low-income families. They believe that giving citizens a better life helps the community as a whole.

Homeless Assistance

This group does not only provide assistance for ending homelessness but also for preventing it. Single mothers who are on the verge of losing their homes due to financial difficulties, this is place can help you.

Bridge of Hope

Like the group above, this group is also focused on prevention and eradication of homelessness. They seek to empower single mothers like you not only by providing permanent homes but also stability both personally and financially.

Rental Assistance

This is the largest network for rental assistance, you can seek help here: rent assistance

Single Parents Association of America

This organization provides information for aid on problems concerning single parents. It is a directory of the various groups willing to offer any help such as cash assistance.

Car Angel

This group receives car donations from people and use the car to help others. In other words, they can be used to provide free cars for single moms. The cars might not be as slick as others but they are functional and will make travelling easier for you. Please visit here for info on how you can help: www.carangel.com/

You can also go to charities or apply for living assistance for single mothers. There are a lot of alternatives for you, do not despair and just keep looking until you find what suits you.

28. February 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Are you in a pinch? Did you use all your money to pay for the bills and no longer have any to pay for the rent? Are you forever trying to evade your landlord? Are you living in fear of the day your landlord will decide to evict you and your kids from his apartment? If your answer is yes, then read on, I was in the same position before and I got out of it. You can overcome this too!

Let’s face it, single moms need assistance especially if they have low-incomes. But do not worry because there are alternatives for you. There are organizations that provide help for single mothers. If you’re a single mom needing help with housing, then the following can help you.

Shelters

For emergency situations in which you find yourself out in the streets there are shelters which can accommodate single moms until they can find and afford a new one. For example, In North Carolina, they have the Raleigh Rescue Mission: Shelter and Meals,found here http://www.raleigh-rescue.org/; it provides shelter and food for the homeless.

In California, as well, they have Episcopal Sanctuary: Food, Long & Short Term Shelter, Clothing, etc., for more info, go here: www.thecross-photo.com; you and your family can stay there safely temporarily.

Rental Assistance

Besides shelters, the federal government provide aid for single mothers such as the rental assistance program which are found in your state. Not only that there are also rental assistance programs provided by non-government sectors. The goal of these rental assistance program found in different states vary but they are basically to prevent homelessness, some states provide affordable homes while some only help in rent payments. Here are the rental assistance found in some states:

The Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity – Hayward

Their aim according to them is “to promote equal access in housing and provide support services which would aid in the prevention of homelessness and promote permanent housing conditions”.

Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles – Los Angeles: Provide good quality houses at affordable prices.

The Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa – Martinez: Provide high quality houses for an affordable price and help people with low-income become self-sufficient.

There are other services and outreach which can provide solutions for when a single mother needs help. You can browse government sites and learn more about the assistance they can give single parents.

02. February 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Grants

“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.” Carter Hoddings, Jr.

Like all other parents, I’m sure you aspire to provide roots and wings to your children. Even if you are the only one raising and providing for them, you hope to be able to give them the best the world has to offer and equip them with the necessary skills they would need to be able to go and venture into the world on their own. Then, you wish to give them a home they can come home to when they’re weary from fighting their own battles.

You wish for all these and more but the problem is you, who is the only one supporting them, can not get a job that pays more because you can not get higher paying jobs due to your lack of a degree and going back to school is the least of your worries.

Why? Because you’ve got to pay bills like; rent, water, electricity, medical care, food and child care among other expenses. You can barely pay for them, how can you add more expenses to your already heavy load?

Even if pursuing a degree will be more difficult for you than most, once you get it, you will be able to earn more and provide for your family better. Plus, there is help available for you and it’s made up of four little words: grants for single moms.

You don’t believe me? Well, I know by now you probably realized that the obama grant for single mothers was not true but good news because there grants available. There are a lot of categories found at www.grants.gov. You can check them out there.

Some of the grants given are for housing, health, transportation, food programs like TANF and education. For information on how to apply, visit this link.

If you’re unsuccessful in securing grant money, loans are another option.  Various lending programs are available from http://www.govloans.gov/loans.

Getting aid can help ease and even improve your current living conditions. They may not make you as rich as Midas but they can help you shoulder the burden of financially supporting your family. It’s almost like having a partner! So, go and get it!

School grants for single mothers are the answer to the following quote by President Barack Obama.

“We need to put a college education within reach of every American. That’s the best investment we can make in our future.”

With that quote in mind, more and more organizations, along with the US government, have offered different college scholarships and school grants for single moms and other individuals. The promise of success and the promise of security drive people to attain a college education and degree.

With many Americans facing financial hardships, the cost of higher education can be a major hurdle. School grants, make it possible for single moms who are earning a meager income to go back to school without having to worry about the financial burden of rising college costs.

What are Educational Grants?

back to school grants for single mothersIn general, a grant is an award or form of financial assistance whose purpose is to convert a thing of value from a Federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose or incentive which is authorized by the US Law. These grants may be associated with a company, state, local or tribal government, research institution or academia, non-profit organizations and any other kind of institution. Educational grants are simply a financial assistance subcategory for higher education.

Who is Eligible for These Grants?

As an individual, if you are a US citizen or from the United States or United States Territory, and have resided in the US or US Territory for at least 3 years prior to an application, you are eligible. Foreign nationals are also free to apply, provided they follow the eligibility guidelines.

Where Can I Find Such Grants?

Universities and colleges will always have information available when it comes to school grants for single moms and other scholarship programs. Check with your local colleges and/or universities to inquire about the different programs available and to see which one would give you enough money for college.

If you are an employee already but have intentions of going back to school, discuss your intentions with your employer. Employer based tuition reimbursement programs can help pay a portion of an employee’s tuition provided that certain requirements and criteria are met. One big example is the The Wal-Mart Foundation. Fortune 500 companies are likely to have similar programs.

School Grants for Single Mothers Alternatives

Filing and submitting the FAFSA or Free Application for Student Aid will help you determine sources of other student grants such as the Pell Grant, Cal Grant, scholarships and low interest student loans. After submission, you will be given a SAR or Student Aid Report which includes the answers you filed in your FAFSA, and will also include your EFC or Expected Family Contribution.

The EFC is a measure of one’s financial strength, and is used to determine eligibility for federal student aid. The school that one is attending will use this number to determine how much aid one gets based on the fees associated with the school. The Internet and public library is also a good source research tool in your search for student grants and financial aid programs.

Single moms don’t need to work themselves to the bone to pay their own way through college. These grants and scholarships for single moms not only shoulder the financial burden of a college education, but they also make it possible for single moms and other individuals to better secure their financial futures, as well as their children’s.

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Related Articles

Scholarships for Single Mothers
Grants for Single Mothers
School Grants for Single Mothers

Shelter is one of the most important necessities in life, going hand in hand with food and clothing. Single mothers are a fast rising statistic today. Paying for housing, food and clothing can be a challenge for single parent homes.

What are Grants?

Grants, as they are commonly known, are a form of financial assistance for an individual, group, or organization. There are over 1000 different grant programs offered by the 26 federal grant making agencies, which individuals or groups can avail of. There are also grants offered by different organizations as well.

Who’s Eligible?

An individual must submit a grant application on his/her own behalf, and not on behalf of a group, company, institution or government. Individuals are expected to sign the grant application and its associated certifications, along with assurances that are required and necessary for the application process. Citizens of the US or US Territory who have lived in the US or US Territory for at least 3 years prior to submitting an application are eligible for a grant.

Don’t Despair – The Government Can Help!

There are various types of government assistance for single mothers available, each with different purposes: loans, grants, medical assistance and housing. Depending on the needs of a single mother, these grants are sure to ease her struggles when it comes to her finances.

Putting food on the table won’t be so hard since the government offers food assistance programs. Earning your college degree is possible with the multitude of government educational grants and scholarships for single mothers available today.

How Can the Government Help Single Moms With Housing?

Financial aid is given by the government to people who need it. If you are a single mother who needs help with finding government housing, the best place to turn is the Internet. Since programs change annually, one needs to do thorough research on what type of housing grants or subsidies the government is offering.

It’s a matter of finding the right housing grant/program for you, then filing for an application. Some government grants offer financial assistance by covering a portion of your housing costs.

Other Sources of Assistance for Single Mothers

Aside from government assistance, one may also look into various non-profit organizations that offer aid for single mothers or for women in need, like subsidized housing for single mothers. These organizations may be churches, battered women organizations and various donation funded social services. Once again, a great means of finding these funding sources is through the Internet.

There are also sites devoted to helping single mothers, whether financially or just to point them to the right direction. Join forums about assistance for single mothers and ask around for the different grants and housing for single mothers available. You should look into any housing grant lead you find on the Internet, and once you find the right one, ensure you’re eligibility and then apply. Here’s to your success.