Most women do not choose to become a single mother; it is something that just ends up happening. And, when it does, it often becomes a scary and trying time for the woman and her children.
If you are a single mother in Missouri, you may be scared as to how you are going to be able to afford the cost of living and all of the different expenses of your home and children on your own.
It is definitely challenging and there will always be obstacles but you can overcome them, especially with the different assistance programs that are there as Help for Single Mothers in Missouri.
Food Resources
If you are looking for food resources, you are in luck because the state of Missouri offers the food stamps program. While on this program, you can receive help with paying for groceries.
The entire process of this program is quite simple and easy to understand. Basically, what you have to do is apply for the program.
You will need to provide information about your income and the size of your household, as this will determine how much you will receive each month in food stamps. If you are eligible, and most likely you will be, you will receive the food stamps on what is referred to as an EBT card.
The card can be used anywhere that EBT is accepted to buy groceries. Being on this program can help you to save hundreds of dollars a month on what you normally would have spent on groceries.
The food stamps program can help you to save and in the meantime, you can also apply for the Women, Infants and Children program in Missouri, which is typically also referred to as the WIC program.
This program is known for being a nutritional program in which you receive checks on a monthly basis that enable you to buy certain food items.
The WIC program is stricter and you can only buy the items that are listed on the voucher. The type of food items you will typically receive includes cereal, bread, milk, eggs and other food basics.
You can also receive formula for your infant if you choose to formula feed your baby.
Childcare Assistance
When you are a single mom, you are the one who becomes in charge of making sure that your children have all of the basic necessities that are needed. Not only do you need to make sure that your children have what they need, you have to make sure that bills are paid and things are kept up with.
Because of that, you need to be employed or at least be attending school to further your education so that you can get a better paying job. While you are working or attending school, you will need someone to watch your children and in most cases, would need to rely on childcare centers. The main problem is that childcare is definitely not very affordable.
In fact, it sometimes is overpriced. It is for this reason that the state of Missouri offers childcare assistance for low-income families and single moms.
Child Care – Early Childhood Section
Rent Assistance
Paying your rent is a must, especially because if the rent is not paid, you could end up being evicted from your home. The problem is that you may be having a hard time affording your rent and may not simply know where to turn to.
If you are struggling to make your monthly rental payments, do not hesitate to get the help you need. Rental assistance is available in the state of Missouri and if you need the help, it is important to take advantage and work on receiving that assistance so that you do not end up evicted from your home.
Affordable Healthcare
Healthcare is a necessity, not just for your children but for you as well. Without healthcare, you will end up racking up substantial amount of money on hospital bills and medical expenses over the years. It is necessary for you and your children to have healthcare but healthcare is not always very affordable. If you would like to have healthcare but simply can’t afford it, an alternative option is available.
Instead of trying to pay out of pocket for expensive health insurance premiums, you can apply for Medicaid at your local county assistance office. Medicaid is designed to help low-income families so that they can get the health coverage they need with no problem.
Medical Services – MO HealthNet
Grants and Scholarships/College and School
If you would like to go back to school, you can make that dream come true. It may be something that you have thought about for a while but felt as though you could not afford it. If you have been putting off going to trade school or college because you think it is impossible to afford, think again.
There are actually a number of different scholarships and grants that are available specifically for single moms. The best thing about scholarships and grants is that the money goes towards your schooling and you usually never have to pay it back, which is something you would have to do if you were taking out student loans to pay for your schooling.
Financial Assistance
If you are in need of a little extra help because you are looking to get on your feet, you can apply for financial assistance. In the state of Missouri, you can apply for TANF, which is also known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Under this program, you can receive cash assistance on a monthly basis for a limited amount of time. The money you receive can be put to good use for bills and other living expenses and is ultimately designed to assist you while you work on finding employment or getting things back in place.