For the most part, a woman does not just wake up one day and decide that she wants to be a single mother. In reality, most women do not choose to become single parents, it is something that just happens and is out of their control. Once it does happen, however, these women become responsible for just about everything.
Not only do single moms have to make a living, they need to be able to support their children emotionally, mentally and physically.
It can be difficult for single moms to do all of this on their own, especially if they are not receiving any type of support. In the state of New Jersey, there are different assistance programs that can come in handy for these women and for their children as well.
Food Resources
Single moms in the state of New Jersey can apply for the SNAP program, which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This program was designed to help those who struggle to put food on the table. Single moms may often have a hard time making enough money to buy groceries and also pay for food for their children.
It is because of this that this program generally exists in the first place. When applying for this program, if eligible, the single mother will receive an EBT card with money on it. The EBT card is used to buy groceries and is basically accepted at just about all grocery stores.
On this program, single moms can save a whole lot of money and do not have to worry about their children going hungry or not having enough food for everyone.
The WIC program is ideal for single moms. It was designed with women and children in mind, which is where the name WIC actually comes from, as it is an abbreviation for Women, Infants and Children. On this program, single moms can receive checks on a monthly basis which can be used to buy certain kinds of foods. The food items will be listed on the check and the single mom can buy what is listed.
Some of the food items that are usually listed on these checks include formula for babies, milk, bread, eggs, cheese, cereal and sometimes other basic food necessities.
OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Childcare Assistance
Childcare assistance is definitely an important assistance program for single moms. Single moms have to make the money to support their little family and because of that, they are typically either in school to further their education or they are at work, working hard to earn money to support their kids and the cost of living.
While the mom is working, the children need to be taken care of and will usually end up attending daycare. However, the cost of daycare is not cheap and is often overly expensive, especially for a single mom who just so happens to be on a budget.
In the event that a single mom cannot afford childcare for her children while she works or attends school, the childcare assistance program will help to pay off the expense of childcare, making it far more affordable for the single mother.
State child care assistance programs
Rent Assistance
Because single moms are stuck doing everything on their own, they may sometimes find themselves struggling to get their rent paid on time. For single moms who are facing the possibility of eviction or struggling to get their rent paid, there are rental assistance programs available in New Jersey.
Through these programs, single moms can get help with paying their rent so that they do not have to worry about them and their children being put out on the streets.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Affordable Healthcare
Healthcare is a necessity for single moms and their children. It is important for everyone to have healthcare and if a mother and her child do not have healthcare, the single mom is going to end up paying a whole lot of money out of her own pocket.
There are health insurance premiums, many of which are overly expensive for a single mom. Single moms in the state of New Jersey have the option to apply for Medicaid for themselves and for their children as well. Medicaid is an affordable healthcare plan for low-income individuals and families.
Grants and Scholarships/College and School
There are many single moms who would like to pursue different careers because at their current job, they are simply not making the amount of money they want and need to make to support their family. Often times, in order to get a better job, a certification or degree will be necessary. In this case, these women will need to further their education to obtain a degree or certification.
There are plenty of trade schools and colleges but some single moms think that this type of schooling is out of question because of the expense involved. However, this is entirely untrue as there are a number of different scholarships and grants that can be applied for, designed specifically for helping single moms to afford schooling.
College Scholarships and Grants for Single Mothers
Financial Assistance
Single moms living in the state of New Jersey and looking to get back on their feet may want to apply for financial assistance. In the state of New Jersey, this form of assistance is referred to as TANF or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Those who are eligible will be able to receive cash assistance on a monthly basis for a limited amount of time. Even though this particular assistance program is only a temporary one, it is still quite useful and comes in handy for women who can use the extra help each month.