Grants For Single Mom In Tennessee

Tennessee is one of the best and most affordable places to live in. Even though this state is famous for its natural beauty among visitors, it can sometimes be difficult to live because of certain social and economic conditions. This situation is more accurate for single mothers who have to endure many financial difficulties and need housing, financial, utility, legal, and rental assistance for their children. There are a lot of federal, local, and state programs in Tennessee that offer good opportunities for low-income residents and single moms.

Can Single Moms Find Financial Assistance In Tennessee?

Finding financial aid for single moms in Tennessee is not so difficult. Low-income residents, mainly single moms, struggle to locate good aid opportunities that align with their needs. Single moms can contact their local Department of Human Services county office to learn about available programs and grants. The government of Tennessee has designed a plethora of grants and financial assistance programs for its residents and enabled them to attain financial stability.

List Of Grants For Single Moms In Tennessee

Due to the present economic downturn, single mothers and many low-income residents have succumbed to financial pressures and have fallen below the poverty line. This is why the state of Tennessee has stepped in and designed many programs that target single mothers and enable them to fulfill their needs.

1. SNAP, Tennessee Food Stamp Program

This program offers nutritional assistance to eligible Tennesseans. The program covers low-income children, disabled individuals, elderly citizens, working and unemployed families, including single mothers. The main objective of this program is to provide a safety net to eliminate hunger and enable low-income families to seek adequate nutritional diets. Around 12.5% of Tennessee households struggle to put food on the table. If you are a struggling single mom going through food insecurity, you can apply for SNAP benefits by visiting your local DHS county office or submitting an application online.

2. Tennessee Family First

One of the most prevalent welfare programs in Tennessee is the Family First Program which offers temporary cash assistance to low-income families and single mothers living with children. The program mainly targets low-income families, including single mothers who have dependent children to take care of. The time-limited cash assistance helps participants for 60 consecutive months in a lifetime. To be eligible for the program, you must have a Personal Responsibility Plan, which requires you to participate in work-related activities for a minimum of 30 hours a week unless you are exempted. You can contact your local Department of Human Services office to apply for the Family First Program.

3. WIC, Tennessee Special Program For Women, Infants And Children

The WIC program in the state of Tennessee offers supplemental nutritious foods, healthcare referrals, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education to more than 1,65,000 needy women, infants as well as children below five years of age. To be eligible for this program, you must meet the income guidelines, be a Tennessee resident, and be determined by a healthcare professional to be at medical or nutritional risk. WIC food benefits will be issued through an electronic benefit account known as TNWIC instead of people vouchers. You can use these vouchers at any participating grocery store in Tennessee. There are more than 800 grocery stores that are participating in the Tennessee WIC program.

4. LIHEAP, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

This energy assistance program is designed to assist low-income Tennessee households in covering the cost of their home heating and cooling bills. Low-income earners in Tennessee, including single mothers facing financial difficulty covering their utility bills, can apply for this program. The primary beneficiaries of this program in Tennessee are families with the lowest income. This program offers $325 annually to eligible applicants for the summer cooling program and $250 for emergency heating assistance. Single mothers facing difficulty paying their home energy bills and are interested in applying for this program can visit the local LIHEAP agency in their county.

5. Tennessee TennCare

The Medicaid program in Tennessee is popularly known as Tenncare, which assists individuals and low-income households living with children to cover their medical bills. The program also covers single parents and pregnant women if they can meet the eligibility requirements and income restrictions as stated by the program. Single parents with income below 88% of the federal poverty threshold can qualify for this program. Eligible candidates can receive free medical services like dental care, doctor’s visit, glasses, hospital care, and other essential health-related services.

6. Tennessee CoverKids

The Children’s Health Insurance Program in Tennessee is known as CoverKids and is funded by the federal and state governments. Tennessee CoverKids program assists uninsured children below 18 years of age. If you’re a single mother and think your child will be eligible to receive assistance under this program, then you must ensure your household income is less than 255% of the federal poverty guideline. A single mother of two children earning less than $56000 annually can be eligible for this program. This program covers not only children’s healthcare coverage but also maternity coverage for pregnant women who fail to qualify for TennCare income limitations.

7. TSAA, Tennessee Student Assistance Award

This state-funded grant program offers non-repayable financial assistance to undergraduate students with solid financial needs who wish to pursue higher education. Undergraduate students in Tennessee enrolled in an eligible public or nonpublic postsecondary institution seek assistance under this program. Students who have less than $3500 EFC are covered under this program. The grant award may range between $1000 to $4000 and is given to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Single mother students in Tennessee willing to apply for this program must submit FAFSA as soon as possible for priority consideration.

Conclusion

Single moms are the most affected due to economic turmoil as they have to play double roles in the lives of their families, especially their children. They must pay their monthly bills, raise their children and fulfill job applications simultaneously. The availability of financial assistance programs and grants will enable struggling single moms with limited resources and low-income earnings to reduce their financial burden.