In the United States, single mothers comprise 80% of single-parent households. Many single moms frequently battle social stigma, depression, financial stress, and taking out the responsibility of parenting their children alone. Fortunately, government organizations and charities running throughout the US provide financial assistance programs and grants to single moms who are struggling financially and emotionally. Irrespective of whether you are seeking emotional support or financial assistance to get a college education or free meals for your children, there are resources out there that will help you to carry out your responsibilities easily. A lot of financial assistance programs offer direct emotional, financial, and practical support to single moms who are a victim of domestic violence. In contrast, some offer free food and shelter to keep their children in a nurtured and safe environment.

Are There Financial Assistance For Single Moms Who Are A Victim Of Domestic Violence?

Getting out of an abusive relationship can be one of the most challenging decisions that one has to make in their life. Many single mothers get separated from their abuser, decide to go back to school, and take control of their life. If you want to know whether financial assistance is available for single mothers who are a victim of abuse and domestic violence or not, then the answer is definitely yes. The Government and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States assist single moms in need by providing many grants and programs so that they can overcome domestic violence and offer basic day-to-day necessities to their families and children. The funding for these financial assistance programs for struggling single moms is limited. Therefore, single-parent households that include young children, disabled members, and the elderly are given priority.

How To Apply For Financial Assistance Programs For Domestic Survivors As A Single Mom?

The best place to search for financial assistance programs for domestic survivors is using search engines. There are a lot of charities and government organizations which offer financial assistance and grants to victims of domestic abuse and violence, primarily single mothers so that they can lead a stress-free life with their children. You can check the official website of the organization or charity providing financial assistance. Also, familiarize yourself with the history, values, and mission of the organization. It is recommended that single mothers must learn the eligibility criteria, deadlines, and application process for every program before applying.

Single Mom After Domestic Violence: Financial Assistance Programs And Grants

There are a lot of resources that enable single mothers to locate food, childcare and housing assistance. Nonprofit, state, local and federal programs enable domestic survivors and needy women to cover their necessities and end the cycle of domestic violence. Whether you are a single mom going back to school after domestic violence or need help to pay for your necessities, the following programs and grants will help you to reduce your economic hardship.

1. SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

A lot of domestic violence survivors apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is also known as the Food Stamps Program. This federally funded program enables single mothers and low-income families to put food on the table. The main objective of this program is to provide healthy, well balanced, and affordable meals to the neediest families in the low or highly low-income categories. SNAP is one of the critical United States safety net programs ensuring that low-income Americans can easily afford a nutritionally adequate diet. Single mothers who are victims of domestic violence or abuse can be eligible for this extensive anti-hunger program. The food assistance comes in the form of an EBT card that enables recipients to purchase food and grocery items from participating stores or supermarkets within their locality.

2. TANF, Temporary Assistance For Needy Families

The TANF program is available throughout the United States and aims to make low-income families, including domestic violence survivors, self-sufficient. Temporary Assistance For Needy Families is an indispensable resource for low-income families, especially for single moms who are victims of domestic abuse. The program offers work opportunities and short-term cash assistance to reduce the financial burden of eligible applicants. Cash assistance is provided every month, and eligible candidates can use cash grants to cover their essentials like food, clothing, and shelter. The cash benefits of this program may vary significantly from one state to another. Low-income single moms who are victims of domestic abuse and violence and have children under 19 years of age are encouraged to apply for financial assistance under the TANF program. Eligible applicants have to take part in work activities for a minimum of 20 hours every week to be eligible for TANF benefits.

3. Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund

This scholarship program funds low-income women who have been victims of violence and domestic abuse. Applicants must be 35 or older and pursue a bachelor’s or associate’s degree to qualify for this scholarship program. In addition, every recipient of this program must be a citizen of the United States and should showcase strong leadership qualities. Winners of this scholarship program are chosen according to their future career goals, financial need, personal challenges, and leadership skills. Single moms who were a victim of domestic abuse and wish to continue their education can apply for this program.

4. Women’s Independence Scholarship Program

This program has offered educational funding to women survivors of domestic abuse since 1999. Single mothers who are survivors of domestic abuse can qualify for this fellowship program, provided they can showcase that they separated from their abuser for at least one year. They are also required to be a legal citizen of the United States and have a genuine financial need. Eligible applicants must also receive six months of domestic abuse counseling before applying for this program. Winners of this scholarship program get financial assistance to cover their educational institution and tuition fees. The award mainly applies to women in undergraduate programs or eligible technical vocational schools.

5. Mercy Housing

This organization offers affordable housing as well as rental services to low-income families and single mothers who are in urgent need of housing. Single mothers who are victims of domestic abuse can approach this organization to fulfill their necessities. They also organize many seminars to help needy women, primarily single mothers, with fitness, career planning, health, and budgeting. Mercy Housing is running a Transitional Family Housing Development for needy and homeless women, primarily single moms of domestic abuse, so that they can cover their necessities like baby care, furniture, and food. Women looking for employment opportunities or willing to continue their education can improve their prospects by obtaining help from Mercy Housing.

6. The Salvation Army

Salvation Army is a nonprofit charitable institution running throughout the United States and enables low-income single mothers or victims of abuse and violence to stay ahead. The charity offers emergency shelters, food, lodging, and even financial assistance to homeless single homes and other vulnerable people in the United States. Besides, they also provide employment assistance and job training services to single moms who find it difficult to locate work. They offer safe and affordable childcare services so single moms can attend school or work. The charity immediately assists domestic violence victims, primarily single moms, and needy women. Salvation Army provides eligible domestic violence survivors counseling, health referrals, permanent housing placement, and parenting classes.

7. The Sunshine Lady Foundation

This foundation provides scholarships to women who have survived violence and domestic abuse and are looking for opportunities to improve their lifestyles and provide a better quality of life for their children. The Sunshine Lady Foundation offers special consideration to women with small children who have left their abusive partners. Although the amount of funding depends on the number of donations that the foundation has received, the average grant of war or recipient may go high up to $3000. If you are struggling to support your children and end the cycle of domestic abuse, you can apply for this scholarship money and cover your educational expenses, college tuition, childcare, and transportation costs. Applicants must be female domestic abuse survivors and must be separated from their abuser for a minimum of six months before applying for this program.

8. Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards

Women’s Opportunity Awards distribute funding to assist women who have been the sole breadwinner for their families and are struggling because of domestic violence in their households. Every year the organization distributes funds to educate eligible candidates so that they can transition into prosperous jobs and can support their families in a better way. Single mothers who are victims of domestic abuse can receive funding to cover their tuition expenses, transportation, childcare, and books. Recipients of Women’s Opportunity Grants are selected based on their abilities to improvise their lifestyle and financial need.

9. Bridge Of Hope

Bridge Of Hope is an organization that assists single homes and survivors of domestic violence to seek immediate rental assistance and get money management training. The organization enables homeless single moms to get safe and affordable housing. They connect single mothers with neighboring volunteers and case managers so that they can locate sustainable and safe housing. The organization has partnered with many churches and communities to support low-income single mothers and their families to end the cycle of homelessness in the United States. The organization has trained more than 583 neighboring volunteers to offer emotional support and cash assistance to homeless families and single mothers. In addition, they have enabled 74% of single mothers and their families to increase their household income and improve their situation.

10. GFWC, General Federation Of Women’s Clubs

This national organization works to end the cycle of domestic violence and assist single moms who are victims of domestic violence. The main objective is to increase awareness about educating young girls and ending domestic violence before it gets too late. The organization has established the GFWC Success For Survivors Scholarship so battered and abused women can get the proper assistance and pursue higher education. The GFWC Signature Project: Domestic Violence Awareness And Prevention Fund awards a scholarship grant of $1000 to eight different survivors of domestic violence every year. The organization requires applicants to be a citizen of the United States or legal noncitizens, domestic abuse survivors, and intend to attain career goals and higher education. Eligibility criteria for receiving the award are based on leadership abilities, academic performance, and the financial need of applicants. The scholarship fund received can be used towards textbooks, educational expenses, college tuition, and transportation.

Conclusion

Domestic violence and abuse can take place in all walks of life. Battered women can feel insignificant and worthless at the hands of their abusers. The best thing that domestic violence survivors and battered women can do to improvise their life is to further their education and get separated from their abusers. There are a lot of organizations and charities that offer financial assistance and grants to survivors of domestic violence, primarily single. By availing these financial assistance programs and grants, single mothers can become independent and support themselves and their children better.