Housing Assistance for Single Mothers | Guide | Housing Programs for Single Mothers

Guide to Housing Assistance for Single Mothers

Single parenting accounts for somewhere around 12 million families within the United States. Of those single parent homes, 80% of them are lead by a single mother. Many of these incredible women, working hard for their families, need a little help when it comes housing.

This article will stand as this year’s guide to finding housing assistance for single mothers. We will highlight top housing programs for single mothers and answer many important questions, such as:

What does the government offer when it comes to single mother housing?

What do private organizations offer in the way of housing for single moms?

Are there any options that offer emergency housing for single mothers?

What charities offer help for single moms?

While this is not a comprehensive guide that will cover every single option there is for single mother benefits, we have gone over some of the best and most well-known options to start off your research to find housing for single mothers. Each program has links so you can learn more.

Low-Income and Affordable Housing for Single Moms

If you are in need of housing assistance for single mothers, there are multiple options to turn to.

Housing Assistance for Single Mothers

Each of these options provides single mother help on a sliding scale. Some can offer free housing for single mothers with a low income while others offer options for more affordable single mother housing.

First, we will highlight housing programs for single mothers that come from the federal government. Then, we will highlight housing programs for single mothers that come from private institutions or organizations.

Government Single Mother Housing

First up are the housing programs for single mothers that are supplied by the United States government. Keep in mind, there could be many more options, but we will simply highlight some of the more popular and/or more accessible single parent housing options.

These will include:

Section 8 Housing (Housing Choice Vouchers)
HUD (Public Housing)
Family Unification Program
Low Income Energy Assistance Program

Section 8 Housing

Section 8 Housing, now known as Housing Choice Vouchers, allows you have choices in picking your safe and hygienic home, townhome or apartment. This housing assistance for single mothers comes in the form of a subsidy that gets paid directly to the landlord of choice.

As long as the home meets certain federal requirements, you are free to choose exactly where you would like to be receiving the housing assistance for single mothers. This power of choice is crucial for true single mother benefits.

To qualify for this program, you must meet the income and family size requirements. A general rule of thumb for qualification is this: If yearly income is under 50% of your area’s median income, you may qualify for this help for single mothers.

HUD Public Housing

While you get a choice of private homes or neighborhoods with Section 8 Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers public housing for single mothers. Various housing agencies manage these properties for HUD. You can find both single-family homes and apartments.

Three factors affect potential eligibility for this single parent housing option:

Your early income
Whether you qualify as a family, as elderly or as disabled (single parenting obviously falls under the family qualification)
Your United States citizenship or approved immigration status

Family Unification Program

The Family Unification Program is one of the many important housing programs for single mothers. It will offer some of the Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8 Housing) to eligible families.

Under this act, you will not only receive the rental assistance, but you will also receive other single mother help including “supportive services” for the children.

Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Undoubtedly, one of the most important aspects of offering housing assistance for single mothers is to offer utility assistance as well. Shelter is only half of solving a housing problem. Single mothers and their children need cooling and heating as well.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can provide help for single moms when it comes to issues regarding:

Their home energy bills and/or costs
Energy crisis
Energy-related minor home repairs (such as weatherization)

When it comes to receiving the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, you have to qualify and then become chosen for the single mother benefits. Only 20% of qualifying homes receive the help. However, it is wonderful housing assistance for single mothers, so check your local LIHEAP office to see if you can qualify and receive help.

Don’t Miss: What You Need to Know about USDA Rural Housing Program

Private Single Mother Housing

Now that we have gone over some of the most predominant housing programs for single mothers offered by the government, it is time to look at private organizations and what they offer.

There are countless private institutions that offer single mother housing and single mother benefits. These below are only a few. Make sure to check and see if there are any small, local organizations that offer housing assistance for single mothers in your area.

In this article, we will look at these organizations offering private single mother housing:

CoAbode Single Mother’s House Sharing
Social Serve
Bridge of Hope
Mercy Housing
Habitat for Humanity

CoAbode Single Mother’s House Sharing

CoAbode Single Mother’s House Sharing organizes and facilitates house sharing opportunities so two or more single mothers can share the burdens and costs of single parenting.

CoAbode also provides additional help for single moms, including support groups, access to affordable housing for single moms, and various resources.

Signing up is free, but you will have to fill out a questionnaire so the organization knows who you are and what you need in regard to single mother housing. Its search tool allows you to find compatible single mothers who will work well with your family.

Once you have connected with the other single mom, you will split the rent of the affordable housing for single mothers that CoAbode helps you find. In addition, you also share the duties so that each single mother benefits from the joint venture.

Social Serve

Social Serve is another private organization that helps you find many resources and fabulous help for single mothers. Among the list of resources, the following are included:

Career training programs
Professional and family development courses
Life skills classes
Domestic violence prevention courses

However, Social Serve is best known for helping people find housing assistance for single mothers and other people in need. Its useful website is the best place to start in order to find wonderful housing options as well as single mother help in general.

Bridge of Hope

Bridge of Hope is a faith-based private organization that not only helps find housing for single mothers but also helps these mothers take leaps toward financial freedom in general.

Its partnership model includes the single mother who gets help with employment and budgeting, the social worker that teaches skills and offers rental housing assistance for single mothers, and a church mentor group that helps to build friendships and provide assistance and help for single mothers.

Currently, you can find Bridge of Hope and its benefits for single mothers in the following states:

California
Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
New Jersey
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Wisconsin

There is also a Bridge of Hope in Alberta, Canada.

Mercy Housing

Mercy Housing provides both low-income and affordable housing for single mothers and their families (as well as other people in need). 70% of those who have used Mercy Housing are families. Its three values are respect, justice, and mercy.

Through Mercy Housing, you could take advantage of one of these four housing programs for single mothers (and others in need), according to its website:

Supportive housing for the formerly homeless
Transitional housing
Permanent rental options
Affordable homeownership opportunities

By clicking on the website’s “Find Housing” tab, you can currently find this Mercy Housing for single mothers in the following states:

Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
North Carolina
Ohio
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Washington
Wisconsin

Habitat for Humanity

The popular international organization Habitat for Humanity will also build homes for those who have applied and been approved within the United States; this includes single parent housing. Once the home has been built for you and your family, you will be able to move in with affordable payments.

Visit Habitat for Humanity’s international website and put in your area’s zip code to find the Habitat for Humanity branch that serves your community area. You can then double-check the qualification guidelines to see if you qualify for its help for moms. If you do, you can begin the application process for a home build project.

Habitat for Humanity builds simple and affordable yet decent and safe homes around the world for families. Whenever possible, it focuses on sustainability. This offers benefits for single mothers who not only want to rent but also want to own their family’s home.

Popular Article: Grants for Single Mothers & Moms

All-in-One Change Management Tools

Top Rated Toolkit for Change Managers.

Get Your Change Management Tool Today...

Emergency Housing for Single Mothers

When it comes to needing emergency shelter, there are options that provide more immediate single mother housing as well as other types of help for single moms. There are two notable programs that service these emergency housing options.

Under HUD, particular emergency and transitional shelters receive federal money through the Emergency Solutions Grant Program to provide adequate emergency housing assistance for single mothers and their families (as well as others in emergency shelter situations)

Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program was created by the government but is regulated by a board of some of the most common charities that offer food and housing programs for single mothers and their families.

Charities to Turn to for Single Mother Housing

If you find yourself in need of emergency help for single moms, check to see if there are any women and/or children’s shelters in your local area. You can always contact your local police or fire stations for guidance on where to go as well.

Single Mother Housing

Here is a list of some nationwide charities that will help you find not only housing for single mothers but also some other benefits for single mothers, especially when you find yourself in an emergency situation.

Where to Turn for Single Mother Housing

There are many options and programs available that offer help for single mothers wanting to provide wonderful and safe housing for their families. Single parenting is difficult, so there is no shame in taking advantage of these helpful housing programs for single mothers.

To begin the process, start by looking into the housing programs for single mothers that we have mentioned above – both the government and private programs. Make a list of those you may be eligible for.

Next, start applying for these programs while you research any other single mother benefits offered in your local area. This way, you can be confident that your family will be able to live comfortably.

Image Sources:

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/02/21/19/10/mother-84628__340.jpg
https://pixabay.com/photos/pink-gifts-boxes-presents-553149/

AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer:

Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.

Note: Firms and products, including the one(s) reviewed above, may be AdvisoryHQ's affiliates. Click to view AdvisoryHQ's advertiser disclosures.