Georgia State Assistance For Single Mothers
Help For Single Moms In Georgia
Caring for children is a challenge no matter what life brings your way, but when you do not have the support of a father in the family, it makes life just a little more challenging. Georgia’s single moms will find that the state offers a variety of resources that help them get on their feet and give their children the warm, safe environment they deserve.
Childcare – Children need a safe, structured place to go while mom works. If you cannot afford to pay for childcare, the Division of Family and Children Services offers subsidized child care assistance (http://www.dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/). The help is offered to children up to the age of 13 or the age of 18 if they have special needs. Other affordable options include a babysitting co-op or swap with other area mothers or finding daycare in the home of someone you trust.
Healthcare – Medicaid (http://www.dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/) is Georgia’s primary healthcare assistance program for low income families. However, if you do not qualify for Medicaid and do not have healthcare for your kids, you might be able to get coverage for your uninsured children through the PeachCare program (http://www.peachcare.org/). Coverage is based on income, but the income guidelines are more generous with PeachCare than with Medicaid.
Food and Supplies – Putting food on the table is a constant struggle for single moms, and often they cannot choose the most healthy food options. The state has a few programs to help struggling families get healthy food on the table. The primary program is the Food Stamps program (http://www.dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/). Families with preschoolers can get supplemental nutrition through Georgia’s WIC program as well (http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/).
Transportation – Georgia has several public transportation options that offer an affordable way to get to work. Find out where your local bus station is and what route will best fit your needs at http://www.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,4802_5013,00.html.
Rent Assistance – Georgia wants to make sure that all children have a safe, comfortable home to live in. As such, they offer rental assistance and other housing programs through HUD (http://www.dca.state.ga.us/housing/RentalAssistance/index.asp). Programs include the housing voucher program and subsidized apartments.
Educational Grants – Returning to school is easier than ever with online colleges and night classes. You can get help paying the bill as well. Start by filing the FAFSA to apply for federal student aid options. Then, contact the financial aid department of the school you wish to attend to find out about any grants they might know about, specifically those for single moms. Finally, check out the Georgia Student Finance Commission (http://www.gsfc.org/) to learn about local scholarships.
Other Single Moms Resources
