Florida State Assistance For Single Mothers

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Help For Single Moms In Florida

If you are a single mom, you might feel alone in your struggle to meet your family’s needs. If you live in the state of Florida, there are options available to help you better your situation and care for your family, even without the support of a second income in the family. Whether you know it or not, there is a lot of help for single mothers in florida.

Childcare – If your children are not yet in school, the only way you can realistically find employment is if you have someone to care for your kids. The Florida Department of Health and Human Services offers help for those who need financial assistance for childcare while they work through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/).

Healthcare - Healthcare is a primary concern to almost all parents who want to ensure that their children grow up healthy. Medicaid programs (http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/medicaid.shtml) are offered to low income families who do not have access to healthcare. The emphasis is on offering care to families with children. MediKids (http://ahca.myflorida.com/Medicaid/MediKids/) is an affordable option for families with children between the ages of 1 and 4 who do not have healthcare coverage, but it only covers the qualifying children.

Food and Supplies - Feeding your kids healthy, well-balanced meals when living on one income is not always easy. Florida’s single moms can find help through a variety of state offerings. If you are facing a temporary lack of money and have children at home, you might be able to get cash assistance through the TANF program (http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/). WIC (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/WIC/) provides supplemental nutrition to families with preschoolers, babies, pregnant women, or nursing moms. If you need more help than what is provided by WIC and qualify for the program, the food stamps program can help you buy healthy food (http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/).

Transportation
– The Florida Department of Transportation sponsors the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (http://www.dot.state.fl.us/ctd/). This organization provides access to affordable transportation for the economically disadvantaged and handicapped individuals throughout the state.

Rent Assistance – If you ever find yourself completely without shelter due to your financial situation, the Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program (EFAHP: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/homelessness/) offers a temporary cash assistance to help you find a place to live, provided you have kids at home. Otherwise, for help paying the rent check into the rent assistance and Section 8 housing options offered through HUD (http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/states/florida).

Educational Grants – Today, single moms can realistically head back to school with the many online courses and night classes being offered. However, the cost of returning to school can sometimes hinder them from doing so. The Office of Student Financial Assistance offers comprehensive information about potential aid opportunities on its website: http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/home/. Also be sure to research school scholarships for more financial assistance options.


More Single Mom Resources

{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }

amelia randolph October 6, 2010 at 9:30 am

I NEED IMMEDITE ASSISTANCE I AM NOT A SINGLE MOM BUT I AM IN A WAY MY HUSBAND IS DISABLED SO WE ARE ON A SET INCOME I WORK REGURALLY BUT AM LIMITED TO HOW LONG FOR WE HAVE A CHILD I JUST NEED HELP THIS MONTH WITH MY ELECTRIC AND REENT BECAUSE I HAD LOSE MY JOB LAST MONTH AND COULD NOT CATCH UP NOW THEY WANT TO SHUT ME OFF TODAY FOR $225.00 I AM TRYING SO HARD BUT I CAN NOT REACH IT TODAY KUA WILL NOT HELP US BECAUSE WE HAD MADE A PRE ARRANGEMENT DATE BUT I GOT SICK LAST WEEK AND LOSE SOME WORK MY CHECK IS ON 90. THIS WEEK PLEASE MY HUSBAND RECIEVES SSI I CAN MAKE A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT BUT I CAN NOT LOSE MY POWER AND WATER.

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Alexa February 29, 2012 at 11:30 pm

Go to craigslit.com and find rooms/share or house/apartments for rent. That helped me a lot!

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AMELIA October 6, 2010 at 9:31 am

PLEASE HELP ME!!

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evelynhaddock October 26, 2010 at 12:26 pm

nesecito ayuda estoy casi en la clle con mis tres hijos

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Dawn December 19, 2010 at 2:48 pm

I am in need of assistance. I am a single mother of four children working full time and struggling due to recent life changing events. Please my children will not have a christmas. if there is anyone who can assist me please lend a helping hand.

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Marilu Castro January 19, 2011 at 2:43 pm

I am a single Mom, with 13yr daughter and living with my aunt, can you help me find living assistance, and a Job. I would like to have my own place to live and raise my daughter,

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Savannah February 10, 2011 at 12:07 pm

Check out our career website. It can give you tons of information on finding jobs, planning, and job counseling. Also take a look at our tips on housing assistance. . There’s tons of programs that can help out, like Co-Abode or Habitat for Humanity.

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Karen September 12, 2011 at 7:32 pm

Try applying for assistance. Places like Caroline Arms often have 2 and 3 bedrooms available. They do take alot of information and go by your income. But if you can afford about $150 deposit, plus turning on the lights, and they have the place and accept you you’ll be in. I always got in in less than 3 weeks. There’s good and bad there. You’ll have to stay away and keep away the bad or you’ll see issues arising every day. Keep an eye on your daughter too. There are schools in walking distance less than 1 mile, doctors that accept many insurances including some medicaid, pharmacies, laundry, and little shopping areas. It is on the bus line. If it weren’t for the people and constant inspections with issues of the apartment we lived in I would still be there. (Issues like a/c leaking inside, always breaking down, leaks from upstairs coming down, and plumbing issues, the noise was bad then too) It is better now that they got rid of some issues. But expect bi monthly inspections there. 6457 Ft Caroline Rd This is public housing and hard to get out once your on assistance. But theres nothing like having your own space.

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laura leon January 19, 2011 at 8:57 pm

please i need help my house is i foreclosure and i have to move at the end of this month , i have to two daugters ,i am in the process of disabled and it takes a long time to be approve , my father helped me ,but he died and i do not have money ciming. please i need help

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Jessica January 27, 2011 at 8:36 am

i am 22 years old and 7 months pregnant with my first child trying to get living assistance and a job if there is anyone out there that could help me that would be greatly appreciated.

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Savannah February 10, 2011 at 9:07 am

We do have some great advice on housing help on this site. Try taking a look at our articles on government assistance for housing and the one on making housing more affordable. Both of them list great suggestions and programs that could potentially be great options for you.

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jennifer May 1, 2011 at 10:30 pm

I am 35 and 5 months pregnant. I have no income, or job and no whwere tolive. is there anyone out there can assist me. I am willing to do anything, to be able to put a roof over my and my unborns childs head. i am not aopposed to working but does anyone have any leads to pint me in the right direction?
signed- desperate.

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Savannah May 3, 2011 at 8:58 am
Jennifer January 28, 2011 at 11:36 am

For everyone posting their story on this site asking for different types of assistance, this website will not help you. It lists the resources you must use to find/get the assistance YOURSELF. I am not trying to be ugly but by posting your sob story on here and thinking someone will read it and help YOU out of thousands of others is crazy. Do not get me wrong – I am a single mom with two children, lost my job in March 2010, I am permanently disabled and in the process for applying for disability/SSI (have been fighting for over a year so I know that does take a LONG time), etc etc. I have dificulties paying my rent, bills, etc also. But, the difference between myself and all of you is this: I do *not* post my plea for help online and just sit back and wait for the messages offering help to roll in. There are TONS of resources for single parents with at least one child…. but YOU must be the one to find the programs, contact them, do intake interview, get necessary paperwork, etc etc. NOBODY is gonna search out for YOU. YOU must take care of your situation!
Contact the above referenced resources for starters…. also contact local churches, food banks, social service organizations, State Children and Families offices, etc. Like I said – theres TONS of places to get help…. you just gotta do the legwork to get the help!
You must be proactive. Do not let things get so bad. Handle situations before it gets to “crunch time”. They WILL NOT read your posts here and search for you just to help you.
YOU GOTTA GET THE ASSISTANCE FOR YOUR FAMILY YOURSELF.

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Rhonda March 29, 2011 at 10:16 pm

Jennifer, you are very wise! This is my 1st time visiting this site due to the fact that I am married and considering divorce. I have gone through times of not knowing how my electric was going to get paid but choices had to be made early on. I feel that for those who put these SOB stories on here I understand that they are desperately concerned. My concern is why does everyone seem to have a problem with spelling/grammar? Maybe if they focus on going back to school then their lives will start to make sense. You have to put in the work.
I really enjoyed what you had to say.

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Savannah March 31, 2011 at 8:21 am

Going back to school can be a big help in moving forward … if you need any help in the future, whatever you decide, let us know.

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Marisa Beck January 28, 2011 at 1:06 pm

I am in desperately need of help. I live at home with my parents but there income is not enough to take care of me and my child. I was denied foodstamps cause he makes to much for the qualifications. I don’t know what to do. I am currently in school at Adult Community Education for my ged and need help. Thanks

Marisa

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Savannah February 10, 2011 at 8:55 am

I would take a look at our government assistance page. One article on there that might be extremely helpful is “How to Get Financial Help as a Single Mother.” It lists an amazing amount of resources you can try, as well as different programs to ask for. The more knowledgeable you are about asking for help, the farther you can go in the system.

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Suzanne Miller January 28, 2011 at 3:43 pm

I am a single mother in Florida who really needs help! How can Women help women?

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maranda February 1, 2011 at 7:52 pm

i am workin on gettin my son back from the state, due to me not havin a home. my son is only 11 months old n im in need of a car so i can work i take the bus for now. thank u so much

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Savannah February 9, 2011 at 4:06 pm

You can take a look at our transportation assistance information for ways to get around, as well as at our non-profit section for those who provide cars to single mothers.

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spanish lady March 2, 2011 at 12:44 pm

MESSAGE!!!! I think there are some people that really need hepl. and someee REALLY LAZYY….. WHY I SHOULD BE PAYING MY TAXES FOR SOMEONE THAT ONLY WANTED TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUACION… LOOK FOR WORK AND “STOP HAVING CHILDREN.. IF CAN’t AFFORD IT,THERE ARE ALOT DIFFERENTS WAY TO NOT GET PREGNAND>>> YOU shoulb be responsable for urs acts.. stop having kids if u can’t feed them.. be a responsable WOMEN,AND DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY WORK PAYS TAXES,AND YOU COME ALONG ASKING FOR HELP…. SOORYY BUT IF I WAS A GOVErment i will DENY ANY TYPE OF HELP…GET UR A… TO WORK,AND BE RESPONSABLE FOR URS “”ACTS”"

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STFU May 4, 2011 at 2:05 pm

I don’t think you’re in any position to judge. How could you have any sort of job with your poor grammar and spelling? If you ever watched the news which judging from your poor writing skills I’d assume you also have poor reading skills you have never successfully read a newspaper, jobs are scarce. It’s very difficult to find a job especially while pregnant because you have to find a job that will have a schedule to allow you to go to prenatal care appointments, and time to care for your baby after birth. I lost a job due to my pregnancy and needing to go to appointments so often. The EEOC said they won’t help me because I can’t compare the way I’ve been treated to someone else within the company. So yeah, I’m looking for all the assistance from the government I can get since they obviously do not regard my rights as an American citizen. So think before you speak and in your case, use spellcheck!

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Amanda May 22, 2011 at 2:08 pm

I fully agree with you STFU. I’ve worked for the same company for 5 years and when I got pregnant with my daughter I went from 50-60 hours a week to maybe 20-25 hours a week. Now my.daughter is a year and a half and even though Im still employed there every time shes sick or I need a day off for her I still get hours cut. Seeing as I am working on my masters degree in law Ive decided finally to ask for help. My ex has to date only paid 500.00 in support only to keep himself out of jail and owes upwards of 5k currently. I’ve paid taxes for years and just finding out your 4 months pregnant out of no where and already struggling damn straight Im applying! People like her are hypocrites and probably sits on her behind using our hard earned money with no job. Someone with such terrible grammar, etc couldnt probably breathe without government assistance let alone trying to make these poor girls feel bad for their errors or bad judgement. I believe at 24- 1/2 way done with a masters program is pretty damn good and having an 18 month old. So if y’all want to ridicule please feel free.

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Hannah December 13, 2011 at 10:20 am

I was in the ARMY for several years. The moment I got pregnant I lost everything and I was on the streets. You are an imbecile. Why not use the system to help our families? After all it is what it is there for. So our children and ourselves do not have to suffer. I also have to note that it is not YOU that we are taking advantage of. As I will say your small sum of taxes barely touch our necessities. You are going to pay your taxes regardless. Why not look at it as helping a loving mother and her child.
Good day ma’am.

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Sydney March 12, 2012 at 12:05 am

Hello,
You can receive state assistance for being a single mother
or receive Grants. for single mothers.
Hope this helps!

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ROSE March 19, 2011 at 12:30 pm

i am 24 yrs old, disabled and 3 1/2 months pregnant. the father of my unborn child is choosing not to take part in his child’s life. my only income is a ssi check in the amount of $675. that’s obviously not enough to care for myself and a baby. anyone know of any programs where i can receive financial assistance and help getting things i need like food for the baby? my family is only able to help me out so much. thank you.

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Savannah March 22, 2011 at 10:16 am

You should certainly shop around in your area for assistance. There may be charities or government programs that can be very helpful.

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Kimberly Mc Nutt May 12, 2011 at 5:09 pm

In regards to my niece kimberly Mc Nutt. Needs a place to live. Has 3 children Sierra 14 Sophia 8, Justin 7 Please check if a social worker of counselor is looking into her case
phone number 321-636-9095. address is 4635 Rosebud street, cocoa fl 32927

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Joe Fattal May 29, 2011 at 7:42 pm

I am speaking for a friend of mine that need assistance with her car tag that someone purchase for her to drive her around with her 3 months old girl, to look for jobs, and take her little girl to day care. The cost of her car tag is $398.00. My friend lives in an appartment under HUD, on food stamps but she has no cash flow since she can’t go around look for jobs and leave her girl in a day care at the same time.

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L Brice June 17, 2011 at 10:41 am

I am already in school but I need money to continue with my bachelors then on to my graduate work. I would like to see what I can get either through grants or scholarships or both.

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Denise June 20, 2011 at 9:40 am

Just out this link http://www.singlemomeducationhelp.com there is information on how to apply for grants/scholarships, as well as, the different kind of grants/scholarships for single mothers. Best of luck to you.

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Jessica July 19, 2011 at 12:22 pm

I am a single mother of 3 kids and have another on the way. the baby’s father left us on the streets with nothing, no car, no money,no home. I am staying with a family member that doesn’t want me there and it isn’t a safe place to live, they also gave me til the end of July to get out. I have tried the shelters in my area but they all are full and unable to help me.I am scared that I will be out in the streets with my kids. We are in need of help. Please help us… Thank you and god bless.

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Denise April 1, 2012 at 9:50 pm

Have you looked into child support, or a grant called : Temporary assistance for needy families?

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Yajaira August 8, 2011 at 7:59 am

I am a single mother of 2 kids. I have a 12 year old and a 7 year old. My 7 year old is disabled and he just had 2 operations to the hip. My funds are limited and we are currently looking for rent because my roomate is moving and I cannot afford the rent on my own. I am worried that I am going to be homeless if I do not find a place for my kids to live. :( I really need help but do not know where to find it..

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Dana O August 29, 2011 at 7:22 am

I need help finding a friend and her kids help…she has 3 kids and no place to live…she is staying at my small apt with one of her kids… i have my own family that i have to take care of…i wish i could help her out more than i am. i am on here looking for any help i can to get her on the track..

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Denise September 5, 2011 at 4:13 pm

There is a program called the HIP (Homeless Initiative Program) that offers temporay assistance. You can pass that along to your friend or read more here.

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Erica November 1, 2011 at 10:49 pm

I’m a single mother of 4 living with my parents and working part time. My ex husband is in prison so I can’t receive any child support til he gets our for another two years. My children and I are crammed in one room and need to get our own place but can’t apply for section eight because the waiting list is closed and won’t open up til it has been cleared…(but looks like that that wont be happening for a long time) is there any type of assistance I can receive other than food stamps and medicaid to try to get us into a place of our own?

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Denise November 14, 2011 at 7:01 am

Try the HIP (Housing Initiative Program). They usually have many ways of helping with getting a house.

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JENY November 2, 2011 at 5:19 pm

Hi im pregnant but in a few weeks i will have my first baby, im currently unemployee and i want to continue my education as a nurse, i went to a college and they told me even when i qualify for financial aid i have to pay like 7000 that will be divide in quotes for each month, around 245 dollars, for me is impossible to pay for that, in top of that i need to find a place for my baby, at least four hrs monday thru friday.. and im planning to go back to school in january or when my baby have at least three or four months… please i need a little help with this, what can i do????

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Sydney March 13, 2012 at 5:47 pm

Hello,
you can receive college grants for single mothers and you can receive
state assistance as well.
You can also contact TANF who help provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Hope this helps!

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Nicole Smith November 4, 2011 at 1:43 pm

Hello, i am a 21 yrs of age and having my first child. I am 3 months and right now and im staying with my father but he wants me out the house. I do have the father of my child in my life but he isnt doing well enough for us to get a place together soo im out here on my own. I need all the help i can get. Housing,Food,and Transportation especially are the main things i need before my baby comes. Can anybody help me?? PLZ???

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Sydney March 13, 2012 at 5:43 pm

Hello,
You can contact TANF who help provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
As for housing, you can receive Housing Grants for single mothers.
Also, if you qualify, you can receive food stamps
Hope this is helpful!

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Jon February 26, 2012 at 7:51 pm

I am a single dad. My kids are 3 and 4, mom abandoned us to a new lover in another state, and I was a stay at home dad. I’m about to get employed, but I’m not sure what kind of assistance is out there, especially for rent and daycare. Can dads get help too?

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Denise February 26, 2012 at 8:04 pm

Yes, Of Course! The same resources apply for single moms and dads. Good luck!

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Rita Bryan March 8, 2012 at 10:03 pm

I’m going through a divorce and I have 3 children and I’m only recieving SSI for my youngest and currently fighting for mine for a few years now. I have A-fib and POTS. I can’t stand for more then 20 min and sit for more then 10 min at a time. I just need help paying my rent this month. Got in a serious bind and don’t know wha else to do. PLEASE HELP!!!

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Sydney March 11, 2012 at 11:29 pm

Hi,
Being a single mother you can receive grants to help you.
You can also look into receiving state assistance.
Hope this helps!

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Edda April 1, 2012 at 8:33 pm

All these stories are understandable. Overall theses types of government sites they offer are out there for our use but on the other hand it takes a lot of time and patience to apply and give them the proof they want. It’s out there, but at the same time you need to do what you have to. Yes there’s help, but at the same time it can take months and months before you can be approved for assistance. Therefore, this is the majority of reasons why most women single with children get discouraged. It’s not easy but you have to try and hustle if you want it.

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gina April 27, 2012 at 6:31 am

I’m a single mom and cant afford my rent anymore.How can I get help to pay the rent I already have?I have been looking and cant find anytime. I will be kicked out if I don’t find something fast!

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Denise May 4, 2012 at 6:00 pm

You should try TANF (temporary assistance for needy families) and see if that will help you out.

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