Raising a child is supposed to be the responsibility of both parents, including the father and mother, but when, for various reasons, parenting becomes the sole responsibility of the mother, it can be quite taxing. From helping the kids with after-school work and providing food and clothing, the mother is also expected to make available safe and comfortable housing for the kids.
The task of providing for the basic needs of your kids can be overwhelming when there are not enough funds or a good job to sustain the livelihood of your household.
Social welfare services are in charge of helping parents who find it difficult to care for their children, but this would come at the expense of the parents’ separation from the children, which most people do not prefer.
The federal government, through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has waded in to assist single moms to acquire affordable housing and other subsidized housing programs to give their children a decent environment to grow.
For single moms, this intervention is a silver lining, as there are various options to choose from to support their housing needs. A brief explanation of these housing programs for single moms is outlined below.
What Kinds of Housing Assistance Are Available for Single Moms?
Affordable housing for single mothers is on the rise as the government tries to eradicate the issue of homelessness in the country by increasing the amount of housing assistance available for low-income families and even those with no jobs. There are different types of housing assistance programs being made available. Let’s talk more about them below.
Low Income Housing for Single Moms
Low-income housing for single moms is made available for single moms who have a job but are still struggling with living and housing expenses due to low income. Those who are also at the risk of facing eviction and have been on the streets due to unpaid fees can apply for this program. Let’s discuss some of these low-income housing programs.
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
Popularly known as the Section 8 voucher, this program assists single moms and low-income families to get affordable housing.
The government sponsors this program by providing rental fees to private property owners and landlords to accommodate tenants under the program. The homes to be rented upon successful application must be included in the Housing Choice Voucher Program and also be ready to follow the guidelines of the program.
The housing program also supports a monthly voucher which can be used for buying a home, but single moms have to meet the criteria for the area median income as stipulated by HUD.
Also, the Section 8 voucher allows you to choose your preferred housing location during the registration process.
Low-income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
Single moms are beneficiaries of low-income housing tax credits meant to make affordable housing available to low-income households in the US.
The landlord or property owner is awarded tax credits or allowed lower tax liabilities to provide affordable rental fees for tenants already in the program. For eligibility and other information, you can visit the LIHTC website here:
HUD Public Housing Program
The HUD Public Housing Program provides housing assistance for single mothers and families with low incomes by subsidizing a part of the rental fees that are paid to the landlord. This program is awarded to single moms and individuals with low incomes in need of free or subsidized housing where about 30% of the rental fee is what the tenant pays off eventually.
This housing program is often not used by many people because it is not so easy to move or transition to other forms of low-income housing programs. Click this link to find out more information and steps on how to apply:
https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance/phprog
Low Income Housing Institute (LIHC)
The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHC) is another federal government housing program is the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHC), which provides housing assistance to individuals and families who are facing homelessness due to financial difficulties.
To qualify, single moms and other low-income families and individuals must have an annual income of less than $20,000 to be eligible to apply for this program. More information can be obtained here: https://lihi.org/
National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
The National Low Income Housing Coalition is a housing program that provides affordable housing for the homeless with an extremely low income in the United States.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition operates under different schemes, all of which are targeted towards homelessness prevention in the country. You have to get in touch with the nearest district office in your area to apply for this program. Check out the scheme’s website to locate a district office near you: https://nlihc.org/
Emergency Shelter For Single Mothers
These types of housing programs are for single moms who are finding it difficult to get housing due to financial crises, lack of a job, or even domestic violence.
Single moms who are struggling either with no job or are facing homelessness can apply for these various types of emergency housing programs to secure affordable and decent homes for themselves and their children. Here are some of the emergency housing programs available for single moms.
Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program
The Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program operates various emergency shelters in different states for those who are homeless, including single mothers. Other benefits such as rehousing and homeless prevention are also offered by this program.
To apply for the Emergency Solutions Grant, an applicant must be homeless as the program is targeted at people on the streets or those experiencing immediate evictions with nowhere to go. Check the HUD Website to find out more: Emergency Shelter Program https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/esg/esg-requirements/
Emergency Shelter Program
The Emergency Shelter Program is a housing program sponsored by HUD for individuals facing domestic violence and those at risk of becoming homeless.
The successful applicants are offered homeless shelters and other essential social services to elevate their current situation. Single moms who need emergency housing can also benefit from this program.
The Emergency Shelter Program is offered for urban and metropolitan areas. To qualify, the applicant must be a single mother currently experiencing homelessness and not financially stable. Visit here for more details: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/emergency-shelter-grants/emergency-shelter-grants-program-requirements/
Note: Funds are no longer available as the Emergency Shelter Grants Program has expired.
Camillus Housing
The Camillus Housing program offers single mothers transitional housing for a specific period, which is usually between 6 and 12 months until the mothers can get back their support or stability to finance the needs of the family.
To qualify for this type of housing program, single mothers must currently have a job and show proof of being able to pay back monthly fees. To learn more, you can visit the Camillus Housing website by clicking this link: https://www.camillus.org/
Final thoughts
Single mothers can make use of the various outlined rental and housing assistance programs above to get help for their housing needs and also provide good accommodation for their children to grow. In some of the programs, single moms can also buy a home and get money to support other basic needs. You should visit the individual websites to get more information on the steps on how to apply for any program of your choice.
I’m single mom with autistic son I have hard time to work with my son and job rent is super expensive so I can’t not take it I have so much trouble to find apartment with no credit score
Hi, there are other housing assistance programs for single moms, read our past article here to get all the necessary information needed to apply.
Ok this is my first time needing governmentally assistance, and I am so lost. I am currently living in my car and my 14 year old daughter is couch hopping with friends. I hate to have to drag my daughter through this struggle with ,e and she is my biggest concern. During this time of struggle my daughter is missing school and I feel like I am failing her. This IS DUE TO MY HUSBAND ‘S DAUGHTERS MAKING FALSE CLAIMS AGAINST ME OF ELDERLY ABUSE NOT ONCE OR TWICE BUT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE 4TH TIME. oH DID i MENTION THAT I AM A CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASISTANT
hello, to get housing assistance as a single mom, You can check our previous article on housing assistance for single moms here for more information. However, you can still submit an application for Section 8 at the PHA office.