Covid 19 wreaked havoc on a lot of people, and financial help for single mothers during Pandemic/Covid-19 has been tough to find. This unexpected pandemic came with a ferocious force causing a lot of damage to the world. Businesses were closed, schools were shut and a whole lot of jobs were lost as a result of this pandemic. The ripple effects of covid 19 are still felt to this day. Research has shown this whole pandemic disproportionately affected women and single mothers bored the brunt of the pandemic woes. Single moms before the covid 19 pandemics were already stretched financially and covid exacerbated their financial woes adding another heap of burden to their plight. According to the national women’s law center 2.3 women have left the labor force since the start of the pandemic.
Nationally mothers of young children lost their jobs three times the rate as fathers and even worse for single mothers, who have to do everything on their own. The financial toll on single mothers has become so huge due to the covid pandemic. Single mothers need financial help to help them navigate the quagmire of covid 19 financial difficulty. Here are a few options for financial help for single mothers during Pandemic/Covid-19.
EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE
Rent has been a huge issue for single mothers before covid 19, getting money to pay for rent was difficult for single mothers who have to do everything on their own. Covid 19 pandemic worsen the problem, a lot of people lost their jobs, and this disproportionately affected single mothers. Single moms mostly leave on a low income and getting money to pay for their rent is near impossible. Government program such as the Emergency Rental Assistance helps to financially mitigate the plight of single mothers during the covid 19 pandemics.
The Emergency Rental assistance helps households that through no fault of theirs cannot afford to pay their rent during this covid 19 pandemic. Single mothers find it difficult to pay their rent as a result of covid 19, this government program can be applied by single moms who cannot afford to pay their rent.
The Emergency Rental assistance program has two programs established under the Emergency Rental Assistance.
This consists of ERA1, this program which provides up to $25 billion under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, and ERA2 which also has $21.55 billion.
This money is paid directly to states to properly disburse the money to people who will need them.
Single mothers whose finances have been adversely affected by covid 19 and have no means of paying rent should apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance on their website, single mothers can visit the office of the Emergency Rental Assistance in their state so they can get the needed help in this dire times.
The eviction moratorium issued by the CDC also gives renters like single mothers some respite from their financial burdens. It lasts for two months single mothers can take advantage of that so they can get their finances together. This Moratorium will keep renters such as single mothers safe for a time as they apply for Emergency Rent Assistance. This will alleviate the financial burden of many people especially single mothers who are disproportionately affected by the rent problems stemming from the covid 19 pandemics.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RELIEF
Aside from killing many people the covid 19 pandemic decimated the job of so many people. Covid 19 pandemic pushed unemployment to the levels unseen since the Great Depression and women especially single women were disproportionately affected by Unemployment.
Single mothers who are always at the bad receiving end of this financial difficulty find it difficult to cater for themselves.
The government put various programs in place which helped assuage the havoc unemployment wrecked on the nation.
Single mums who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic can apply for the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program(FPEUC).
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program has been extended till September 6, 2021.
Single mums who are in dire need of financial help as a result of unemployment from covid 19 can apply for this program.
The total number of weeks an individual can claim unemployment benefits has been extended from 13 to 53 weeks
This program provides $300 per week to its applicants.
To receive Pandemic Unemployment assistance you need to be actively looking for work.
Single mums can use this as an advantage and apply for it.
TEMPORARY AID FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TAFNF)
The Temporary Aid For Needy family is also one good program provided by the government. Single moms who have been financially strained by the covid 19 pandemic can consider applying for the Temporary Aid For Needy Families (TANF).
The Temporary Aid For Needy Families (TANF) hasn’t received new funding over a decade but due to covid $1 billion emergency assistance funds was allocated to this program to help improve it. This was done through the America Rescue plan of 2021.
This program is funded by the Federal government and administered by the state.
It includes a medical care program that assists low-income people and single parents with low income can apply and offers help to pregnant women and prenatal and childbirth costs. It provides supplemental cash for up to two years.
Single mothers with children who do not exceed the age of 18 are eligible to apply.
It also offers job training assistance which can aid single mothers to stand on their feet financially.
To apply, single mothers can visit their website or visit the TANF office in their state.
This is one program single moms who need financial help during Covid-19 can seriously look into.
FOOD PROGRAMS
Many single mothers find it difficult to provide food for themselves and their children. The covid 19 pandemic has worsened the condition of many single moms. The Covid 19 Pandemic has made life generally hard and single mothers are feeling it the most. The government has put some good food programs in place to alleviate the plight of low-income earners which single mothers are often included.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) popularly known as food stamps is one good program single mothers can take advantage of to help ease their financial burden. Single mothers have tons to worry about, but with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) single mothers have one less thing to worry about.
You can be eligible for snap if you earn a low income. Successful applicants are issued an Electronic Benefits Card also known as an EBT card.
The EBT card is used to purchase approved food at approved Supermarkets.
Due to the covid 19 pandemic, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was increased by $25 per person under the American Rescue Plan.
Single mothers can get the needed financial help through this program to help ease the burdens brought by the Covid 19 pandemic.
There is also the WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC). This government program serves as a federal nutrition program for low-income women with children up to the age of five. WIC helps pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women and infants, not above the age of five.
They provide nutritious food and education on nutrition to mothers. They also provide healthcare and social service referrals.
Due to the covid 19 pandemic $500 was added to the budget of WIC to help enhance and improve their services during these challenging times and offer financial help for single mothers during Pandemic/Covid-19.
This helps expand their services so they can effectively Cater to those who are enrolled in the program.
Single mothers can also apply for this program to help them with good nutrition as well as for their infants. This will reduce the financial burden of single mothers.
HEAD START
The cost of taking care of children is very expensive and for single mothers, it is near impossible to afford fees for schooling and other child expenses. Covid 19 pandemic has made life so hard for single mothers to take care of their kids. The government has various programs on child care for low-income earning families, single mothers have an opportunity to get care for their young kids.
Head start is a government program that provides school readiness for low-income families. Single moms with children not exceeding five years can enjoy this government benefit. Toddlers and pre-school children are taken care of in this program.
We have the early learning development this where children are taught a lot of educational stuff and social stuff at an early age.
with this, the basics of education are taught to young kids.
Health services are also provided to infants head start program provides safe and healthy learning experiences to kids.
Children under head start receive health screening and nutritious meals this also helps reduce the financial burden in this covid 19 pandemic times. there are also medical, dental, and mental health services to ensure nothing is hindering your child from their studies. This is all free of charge.
There is also a family wellbeing program this supports low-income families in terms of housing stability, continued education, and financial stability.
It helps strengthen the parent-child relationship. Transportation for kids to and fro from house to home is provided. Children should not exceed 5 years and they can enjoy a head start.
Single mothers can apply through their local government and enjoy head start.
Due to the pandemic, the budget for headstart was increased in large proportion to make room for more children since covid decimated the finances of many people including Single mothers. Head start is a good means of help for single mothers who are reeling from the adverse effects of the covid 19 pandemic.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
The government normally provides more financial help than any institution, this did not stop most nonprofit organizations from stepping up during this pandemic. Some were not all that secure finally but they stepped up to help single moms. There is a litany of nonprofit organizations single mothers can solicit financial help from.
Organizations like Feeding America are reaching out to vulnerable and low-income communities to provide food assistance during this covid time.
Single mothers who are having difficulties with the availability of food can just reach out to this organization or visit the nearest food bank.
Lorton community is also providing warm clothing to kids. they also provide hygiene and cleaning products. This can is also a great opportunity for single mothers to take advantage of.
Elevate Network recognizes how the covid 19 pandemic has affected women. They have created a fellowship for women called ElevateHER Foward. They help women in general with mentorship and career development resources. This is one great avenue for single mothers who are also adversely affected by the covid 19 pandemic to take part in. They also help women who have lost their jobs as a result of the covid 19 pandemic.
This is a good initiative that can be of immense health to struggling single mothers who have been affected by the covid 19 pandemic.
National Domestic Work Alliance has also stepped up to help women who have lost their jobs as a result of the covid 19 pandemic.
They recognize how the covid 19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women and single mothers far worse. General help for women is a piece of good news for single mothers since they can also take part in this initiative. The national Domestic Work alliance has set up a coronavirus care fund to help out. Single mothers can take advantage of that.
Fairygodboss is another nonprofit group that is putting in much effort to help women who have been affected by this covid 19 pandemic and offer financial help for single mothers during Covid-19.
This group link women who have lost their jobs as a result of thee covid 19 to businesses seeking to employ women, jobless single mothers can apply through this group this prevents women from joining the usual long line when they are seeking a job.
ElLevest is also a nonprofit organization that is also giving women free advice on how to navigate through the covid stress and offering financial help for single mothers during Pandemic/Covid-19. This is initiative can be beneficial to single mothers when they apply for it. This program will educate them on their financial management for free.
Covid 19 has been bad news for single mothers across the country single moms are struggling to cope.
These initiatives both by government and nonprofit organizations helps mitigates the dire effects on single mothers.
Also be sure to check out this article for the best grants for single mothers!
https://www.bylisaglam.com/5bestgrantsforsinglemoms/
References for this article (Financial help for single mothers during Pandemic/Covid-19)
https://www.investopedia.com/pandemic-emergency-unemployment-compensation-peuc-definition-4802046
https://nlihc.org/coronavirus-and-housing-homelessness/national-eviction-moratorium
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs/about/head-start
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