In today’s tough times, single moms often find it even harder trying to make ends meet. They may find it difficult to pay the bills and keep a roof over their head, despite working multiple jobs. There are so many expenses that are critical for health, nutrition, and daily living.
Thankfully, the State of Connecticut, as with most U.S. states, realizes this and provides several state assistance programs to help those in need.
Food Assistance
Food assistance is one of the most common forms of aid given in any state, and Connecticut is no exception. The main form of assistance offered is the SNAP program. This is the program most commonly known as food stamps. You receive a monthly allotment of benefits, most often on an EBT card, to assist you with purchasing healthy foods for your family.
In addition, Connecticut also offers the WIC (Women Infants and Children) program to assist moms with nutrition during pregnancy and to provide nutritious foods for children under 5 years of age.
Health Care Assistance
Health care is also of vital importance, and many single parent families aren’t able to afford it. For this reason, Connecticut offers a couple of programs to assist qualified families with their health care costs.
First, the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program is available at no cost to families with low income. HUSKY Healthcare is available for those families who don’t qualify for other medical assistance programs. In most cases, families with low income can get health coverage from HUSKY at little or no cost.
Child Care Assistance
For single parent families, child care is a must. Many single moms or dads have to work two jobs just to pay the household bills. They need a reliable, safe service to take care of their kids while they work.
For this reason, Connecticut offers the Care 4 Kids Program to assist single parents with finding and affording good child care services. Be sure to check the website to find out if you qualify.
Grants and More For those single parents looking to finish their education, there are a good many options for financial assistance. Connecticut is on par with most other states in this area. There are quite a few grants that you can apply for, and grants do not have to be paid back.
If you are interested, you need to fill out the FAFSA application to find out what options are available to you. It may take time to check qualifications and complete applications, but the benefits you’ll receive will definitely make it time well spent.
Housing Assistance Sometimes housing assistance is needed also. There are some families who would struggle just to pay the rent on a standard apartment or house. For those having difficulties, help is available from the Department of Urban Development. This program offers HUD housing assistance to qualified families.
This and the other programs mentioned above are all excellent ways for the single parents in Connecticut to find their financial footing and begin to work towards a better future for themselves and their children.