<p><em><strong>Where to find help if you recently became a <a href="https://esme.com/voices/perspectives/whats-a-solo-mom" target="_blank" class="wordlink">Solo Mom</a></strong></em></p><p>Many of us are just one crisis away from financial instability. We do just fine with careful budgeting and regular expenses. Then someone gets sick, a car breaks down, or a beloved pet needs care, and suddenly we can’t pay our bills.</p><p>In these situations, it’s smart to seek help sooner rather than later. Many programs and places offer a small amount of financial assistance, but once things start to snowball, these programs are no longer available. Here are some resources that may be able to help.</p><p><strong>Utility bills</strong></p><p>It’s very common for people to need help paying their utility bills, such as electricity and gas. Most utility companies have some sort of “forgiveness plan” that accepts small payments toward your larger bill. The utilities won’t tell you about it, so you will need to ask. </p><p><strong>Departments of social services</strong> </p><p>Departments of social services, often known as DSS, offer “emergency assistance” to people who need help. Different states and communities have their own department, so search for your local DSS online. The department will require you to provide documentation, such as shut-off notices or eviction notices, to receive aid, and will also ask for proof of income and other information. This department is a good place to start if you find yourself in need of emergency financial assistance.</p><p><a href="http://catholiccharitiesusa.org" target="_blank"><strong>Catholic Charities USA</strong></a></p><p>Catholic Charities USA is a national organization with local offices that help people regardless of their religious, social, or economic background. Many Catholic Charities provide emergency financial assistance to people in need. They will require you to provide documentation of the need and of your expenses and income.</p><p><a href="http://www.ywca.org" target="_blank"><strong>YWCA</strong></a></p><p>The YWCA offers numerous programs for women, including financial literacy programs to promote economic empowerment from budget basics to planning for retirement. With the support of the Allstate Foundation, every YWCA in the country has been provided with the Allstate Moving Ahead Through Financial Management Curriculum, a financial literacy course. The YWCA also offers a variety of other programs, including women’s health programs, job training, and early childhood programs. </p><p><a href="http://www.aidforsinglemothers.net" target="_blank"><strong>AidForSingleMothers.net</strong></a></p><p>AidForSingleMothers.net has compiled information from various sources on grants and scholarships available to Solo Moms. The numerous grants listed include those for financial help for divorced women and moms, housing grants, home energy grants, and day care financial help for working Solo Moms. On the website’s homepage, look for the Single Mother Financial Help Information section, which provides links to pertinent information.</p><p>Sometimes, despite all your careful saving and planning, life throws a curveball. These resources should be able to help.</p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Photo credit Shutterstock.com</span></p>
<p><em><strong></strong></em><em><strong>Where to start if you are a newly <a href="https://esme.com/voices/perspectives/whats-a-solo-mom" target="_blank" class="wordlink">Solo Mom</a></strong></em></p><p>In recent years, the lack of affordable and accessible housing in the United States has been acute and well documented. An estimated 12 million renters and homeowners pay more than 50% of their income for housing. If you find yourself struggling to make your rent or mortgage, there are a few places you can turn to for help.</p><p><a href="http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/rental_assistance" target="_blank"><strong>U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development</strong></a></p><p>There are many programs available to help you with renting. This site has links to subsidized housing, public housing, and the Housing Choice Voucher program. All programs are designed to get you and your family into housing that you can afford.</p><p><a href="http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org" target="_blank"><strong>Homeless Shelter Directory</strong></a></p><p>The Homeless Shelter Directory provides listings of homeless shelters and organizations with services for the homeless. It also offers links to other helpful sites. </p><p><a href="http://www.publichousing.com" target="_blank"><strong>The Affordable Housing Network</strong></a></p><p>The Affordable Housing Network lists apartment and home rental deals for all renters (not just public housing). It is easily searchable by state or zip code, and the site is updated daily. The site publishes direct contact information, so you aren’t dealing with an agent or middleman. It also offers housing assistance, including rent assistance, foreclosure assistance, and assistance with down payments.</p><p><a href="http://www.rentassistance.us" target="_blank"><strong>Rental Assistance</strong></a></p><p>This website provides listings of rental assistance resources to help you with your long-term and immediate rental needs. The site list both nonprofit rental-assistance organizations and government programs.</p><p>You should also contact your state or local department of social services and explain your situation. Such departments often have programs that can assist with housing, or they may be able to let you know about local nonprofits that can help. </p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">Photo credit Shutterstock.com</span><br></p>
<p><strong><em>The harsh facts of minimum wage and rental prices across America</em></strong></p><p>According to the Pew Research Center, 30% of America’s workforce earns a near-minimum-wage salary—many of them Solo Moms. Good housing can be extremely difficult to find for a person earning minimum or close to minimum wage. So how do you make ends meet?</p><p><strong>Tight rental market</strong></p><p>According to a new report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the growing demand for rentals has made the rental market very competitive. Fewer people can afford to buy houses, so rentals become scarce. This tightening rental market has a major impact on low-income renters. According to Kate Brown, governor of Oregon, one out of four households in her state spends more than half its income on housing costs. In 2013, for every 100 extremely low income renter households, there were only 31 affordable and available rental units.</p><p><strong>Nationwide crisis</strong></p><p>Although some states fare better than others, in no city in the United States can a minimum-wage worker work less than 50 hours per week and still afford a two-bedroom apartment. The most expensive rentals are in Virginia; California; New York; and Washington, DC. On average, an American worker needs to earn $19.35 per hour to afford rent for a two-bedroom apartment. And the wage requirement is even higher in the aforementioned states. <a href="http://www.citylab.com/housing/2015/05/mapping-the-hourly-wage-needed-to-rent-a-2-bedroom-apartment-in-every-us-state/394142/?utm_source=atlanticFB" target="_blank">This map from a recent study</a> shows just how difficult it can be.</p><p><strong>Solutions? Help?</strong></p><p>Well, now that we know there’s a problem—what’s the solution? Raising the minimum wage may help, and expanding affordable housing would certainly help. But those solutions take time, and I’m sure that some of you have this difficulty now. What are you doing to ease the burden of expensive rentals? How do <em>you</em> do it? Let me know! Let’s help one another now.</p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Image via Shutterstock.com</span></p>
<p><strong><em>How your local public housing agency can help</em></strong></p><br><p>Finding affordable and safe housing for Solo Moms with very low incomes can be a challenge. There is public and subsidized housing. But there is another program that helps single moms find housing: the Housing Choice Voucher, known as Section 8.</p><p><strong>What is Section 8 housing?</strong></p><p>Section 8 housing is a federal program that assists low-income families in affording a place to live. Unlike subsidized housing or public housing, tenants are free to choose any housing they prefer with Section 8 housing. The only stipulation is the landlord has to agree to rent under the program. If approved, the housing voucher is paid directly to the landlord. The family is responsible only for the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the voucher amount. For instance, if my landlord charges $650 for rent and my housing voucher is $400, I would have to cover only the $250 difference between the two. In some instances, Section 8 housing can also be used to purchase a home. </p><p><strong>How to start</strong></p><p>The first thing you need to do is contact your local <a href="http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/pha/contacts" target="_blank">public housing agency (PHA)</a>. You’ll need to fill out an application that asks for your family’s income and assets, how many people are in your family, etc. Once it is completed, the PHA will verify all your information and determine your eligibility.</p><p><strong>Eligibility</strong></p><p>Eligibility for Section 8 housing is based on median income levels and will vary depending on where you live. As a general guideline, a family’s income cannot exceed 50% of the median income for the county or city of residence. For example, if I live in a county where the average family makes $30,000, my income cannot be higher than $15,000 in order to qualify. Income requirements can vary greatly depending on location, so your PHA can provide you with the income limits for your area and family size.</p><p><strong>Waiting lists</strong></p><p>This is a popular program, so waiting lists are common. PHAs may give preference to families that are homeless or living in a shelter, those paying more than 50% of their income for rent, or families that have been involuntarily displaced. Each PHA has the discretion to establish its own policies and procedures that reflect the housing needs in your community. </p><p><strong>Takeaways</strong></p><ul><li>Section 8 housing is a federal program designed to allow low-income families to choose their own housing. </li><li>It can be a good alternative to subsidized and public housing because families can choose the housing type. Landlords can elect to accept Section 8 housing vouchers.</li><li>It is a popular program, and guidelines and rules are determined by each community’s PHA.</li></ul><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Photo credit: Shutterstock.com</span></p>