Most single mothers find themselves facing financial problems every day. There are the many burdens of everyday costs for her children's well-being, as well as her own, that at times will leave her in need of financial assistance.

If you are in a situation where you need to find housing for yourself, whether you are pregnant, or you are already a mom, we have outined below several of the best resources that will be able to either provide you shelter and other types of support, or at least point you in the right direction to get free help in your local area.

http://jobcorps.dol.gov/

JOB CORPS is the nation's oldest and largest federally funded job training and education program for economically disadvantaged youth ages 16 through 24. There are currently 122 Job Corps centers located in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Students receive hands-on career training in more than 100 occupational areas including health occupations, construction-related fields, culinary arts, business and technology-related industries. They can also participate in on-the-job training at real work sites through work-based learning opportunities. In the academic classroom, students have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma or GED, and learn employability and independent living skills.

While enrolled in the program, students receive housing, meals, basic medical care and biweekly living allowances. Job Corps also has a strict Zero Tolerance Policy for drugs and violence. After graduation, through employer partnerships, Job Corps places trained graduates, who are familiar with industry procedures and equipment, with local, regional and national employers. Employers save time and money by hiring skilled workers who are ready to work immediately.

Also, job Corps graduates receive transitional support services, including help locating housing, child care and transportation, for up to 18 months after they leave the program. For additional information on Job Corps, please visit: http://jobcorps.doleta.gov.

http://www.coabode.org

CoAbode was founded on the principle that two single moms raising children together can achieve more than one struggling alone. CoAbode has already helped more than 25,000 single mothers share the burden of rent, utilities, food, chores, and babysitting. Through CoAbode's online matching service, single mothers now have a safe place where they can collaborate with one another to find affordable housing, childcare, and more.

CoAbode Helps Single Moms:

*  Afford better housing in safe school districts

*  Hold onto their family home following a divorce

*  Halve the cost of rent and overhead expenses

*  Have more discretionary money to pursue activities and help their children flourish

*  Redefine what it means to be a thriving family


To Participate in CoAbode:

To participate in CoAbode's Shared Housing Program, register at http://www.coabode.org. You'll be asked to complete a profile that includes your accommodation needs, rent, neighborhood, and school district, as well as additional information about your likes, dislikes, and parenting philosophies. You'll then be able to search the profiles of other registered members in your desired zip code. Through a private and anonymous E-mail system, you can then contact those members who are compatible with your needs and who seem to be promising roommate candidates.

Costs:

CoAbode charges members a one-time fee of twenty-nine dollars to join. Interested parents can also request one-time access to CoAbode's shared housing database for anywhere from five to fifteen dollars, or receive a free membership - provided by individauls and businesses that sponsor CoAbode - upon request as needed.

http://www.bridgeofhopeinc.org

Local Bridge of Hope affiliates bring together professional staff and trained church-based mentoring groups to empower homeless and at-risk single mothers to attain:

• permanent housing

• financial self-sufficiency through employment

• life-changing friendships

• increased self-esteem and growth in areas of holistic living

Visit this link to contact your local branch http://www.bridgeofhopeinc.org/template/page.cfm?id=96

http://www.fcsnc.org/

Florence Crittenton Services of Charlotte, NC is one of the largest comprehensive residential problem pregnancy programs in the United States. In addition to a safe environment during pregnancy, a full range of services are provided including health and prenatal care, education, adoption programs, parenting skills/early childhood development education, life skills, scholarships, group and individual counseling and family planning.

The Sarah's House Mother/Child program empowers new mothers by focusing on early childhood development, attachment issues and prevention of neglect and abuse.

The PALS program serves non-pregnant teens in a structured living environment with an emphasis on developing independent living skills, social skills and self-sufficiency.
 
Maternity Program:

• High-risk, single pregnant young women 10 years of age and older who may also be homeless

• Victims of incest, sexual and/or physical abuse and neglect and family violence

• Pregnant women addicted to substance or at risk of becoming an alcoholic or drug abuser

• Court ordered adolescents and adults

• Foster care clients 

• Those who are from under-served counties in North and South Carolina and at risk for infant mortality/morbidity, low birth weight, premature birth or having a baby born addicted to a substance

Sarah's House (Mother/Child Program): Single adolescent mothers ages 14-18, in legal custody of the Department of Social Services who are parenting a child or children in need additional support. 

P.A.L.S. (Preparation for Adult Living Skills) Program: At-risk adolescent females, ages 14-18 in legal custody of the Department of Social Services in need of vocational life and social skills development in order to facilitate a positive outcome for the future.

Contact Info:
1300 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
PO Box 36392, Charlotte, NC 28236
1-800-448-0024/704-372-4663 (Charlotte)
Fax: 1-704-334-8169

http://www.ourfamiliesourfuture.org/

Our Families Our Future is a Wyoming non-profit organization that helps low-income single mothers on their path to economic self-sufficiency. Our CLIMB Wyoming programs train and place women in demand occupations and careers that earn livable wages. Almost 40% of single mothers in Wyoming are living at or below the Federal poverty level, but the staff and partners of Our Families Our Future are working to reverse this statistic by empowering single mothers to improve their lives and the lives of their children.

The Our Families Our Future intervention model is based on the Fleming Associates Young Parent Program, which was established in Laramie County in 1986 to meet the educational, work and life skills needs of low-income single parents. This is a nationally acclaimed paradigm for moving disadvantaged single mothers out of poverty.

Contact Info:
1001 W. 31st Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
info@ourfamiliesourfuture.org
Phone: 1-307-778-0094
Fax: 1-307-778-0095

http://www.vision-house.org/

Provides safe and confidential transitional housing with integrated support services to homeless single mothers and their children, and separately to homeless single men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. The goal is to coordinate successful re-integration of residents into the community through adequate housing, counseling, child care, food, clothing, education and vocational training, life skills development, employment, medical and dental care.

Vision House is committed to serving a target population who is homeless and whose income falls below 30% of the median income. Residents are allowed and encouraged to stay the Vision House homes for 18 months to two years. Residents may stay longer when they pursue a four-year degree.

Contact Info:
P.O. Box 2951
Renton, Washington 98056
Phone: 1-425-228-6356
Fax: 1-425-430-9590
info@vision-house.org

Call 211 to find out if there are any other helpful resouces in your local area!

WHAT IS 2-1-1?

• Thousands of people don't know how to access essential health and human services - from drug treatment to care for a child or aging parent. 2-1-1 is their first call.

• 2-1-1 is the new national dialing code for free, 24-hour access to health and human services information and referrals.
  

• Highly-trained call specialists link residents with health and human service providers and help them to navigate the maze of human services agencies and programs.

Here are a few links for anyone interested in swapping maternity clothes and/or baby supplies. Visit the websites and find out what s availble in your local area.

• www.thebabychain.com

• www.craigslist.org

• www.freecycle.org

Join our Community and get pregnancy and parenting tips, and meet other moms and moms-to-be!