supporting
single moms

I moved to Jacksonville, Fl in August of 2004. The following February I became pregnant with my first child at 16 years old. In November of 2005 I had my first baby girl, Jordan. I was living with my mother and my step-father and had a great relationship with the father of my child. I was working and life just kept going up for me. I got pregnant again in June of 2006. This is when things slowly started to fall apart. I quit my job in December due to stress related issues and being overworked while I was 6 months pregnant. Me and their father had fallen apart and my mother and step father started having serious substance problems. I had my second daughter Jaida, in March and in June I had started working again. Once again I lost my job and then became pregant with my third daughter. I've been out of work since July of 2007, and though I have been looking, no one will give me a chance. Every month when my step father gets his disability check he pays the bills (which all except the rent, we are behind on) and then him and my mother spend the rest on beer, cigarettes, and drugs. Recently things have gotten terrible. My mother is becoming physically abusive towards me when she drinks. Once, just because I asked for my camera so I could put it on the charger. She favors my middle daughter and it becomes stressful to see my oldest have her heartbroken or just be yelled at and picked at for no reason. I feel like I'm being picked apart in every aspect of my life. They have brought me down so much and are constantly going after me for not working or they argue with me about how I raise my children. I feel in my heart that I am a good mother and I try my hardest every day of my life. I've walked miles to look for a job, I've looked on the internet, and I've talked to my friends to see if they can help me, all with no luck. I can't get help from the state while I'm living in my mothers house. I need a job and a place for me and my girls to live without having this stress on my shoulders all the time. Please help me and God bless.

Take a deep breather and know that everything will be ok... This is only a small step in the direction to take control of your life for the sake of your children. Pray for your mother and stepfather recovery as well as ask God to give your the strength to get through this. Now.. Can you move out? Go back to the state and tell them that you are homeless.. See if they can help with finding housing... However if you do find a job, who will care for the children? Do you have transporation.. You will need to consider all this before you leave and make sure you plan for utility bills.,etc .. Its not going to be easy but..if they state wont help u find houseing or direct in any sort of way ...Do not fret... you first order of business is to try to get some income so that u can save some money to get some a place. However I must stress that getting your children in a safe environment is of the utmsot priority.

Here are a few private organizations, which help single moms with small children. Contact them and see how they could help you. Good luck!

Bridge of Hope
http://www.bridgeofhopeinc.org
Ending and preventing homelessness in every community, one church and one family at a time.
Bridge of Hope brings together professional staff and trained church-based mentoring groups to empower homeless and at-risk single mothers to attain:
Permanent housing, Financial self-sufficiency, Life-changing friendships, Growth and wholeness.
Bridge of Hope National
311 National Road
Exton, PA 19341
Phone: 1-610-280-0280              
Toll-free: 1-866-670-HOPE
Fax: 1-610-280-3280

Florence Crittenton Services, Charlotte, NC
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.
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

Our Families Our Future – Cheyenne, WY
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 Families Our Future
1001 W. 31st Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
Phone:  1-307-778-0094       , Fax: 1-307-778-0095

Vision House
http://www.vision-house.org
Provides safe and confidential transitional housing with integrated support services to homeless single mothers and their children.
Vision House
P.O. Box 2951
Renton, Washington 98056
Phone: 1-425-228-6356       
Fax:  1-425-430-9590
 
Community Action Partnership, Sonoma County, CA
http://www.capsonoma.org/programs.htm
Giffen House - Affordable housing for single mothers with children and single women who are working toward overcoming their homelessness, getting off of public assistance and working toward long term stability. All residents are enrolled in an individualized program designed to help them  

I live in the state you aretalking about. There is help for you, but thereyou have to be focused and determined to get it. True, because you are under the age of 22 and living with your mother you cannot apply for assistance for yourself. Your mother has to do this for you. Since it seems like she is incapable of doing that, here are some things you can do:

1) Go to the Workforce One Unemployment Agency closest to. Inquire about the WIA program. http://www.floridajobs.org/workforce/WIA_QA_Answers.html#WhoIsElig

    This program will you to put your children in daycare while you go to school/look for work.The puropse of this program is for helping people get the neccesary schooling and/or training to become employed. They pay for tuition and books, and will give you a monthly gas card or bus pass. They will assist with day care.

2) Apply for Grants -While you are in school you may be eligible for the pellgrants (www.fasfa.ed.gov) and scholarships (www.fastweb.com). You can also apply for work study, wher you can work around you class schedule.This will be the income u need to get on your feet.

3) Apply for public housing (http://www.phada.org/ha_list.php). For some reason it's easier to get on the list in N. FL than S. FL. There will be waiting lists. Once you get your own place you will be able to apply for assistance for you and your children. Also, contact your city's housing department. They nmay have a list of "TAX CREDIT" apartments in your area. Ownwers of these apartments get tax credit for redcing their rent for low income families.

4) Remeber this, once you get the ball rolling, and you start showing that you are trying to help yorself, - the resources will come. You have to ask a lot of questions, don't take NO as a final answer, be determind, and think outside of the box. Know that as long as you are trying to to right by you and "your kids," there will always be away.

5) Survival - Now that you realize that it is hard being a single mother of 3, don't contribute to your own downfall. Love your children enough to want to do right by them, and give them the foundation you didn't have. Not trrying to tell you how to live, but I would think twice before having a fourth. Playing the single mom card will play out soon enough, and things will get harder. Trust me, I know and I only have 2.

6) And I know you have those kids' fathers on child support! Giiirrrl..... if you don't I know somethin'