Why scholarships are often safer than grants for moms
September 17, 2012
Getting help with paying for college can be hard, especially for single moms trying to raise families on a fixed income. For these people, scholarships for single mothers are a lifesaver, as getting a federal or state grant could interrupt other benefits. These programs are counted as a form of income, and since they supply thousands of dollars a year to cover the heightened cost of tuition, books and classes, the fallout can be deadly to financial health.
Looking for money in all the wrong places
For a mother on her own using food stamps, WIC and Social Security benefits, a grant may come with complications. Getting that kind of funding, even though it is specifically applied to education, will count against annual reporting summaries and be considered income. That means going to school, even if it leaves no time for another job, could rob a single parent family of all income and force mom out of school.
On the other hand, the reason these funds count toward income is because they are allowed to be used in ways scholarships are not, so long as they qualify as educational expenses. Transportation, books, clothes and daycare for children are all acceptable uses for grant money, while scholarships often only go toward school costs.
Getting a scholarship
Going to school may require that public assistance be maintained, though. Getting a job or finding a secondary source of income may not be options, so single parent scholarships is often the most advantageous resource.
In these cases, there are public assistance programs available outside of government grants and other initiatives worth investigating. Food banks and other charitable organizations are centered on helping young mothers working to support their families while going back to school to otherwise better themselves and the financial standing of their household.
Allison Herrin, a young woman who used single mother scholarships to get herself and her three children through her college experience, started a foundation to help women like herself receive the assistance needed to stick with educational programs. As the founder of Maia Moms, she provides college moms with rent assistance, home goods and other help to make their dreams a reality.
