Assistance for Single Moms in Missouri

Single moms can receive aid and assistance in all cities and counties across the state of Missouri. Assistance programs help with free food, housing costs, rent, energy bills, mortgages, free health care, and more.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Based on the United State Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) “Thrifty Food Plan” each participating household receives an allotment of food benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s analysis of the cost of food this allotment is adjusted annually. Households receive the SNAP benefits through the Missouri Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT). Except alcoholic beverages and tobacco, hot foods, or foods prepared for immediate consumption the benefits may be used to purchase any food or food products prepared for human consumption. 855-373-4636 for more information on eligibility and benefits.

School Breakfast and Lunch Program
Funding is provided to schools so that they can offer a nutritious breakfast to students each day by the School Breakfast Program. By providing nutritious school meals every day, the goal of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is to protect the health and well-being of the nation’s children by providing funding that makes it possible for schools to offer a nutritious school lunch. You must be a parent or primary caregiver responsible for a child(ren) who attends school (high school or under) and a resident of the state to be eligible for this program. If you have further questions on these programs, please contact the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at 573-751-3526.

Missouri Special Milk Program
Children in schools, childcare institutions, and eligible camps that do not participate in other Federal child nutrition meal service programs, are provided with milk from the Special Milk program. Schools can participate in the Special Milk Program only for half-day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten children who do not have access to a school meals program, if the schools in question already participate in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs. For the milk they serve, the program reimburses schools and institutions. Any child in a school or institution can get milk as long as they get involved in the Special Milk Program. You must be a resident of Tennessee in order to qualify for this benefit program. To learn more about the program you can call the Missouri Director of School Food Services at 573-751-3526.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Low-income pregnant, breastfeeding postpartum women and single moms, infants and children up to the age of 5 who are determined to be at nutritional risk can receive supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care, at no cost, from the WIC Program. Applicants must be determined by a health professional, at no cost, to be a nutritional risk in order to be fully eligible for the program. For more questions about the Missouri WIC program, call 800-392-8209.

Missouri Summer Food Service
The Missouri Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) helps make sure that during the summer months, eligible participants have access to nutritious meals. In order to sponsor the local programs and provide meals that meet established guidelines the SFSP contracts with schools and other community-based organizations. In areas of economic need the program also improves the quality of the summer programs offered. For more information on the program call 888-435-1462.
Head Start or Early Head Start program near you, call 866-763-6481.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Assistance is offered to single moms and needy families with children by the Missouri Temporary Assistance program so that children can be cared for at home. By promoting job preparation, work and marriage the program is also intended to reduce dependency. Offering cash assistance to families, funds may be used to prevent non marital pregnancies while the formation and maintenance of two-parent families is largely encouraged. For additional information or inquiries on TANF, please call the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) at 855-373-4636.

Head Start
Head Start is a Federal program that aims to enhance the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children from birth to age five from low income families making sure they are school ready. Language, literacy, and social and emotional development are some area where the program can support a child’s growth. The role of parents is emphasized by the program as their child’s first and most important teacher.

Missouri Vouchers for Subsidized Rent
The main program made available to single moms is section 8. However, the state in partnership with public housing authorities and HUD can provide additional resources. The government can provide rent help in the form of low cost housing when funding is available. For more information call 800-955-2232.

Credit Services
Credit counselors in Missouri offer budgeting skills, mediation services, repayment plans with your creditors, and low cost debt management plans to help single moms get out of debt. To contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling call 800-388-2227.

Financial Aid and Crisis Assistance
Help can be provided to single moms, the low income, unemployed, and struggling families by the large number of Salvation Army centers in Missouri. Programs help with utilities, rent, food, medical bills, and more while case management is also offered to individuals.

Missouri MO HealthNet
Single moms who meet certain eligibility requirements as determined by the Family Services Division (FSD) can receive medical services from the MO HealthNet program. The aim of the program is to promote good health, to correct or limit disability, to prevent illness and premature death, to treat illness, and to provide rehabilitation to persons with disabilities. You can call the MO HealthNet Division to learn more about MO HealthNet Services: 573-751-3425.

MO HealthNet for Kids Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Uninsured children of low-income families who do not have access to affordable health insurance can benefit greatly from the help offered by the Federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), part of the MO HealthNet for Kids program. The applicant must be under 19 years of age or be a primary care giver with a child under the age of 19, not covered by health insurance (including Medicaid), a resident of the state, and a U.S. national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident, in order to qualify for this benefit program. 888-275-5908 for more information.

Legal Aid
Low to moderate income single mothers, the elderly and the disabled can receive free legal assistance from the numerous non-profit law firms that operate across the state of Missouri. To contact Mid-Missouri Legal Services call 800-568-4931.

Missouri Unemployment Insurance
If eligibility requirements are met, financial assistance is provided through Unemployment Insurance benefits to workers unemployed through no fault of their own. Single moms must have worked in Missouri during the past 12 to 18 months and have earned at least a minimum amount of wages, in order to qualify for this benefit program.

Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Energy Assistance/Regular Heating (EA) and Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECIP) are the two components that form the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Missouri. EA helps pay heating bills for Missourians during the months of October, November, December, January, February, and March by providing them with financial assistance. ECIP is designed to provide financial assistance to single moms who find themselves in a verifiable energy crisis. The funds can be used for either primary or secondary fuel sources. To learn more call 573-751-3221.