Grants for Single Mothers in Indiana

Indiana ranks 29th in Poverty Rate at 14.6%. The Poverty Rate of Indiana is the same as the national average, which makes it one of the states in the country where poverty is not a main problem, even though female residents of Indiana are significantly (22%) more likely to live in poverty than males.

However, single mothers may rely on several programs created for them and for the low-income population across Indiana. Below, you will find a list of them and how to apply:

Woman, Infants and Children Program (WIC)

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a nutrition program, nationally recognized as an effective means for improving access to nutritious foods and Promoting healthier eating and lifestyles.

Indiana Woman, Infants and Children Program provides:

• Nutrition and health screening and assessment
• Nutrition education and counseling
• Breastfeeding promotion and support
• Referrals to other Indiana health, family, and social services
• Supplemental healthy foods designed to meet special nutrition needs

The Indiana WIC Program currently serves an average of 145,000 women, infants, and children each month through a statewide network of 140 WIC clinics.  Indiana WIC supports $105 million in food sales at more than 600 Indiana WIC-authorized grocery stores and pharmacies.

To apply to the Indiana WIC program, you must be “categorically” eligible.  The Indiana WIC Program serves:

• • Pregnant Women
  • Breastfeeding Women (up to the baby’s 1st birthday)
  • Non-Breastfeeding Postpartum Women (up to 6 months)
  • Infants (up to their 1st birthday)
  • Children (up to their 5th birthday)

An applicant must be “at nutritional risk.”  The specific criteria and parameters that indicate risk are determined by a health and dietary assessment performed by a health professional at the time of certification.

An applicant must be “income” eligible.  Families receiving Medicaid, Food Stamps, and TANF have an eligible income for the Indiana WIC Program.

Childcare and Development Fund

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is a federal program that helps low-income families obtain childcare so that they may work, attend training or continue their education. The purpose of CCDF is to increase the availability, affordability and quality of childcare.

The CCDF program is administered through the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) in the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. The CCDF state plan outlines state and local level parameters and includes program outcomes, systems development and eligibility requirements.

To apply for the CCDF voucher program, you must contact your local intake agent. To search the childcare in Indiana, you can visit https://www.in.gov/fssa/childcarefinder/. There you will find detailed information about the place that best suits your kid.

Medicaid

Like in the rest of the states of the country, Indiana provides affordable healthcare through Medicaid. To apply, you need to do it on the Indiana Medicaid website at https://www.in.gov/medicaid/. Here you will find the detailed information about eligibility, how to apply, providers and everything else related to Medicaid.

Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP)

The Healthy Indiana Plan is a health-insurance program for qualified adults. The plan is offered by the State of Indiana. It pays for medical costs for members and could even provide vision and dental coverage. It also rewards members for taking better care of their health. The Healthy Indiana Plan covers Indiana residents between the ages of 19 and 64 whose family incomes are less than approximately 138 percent of the federal poverty level and who aren’t eligible for Medicare or another Medicaid category

Through Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Indiana works to:

• Provide quality coverage choices for Hoosiers
• Provide additional substance abuse disorder services to address the opioid crisis
• Improve the health status of Hoosiers
• Provide health coverage for low-income Hoosiers and ensure an adequate provider network for both HIP and Medicaid enrollees
• Empower participants to make cost- and quality-conscious health care decisions
• Create pathways to jobs that promote independence from public assistance
• Ensure that HIP is fiscally sustainable

If you have any questions, or to find out if you may be eligible to participate in the Healthy Indiana Plan, please visit the website at https://www.in.gov/fssa/hip/index.htm, or contact 877-GET-HIP9 (877-438-4479).

Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Indiana Housing Choice Voucher Program allows for low income single parents and families to be able to afford their housing of choice on the housing market by reducing their rent costs. With this program you get to choose your apartment/home. This program also enables people to afford larger, higher quality apartments. Once you have chosen you home, the Housing Agency provides your landlord with voucher that covers a good portion of your rent payments. You will only pay a portion of your total rent payment, usually ranging between 30-40% of the total rent cost, which results a great advantage for single mothers.