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If you’re a single mom succumbing to the stress of not making enough income, these forms of financial assistance can help.

Section 8

If you think your housing situation is “no big deal” when it comes to your health, think again. According to a 2012 study, those who paid over 50 percent of their income on rent spent less on healthcare and food than those whose rent took up just 30 percent of their income. Another study found that as rent got more expensive for a household, food insecurity increased.

What can happen if you stop spending on healthcare and food? You can let ailments go unchecked, which can blossom into something a lot more severe and costly down the line. You can also starve, deprive yourself, suffer from nutrient deficiencies, and experience mental health issues by not going to the doctor and skimping on nutrition.

How can you make rent more affordable, so your health doesn’t suffer? You could get a roommate. But if you have young children living with you, this may not be ideal. And while you could also get another job or work longer hours, that can be tough if you have to take care of kids. That’s why your best bet to lower rent as a single mom is to apply for a Section 8 housing voucher.

A voucher will lower your rent costs to 30 percent of your income. This will free up more cash for healthcare and food. Most importantly, it’ll give you and your kids housing stability and take a massive load off your shoulders so you can reduce stress and all the health issues it can cause.

SNAP and WIC

Although you may be focused on providing for your children, you cannot let your own health falter as a single mother. If you do, you will leave your kids without their primary guardian, which is why applying for SNAP or WIC is an intelligent move. Both will ensure your nutrition doesn’t lack, while also putting food on the table for your kids.

SNAP (food stamps) will give you a certain amount monthly that you can use to buy groceries. WIC, meanwhile, is more suited if you’re pregnant or have kids under five, as it will help you buy baby food, formula, milk, vegetables, and other nutritious staples.

Medicaid and CHIP

Cheaper rent and funds for food are two ways single moms can fix their finances, so their health doesn’t falter. Here’s a more obvious method: Get healthcare help via Medicaid and CHIP.

Even if you had a partner in the household, paying for healthcare could be impossible due to its ever-increasing costs. With Medicaid, you can get medical care, even if you aren’t working and lack income.

While Medicaid can help you stay healthy, what about your kids? Their medical needs aren’t exactly cheap either, which is why CHIP is a must to ensure everyone in your home stays covered. If you qualify for CHIP, you won’t have to worry about things like vaccinations, doctor visits, vision, dental, and more for your kids.