If you’re a single mom in Montana struggling to make ends meet, keep reading for resources that help with:
- Emergency cash
- Housing
- Electric bills
- Medical and dental care
- Food
- Child care
- Education
- Employment
- Charity organizations
Every month, I give out $500 cash to one single mom struggling with money, health, stress, child care, illness or loneliness — no strings attached.
Qualifications are simple:
1. You’re a single mom.
2. You need the money right now.
Fill out this form to apply:
(Note that the figures and information in this post are current as of publication date.)
Many of the programs on this list determine eligibility as a percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL). These are the 2024 federal poverty guidelines:
| Number of people in family/household | Annual income |
| 1 | $15,060 |
| 2 | $20,440 |
| 3 | $25,820 |
| 4 | $31,200 |
| 5 | $36,580 |
| 6 | $41,960 |
| 7 | $47,340 |
| 8 | $52,720 |
* For families/households with more than 8 people, add $5,380 for each additional person.
You can also look up your area median income (AMI) here.
Emergency cash for low-income families in Montana
If you need cash to pay bills, buy gas, feed your family, or for any other reason, these resources can help:
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in Montana
Delivered through Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), TANF helps low-income families with emergency funds to help cover the costs of:
- Food
- Rent
- Clothing
- Bills
A family of three in Montana can get up to 588/month. See full payouts and income limits.
Families can get TANF for a lifetime total of 60 months.
Qualifications:
- U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen
- Montana resident
- Have a social security number (SSN)
- Unemployed or underemployed
- Countable resources less than $3,000
- Meet income guidelines —$1,092/month for a family of three
How to get help:
- Apply for TANF
- Call the Public Assistance Helpline at 888-706-1535
- Contact the local administering agency (Office of Public Assistance) near you
- Email for a PDF application
More emergency cash help in Montana:
Single moms in Montana can visit 211.org or dial 2-1-1 to ask for assistance.
Check out these posts for more ways to get emergency cash:
- Ways to get free money
- Government help for single moms
- Charities that help single moms
These are some more tips for getting cash quickly:
- Sell old clothes, toys, and baby supplies you no longer need — check out this post on things to sell around your house
- Get your tax refund early
- Ask for a raise at work
- Use cash-back apps
Housing help for single moms in Montana
If you need help finding a place to live or paying your rent/mortgage, these programs can help:
Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers affordable housing and vouchers to help low-income households pay their rent. The voucher covers a portion of the rent. The tenant pays 30-40% of their monthly adjusted gross income for rent and utilities.
Qualifications:
- Montana resident
- Income cannot exceed 50% of median income for the county in which you live
How to get help:
- Contact your local public housing agency (PHA) and ask how to apply for assistance
- View a list of eligible Section 8 properties
- Call Montana Housing at 406-841-2840
- Find more Rental Help in Montana
Mortgage assistance in Montana
If you need help getting or paying for a mortgage in Montana, these programs can help:
Montana Homeowner Assistance Fund
The Montana Housing Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is for Montanans whose GMI does not exceed 150% of the AMI. 60% of funds available must target Montanans whose GMI does not exceed 100% of the AMI.
The fund is available in two forms:
- Interest-free loan to bring a mortgage account current
- Grant to prevent property tax foreclosure or to remove or prevent creation of other liens (HOA, COA, etc.) that would place the homeowner at imminent risk of displacement
Homeowners can also get assistance with utility payments.
Qualifications:
- The Homeowner Assistance Fund eligibility tool allows you to type in your county and the number of people in your household so you can check eligible income limits.
- Must have experienced a Financial Hardship after January 21, 2020
How to get help:
- Read more about the program here
- Check out the Montana Homeowner Assistance Fund FAQs page
- Contact Montana Housing at 406-841-2840
- Email Montana Housing
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity builds and rehabilitates houses for needy families and offers homeownership assistance through volunteer labor.
How to get help:
Contact Habitat for Humanityfor more information.
Check today's mortgage loan rates >>
Homeless housing assistance in Montana
If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, check out these programs in Montana:
Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV)
The EHV program helps families and individuals experiencing homelessness by helping them find affordable housing in the short term and establishing housing stability in the long term.
Qualifications:
EHVs are limited to individuals and families who are:
- Homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking
- Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness
- High risk of housing instability
How to get help:
- If you’re experiencing a housing crisis and need help, dial 2-1-1 or visit 2-1-1 Montana
- Contact your local Coordinated Entry or Continuum of Care Coalition representative
- Contact Montana Housing at 406-841-2840
- Email Montana Housing
Montana Emergency Solutions Grant
Montana’s Emergency Solutions Grant helps those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by partnering with service providers to provide the following services in Montana:
- Rapid rehousing
- Emergency shelter provisions
- Homelessness prevention
- Street outreach
How to get help:
- If you’re experiencing a housing crisis and need help, dial 2-1-1 or visit 2-1-1 Montana
- Contact your local HUD office or access HUD’s Find Shelter tool
More housing help:
- Free or affordable housing options
- Sell a house for cash
Electric bill assistance in Montana
Montana residents can submit a combined LIHEAP, LIHWAP, and WAP application, which allows you to apply to all three utilities programs at once. Please see the information for each program below:
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance in Montana
LIHEAP helps eligible households pay part of their winter energy bills and may be able to assist with furnace emergencies. See benefit amounts and income limits based on your home size and type of fuel.
Qualifications:
- U.S. citizen or legally admitted immigrant
- Montana resident
- For a household of three, the LIHEAP, LIHWAP, and CRF upper limit is $45,450
How to get help:
- Visit LIHEAP online
- Submit a combined LIHEAP, LIHWAP, and WAP application, which can be completed online, but must be printed and mailed to the local eligibility office listed on the last page of the application
- Must apply during the heating season — October 1 through April 30 of each year, by contacting the local eligibility office or Tribal LIHEAP office serving your community
Low-Income Home Water Assistance Program in Montana
LIHWAP helps pay a portion of water bills, helps avoid shutoffs, and helps with water system reconnections.
Qualifications:
- U.S. citizen or legally admitted immigrant
- Montana resident
- Meet income limits (same as LIHEAP)
How to get help:
- Visit LIHWAP online
- Submit a combined LIHEAP, LIHWAP, and WAP application
Weatherization Assistance Program in Montana
WAP helps qualifying households lower their monthly energy bills by making their homes safer, healthier, and more energy efficient. Types of assistance include:
- Air and duct sealing
- Wall, floor, attic insulation
- Heating, ventilation, air conditioning system improvements
- Lighting efficiency
- Hot water tank insulation
- Water conservation devices
Qualifications:
Low-income homeowners and renters (at or below 200% of the FPL), with priority given to higher-risk residents such as:
- Elderly
- Disabled individuals
- Families with children
- High energy users
Households that receive TANF, SSI, or LIHEAP are automatically income-eligible for WAP.
How to get help:
- Visit WAP online
- Submit a combined LIHEAP, LIHWAP, and WAP application
- You can apply for WAP at any time by contacting the local eligibility office or Tribal LIHEAP office serving your community
More electric bill help:
Free money to help pay bills
Medical insurance & dental help for single moms in Montana
The following medical and dental services are available to qualifying individuals and families in Montana:
Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) in Montana
HRSA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funds health centers that provide free or subsidized health and dental care to low-income people and those otherwise unable to access quality health care, like people living in rural areas.
HRSA also offers a national 24/7 free and confidential mental health hotline for pregnant and new moms. Dial 833-943-5746 (833-9-HELP4MOMS) if you’re struggling.
Qualifications:
Each health center sets its own eligibility criteria for free or reduced-cost care.
How to get help:
Find an HRSA health center in Montana by typing in your address on HRSA’s search tool
Montana Medicaid
Montana Medicaid provides health care benefits for eligible low-income Montanans, including:
- Dental care
- Doctor, hospital, and emergency services
- Family planning
- Home health services
- Laboratory and x-ray services
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative services and supplies
- School-based services
- Speech therapy, audiology, and hearing aids
- Transportation to appointments
- Vision care.
Qualifications:
- Montana resident
- U.S. citizen or a qualified immigrant
- Has an SSN or applying for one
- Under the income limits (examples below are for a household of three):
- Children 0-18: $5,394/month
- Pregnant women: $3,245/month
- Parents and caregivers: $2,749/month
How to get help:
- Apply online here
- Apply for Medicaid through the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace
- Call Montana Healthcare Programs, Member Helpline, at 800-362-8312
- Email for a PDF application
Healthy Montana Kids (HMK) Plus
HMK offers free and low-cost health insurance plans to children of families whose incomes are too high for Medicaid. A family's maximum copayment amount is $215 per benefit year.
Covered services and expenses include:
- Medical
- Prescriptions
- Dental
- Vision
Most medical benefits are administered through the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Montana Provider Network.
Qualifications:
- Montana residents age 19 and younger
- Treatments and services must be medically necessary and the member must be enrolled at the time the service is delivered
- Under the income limits — $62,150/year for a family of three
How to get help:
- Apply for HMK coverage
- Apply for HMK through the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace
- Contact Montana Healthcare Programs, Member Helpline, at 800-362-8312
Montana Dental Services
Medicaid and CHIP offer free or low-cost dental care for children up to age 19. Dental services include:
- Check-ups
- X-rays
- Fluoride treatments
- Dental sealants
- Fillings and more.
Qualifications:
Household must be eligible for Medicaid and/or CHIP.
How to get help:
Read more on the DPHHS website and find an HMK Enrolled Dentist.
Donated Dental Services – Montana Dental Association
The Montana Donated Dental Services (DDS) program helps eligible low-income residents of Montana who are disabled, elderly, or medically compromised with dental care and associated fees.
Qualifications:
- Have a permanent physical or mental disability, or be age 65 or older, and unable to be employed
- Have no other means of obtaining needed dental care
- Need extensive (comprehensive) dental treatment (more than a basic check-up and/or cleaning)
How to get help:
- Read more at Donated Dental Services
- Call 406-449-9670 or 888-449-9670
- Email [emailprotected]
More medical/dental help:
- Health insurance
- Free dental care
- Free dentures
- Free prescriptions
- Free prescription glasses
Food help for low-income families in Montana
A number of federal and state food and nutrition programs are available across the state:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Montana
USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp program) provides food benefits and nutrition education to low-income households.
SNAP recipients are issued an EBT card that can be used like an ATM card to purchase food in retail food stores, including:
- Breads
- Cereals
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Meats
- Fish
- Poultry
- Dairy
- Plants and seeds to grow food
Click here for a list of what you can and cannot buy.
Qualifications:
- Resident of Montana
- U.S. citizens or legal aliens, as well as possess or apply for an SSN
- Able-bodied household members aged 16 through 59 must register for work and might be required to participate in a SNAP Employment and Training Program
- Amount of food assistance you receive is based on household size and income:
- For a household of three in Montana, the gross income allowed is $3,840; the maximum benefit is $740
How to get help:
- Apply online at apply.mt.gov
- Call the Public Assistance Helpline at 888-706-1535
- Visit your local Office of Public Assistance
- Email for a PDF application
The Emergency Food Assistance Program
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that provides emergency nutrition at no cost through local food banks in Montana.
Qualifications:
- Each food bank sets its own eligibility and proof of need requirements
- People receiving Food Assistance in Montana automatically qualify for TEFAP
How to get help:
Visit Find Food Banks in Montana to find your nearest food bank.
Montana Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is a nutrition program that provides free baby formula and nutritional food items to low-income mothers and their babies.
Qualifications:
- Low-income, pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, for up to one year postpartum
- Women up to six months postpartum who are not breastfeeding
- Infants and children under 5 years old, including foster children
- Low-income sole provider parents of children under age of 5 who are at nutritional risk and who are below 185% of FPL
- If you are currently receiving Medicaid, Temporary Assistance, or Food Assistance help, you are also eligible for WIC
How to get help:
- Reach out to your local WIC clinic to apply
- Contact the state office at 800-433-4298
- Email [emailprotected]
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) & School Breakfast Program (SBP)
NSLP serves healthy, well-balanced, reduced-price, or free meals to children in school. An extension of the NSLP, the SBP provides free or low-cost breakfast to eligible students.
Qualifications:
Household income must fall at or below the limits of the federal poverty guidelines
How to get help:
Contact your child’s school directly to enroll.
Montana Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
The Montana SFSP, funded by the USDA, serves healthy meals to youth ages 18 and under at no cost during summer break. Food is distributed at local schools, nonprofits, parks, and libraries and other central sites in low-income areas.
Qualifications:
- Meet current income guidelines for the federal SFSP — $42,606/year for a family of three
- Children must be present to receive “grab & go” food bundles
How to get help:
- Locate a summer food site at USDA SFSP Site Finder
- Call 866-348-6479 to find a site near you
- Text “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744
More food help:
- Free food, groceries, and meals
- Free formula and formula samples
Child care help for low-income families in Montana
There are several federally funded education programs and resources in Montana:
Montana Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start is a free federal preschool program for children aged 3 to 5 from low-income families. Early Head Start serves pregnant women and children under age 3. The programs focus on cognitive, social, and emotional development and prepare children for school.
Qualifications:
- Children from birth to 5
- Meet federal poverty guidelines
- Children in foster care, homeless children, and children from families receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI, etc.) are eligible regardless of income
- Some programs accept kids with incomes above the Poverty Guidelines
- Pregnant women can also receive prenatal and postpartum information, education, and services through Early Head Start
How to get help:
- Visit Montana Head Start
- Call Montana Head Start Association at 406-522-3819
- Email Montana Head Start Association
Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program
Montana’s Early Childhood Services Bureau offers Best Beginnings child care scholarships to qualified low-income families whose child receives care from a licensed child care center, licensed group home, or family child care home.
For a family of three at 100% of the FPL, the maximum monthly income is $1,919, and the maximum monthly co-payment for child care is $77.
Qualifications:
- Families must make co-payments based on a sliding fee scale
- Child care scholarships are available to working families whose income is at or below 150% of the FPL
- Families who receive cash assistance through TANF automatically qualify
How to get help:
- Apply online
- Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Application
- You can also learn more and apply through Montana’s Family Connections
More child care help:
- Free preschool
- Tutors and homework help
- After-school programs
- Free child care
Education help for single moms in Montana
If you’re a single mom who wants to further her education in Montana, here are some helpful resources:
High school equivalency in Montana
In Montana, you can obtain your high school equivalency certification by taking and passing a HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) exam. Most colleges, universities, and employers accept the HiSET in place of a high school diploma.
Students looking to earn their high school equivalency can take five separate HiSET subtests at one of Montana’s testing centers or online in English or Spanish:
- Math
- Social Studies
- Science
- Language Arts
- Writing
HiSET fees & scores in Montana:
- Online: $65 for full test, or $16.25 per subject
- Test centers: $128 for full test, or $32 per subject
- Score: 8 in each subtest, combined score of 45; minimum of 2 on the Language Arts/Writing essay
Qualifications:
- Resident of Montana
- 19 years old or older; however, you can take the test if you are 16, 17, or 18 with additional requirements specified by Montana state rules
- You cannot be enrolled in an accredited high school or be a high school graduate
How to get help:
- The Montana HiSET exam can either be taken online or at an official Montana HiSET testing center; find the closest center to you on our list of Montana testing centers
- Call Student Help at 800-460-8150
- Use this contact form
Grants and scholarships in Montana
If you are a single mom currently enrolled in or going to school, check out the options for financial aid:
- Financial aid available in Montana
- Scholarships available in Montana
You can also search Scholarships.com for more scholarships available in Montana. You will find links to the specific scholarships, scholarship application deadlines, and amounts given (if available).
More education help:
- Single mom grants
- Scholarships for single moms
Employment help for single moms in Montana
Workforce programs in Montana provide training and assist with employment and education:
Job Service Montana
Job Service Montana provides workforce-related services and assistance for job seekers in Montana. Services and assistance include:
- Career exploration
- Filing for unemployment
- American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) information
- Job search resources & training
- HELP-Link, which connects Montana Medicaid recipients with high-quality workforce training employment services and jobs in local communities
- Registered apprenticeship program information
- Veterans services
- Employment application forms
- Job search services in Spanish
How to get help:
- Create an online account
- Find a Job Service Center (scroll to “Job Service Locations” and click on the map)
- Call 406-444-0532
- Email [emailprotected]
American Job Centers
American Job Centers offer employment and training services, career counseling, and job search assistance.
How to get help:
- Search for a location on the American Job Center website
- Call 877-872-5627
- Email [emailprotected]
More employment help:
- Recession-proof jobs
- Best jobs for single moms
- No-degree jobs
Charity organizations in Montana
There are a number of charitable organizations throughout Montana that offer support to single moms:
The Salvation Army of Montana
The Salvation Army assists with:
- Food, shelter, and clothing
- Medication costs
- Education and job training
- Rent and utility bills
- Emergency disaster response
- Substance abuse rehabilitation
- Youth services
- Christmas gifts
Qualifications:
Each Salvation Army branch determines its own eligibility criteria for different programs
How to get help:
Visit Montana – Intermountain Division DHQ for more information
Catholic Charities of Montana
There is one chapter of Catholic Charities in Montana.
They assist with:
- Housing
- Utility assistance
- Food assistance
- Health care assistance
Qualifications:
Each Catholic Charities branch determines its own eligibility criteria for different programs.
How to get help:
- Reach out to your nearest Catholic Charities branch
- Call Catholic Charities USA at 703-549-1390 or email [emailprotected]
United Way of Montana
The United Way of Montana connects people in need with local resources like:
- Food
- Shelter
- Child care services
- Housing
- Health care
- Support groups
How to get help:
- 211.org
- Dial 2-1-1
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