If you are in an abusive situation and need help contact
YWCA Domestic Violence Services: 616-459-4652
24-hour crisis line 616-454-9922
Hope for Single Moms knows minimum wage just doesn’t cut it. And that’s why we’re here to help. Listed below are life assistance resources available in West Michigan to help your stretch your hard-earned money.
If you work a minimum-wage job, you would have to work 73 hours a week just to afford a two-bedroom apartment. We don’t think you should have to choose between paying for rent or daycare or food. We are here to help you change that.
You must do your part. Do you have a plan? If not, we can help you get one. Schedule your FREE career consultation. What’s that?
Do you have housing? You need stable housing before you can get into our program. Parenting and going to school and studying is hard enough. You don’t want to worry about where you’ll sleep next.
The life assistance resources below will help you get a firm foundation, so you can get started on your career education.
We want you to be successful. That’s why we won’t take you on as a client until we know you’re ready. So it may seem the qualifications are insurmountable, but we are here to help you achieve those too. Click here to see the qualification requirements.
Life Assistance Resources
Christmas Help
CHRISTMAS GIFTS:
- Be an Elf: Letters from parents and children to Santa requesting help need to be hand-written or typed and mailed (not emailed) between Nov 1 and Dec 12. More info at https://beanelf.org/seeking-gifts/
- Marine Corps Toys for Tots provides toys for children 12 and under. Go to their website and click on request or need a toy. Participating nonprofits providing toys will be available Nov 1. https://grand-rapids-mi.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/request-toys.aspx.
- Salvation Army Angel Tree provides moderate to low-income families with gift BUT you can’t be receiving any other type of assistance. Apply now through November, the earlier the better. https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/walmart-angel-tree/
- Santa’s Little Helpers: Sign up NOW! You must have a Reddit account. The How-to is found here. https://www.santaslittlehelpers.net/registrations/
- Santa Claus Girls as well as c/o Grand Rapids Press
The address is 3102 Walker Ridge NW, Walker, MI 49544
Telephone number is (616) 957-7335
Packages are given to kids from birth to 12 years old. There may be both used and new Christmas toys, books, clothing, games, and much more.
- USPS Operation Santa is open to anyone, regardless of income. Write a letter to Santa Clause at 123 Elf Road, Northpole 88888. More info at https://www.uspsoperationsanta.com/
CHRISTMAS HELP
- Baxter Community Center
Free clothing bank is at 935 Baxter Street SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
(616) 456-8593
Mostly clothes, but low income or working poor families can get free items at Christmas too. Shoes, small stocking stuffers, winter jacks and other year-round or holiday help. - Catholic Charities West Michigan — God’s Kitchen
Location is 303 South Division Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Telephone number is (616) 454-4110
The church has a Christmas Day meal service. - Coopersville Cares
Main address is 180 North 68th Avenue
Coopersville, MI 49404
(616) 997-8602
The charity has Thanksgiving baskets, meals, gift cards and provides Christmas gifts. They only cover the greater Coopersville School District. - Holland Rescue Mission – Men’s Ministries Center
Main address is 166 South River Avenue
Holland, Michigan 49423
Call (616) 396-2200
There is low-cost Christmas store. The goods (toys, furniture, etc.) are sold at discounted prices to the public. - Love Inc – Hudsonville
Main address is 3300 Van Buren Street
Hudsonville, Michigan 49426
For information, dial (616) 662-3300
They also run a low-cost holiday/Christmas store. - North Kent Community Services
Main address is 10075 Northland Drive NE
Rockford, MI 49341
Dial (616) 866-3478
Social services, free food or groceries, small gifts and other goods may be offered at Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. - Word Of Faith Christian Center
Food pantry address is 3030 Eastern Avenue SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(616) 827-0060
They have a free food pantry. There may be free groceries for holiday meals, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and/or Christmas as well as year-round help. - United Church Outreach Ministry
Address is 1311 Chicago Drive SW
Wyoming, MI 49509
(616) 241-4006
There are Christmas toys, clothes, and other items for low-income Kent County families. the main assistance program is a free clothing closet as well as low-cost thrift store. - Salvation Army
There are locations in both counties. There is a food or grocery card for the family, including seniors or single households as well. This is also combined with financial aid, a low-cost thrift store, toys or free Christmas gifts from Angel tree, and more. Also, free Thanksgiving turkey dinners may be offered to seniors, the working poor, and needy.
Find Kent County Salvation Army programs, including in Grand Rapids.
Ottawa County, including Holland.
Basic Needs
There are many social services and nonprofit resources to help you get some of the necessities for life. Hope for Single Moms does not work in this area because many others do. This is a basic list of links to check out. Use Google for other resources near you. Many areas have food pantries specifically for residents in their area.
Financial Resources:
Kent County DHS 121 Franklin, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507, 616-248-1000
Salvation Army 1800 SAL ARMY
United Way 2-1-1 Call 211 from your cell phone
Food & Personal Necessities:
YWCA Domestic Violence Services 616-459-4652,
24-hour crisis line 616-454-9922
Baxter Community Center Serving the Baxter neighborhood of Grand Rapids
Catholic Charities Baby and Toddler Pantry 616.454.4110
Essentials
Store for families in need of basic home essentials
$20/year membership for families. with any type of public assistance.
Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program
Hispanic Center of West Michigan
Lean on Me Ministry
Call to register as a client (616) 866-3999
Personal care items, clothing, baby, furniture, appliances
Love Inc (In the Name of Christ) Also furniture. Rides to appointments. Serving Hudsonville, Jenison and Grandville
Kent County food access sites
Michigan Department of Health and Human Resources
Salvation Army Food Pantry 1.800.SAL.ARMY
Monday-Friday: 9 am – 4 pm
Steepletown NW Grand Rapids
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Pregnant or nursing, or your children are under the age of 5
Other
Amazon Prime for 50% off Amazon Prime
SPAOA (Single Parent Alliance of America) Membership needed. Information resources, programs and savings for single parents. Information about financial planning, advice, articles, information, and other services.
Childcare
Next to rent, childcare is a major expense. In fact, Michigan has one of the highest childcare costs in the country. Listed are links to childcare resources.
Just because you qualify for childcare assistance doesn’t mean it’s easy to get. Many centers that accept DHS assistance have a waiting list of 12-18 months. So, get on the list NOW, while you get everything ready to go back to school.
Some schools have daycare scholarships for single moms in their program. Oftentimes, you can find this information in student services. You may have to ask a financial aid advisor.
Hope for Single Moms encourages you to be creative when looking for childcare options.
Many schools have evening or online classes. If you work during the day, are you disciplined enough to take class at night or on the weekends? Know yourself. If you need to be in a classroom, then that’s the way for you.
Can you take turns doing childcare with another single mom? Do you have family who can help in the evening? Does your church have a daycare, or do you know someone who does in-home childcare?
Childcare options and assistance is one of the costs Hope for Single Moms helps clients with. Find more information on our program qualifications.
Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS)
Camp Fire West Michigan 4C, 233 East Fulton; phone: 1‑800‑448‑6995.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Kent County Head Start (Preschool)
This is a link to the step by step process to determine if your child is eligible to attend a FREE preschool program in Kent County–Great Start Readiness Program or Head Start.
After School Resource: Expect a Miracle
Healthcare/Dental/Vision
There never seems to be enough money, does there? You have to make cuts somewhere. But you need to keep yourself healthy. And you need to keep your child healthy. If you are pregnant, a few of these clinics provide free pregnancy care. You can also receive free ultrasounds and referral to ob-gyn doctors at a pregnancy care center.
Listed below are links to healthcare assistance. Please take advantage of these resources.
Medical & Dental Clinics
Cherry Health link is for Grand Rapids locations. Also offers vision and pediatric care.
Exalta Health Also offers vision and prescriptions.
Prescriptions
Vision
Insurance
Housing/Rent/Utilities
Hope for Single Moms does NOT help you find housing. We do need you to find a stable living situation before applying to be a client in our education program. Our focus is to help you go to college or trade school.
Listed are some helpful links to help you find housing or pay for rent and utilities.
Arbor Circle 616-451-3001 You must be 16-20 years old
Community Rebuilders 1120 Monroe Ave. NW Suite 220, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, 616 458-5102
Covenant Place You must be 18-24 years old
Dwelling Place 616-454-0928
Fair Housing Center of West Michigan
Habitat for Humanity Kent County 616-588-5239
Housing Assessment Program (HAP):
M-Th 8:30-5, F 9:30-4
Call 2-1-1 or 1.800.887.1107
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Section 8 vouchers
Inter City Christian Federation (ICCF)
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Westown Jubilee Housing low-income housing on Grand Rapid’s west side
Weatherization Assistance Program repairs to help minimize energy costs
Rent & Utilities
Campaign for Home Energy Assistance:
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services:
Salvation Army
Energy Assistance Services (EAS)
1.800.SAL.ARMY
M-F 8:30-4:30
616.459.5468
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Legal Assistance
There are many reasons why you may need the services of a lawyer or legal advice. But lawyers are expensive. The links below are legal services. Some serve anyone. Others may restrict their advice to those at a certain poverty level. Even if you’re not sure, call them. They may be able to direct you to an agency or organization that can better help you.
Questions about:
- Housing, landlords, evictions and eviction notices
- Friend of the court, child support, custody issues
- RIghts of pregnant and parenting students
Community Legal Services (in GR, MI)
616.929.5716
Legal Aid of West Michigan
616-774-0672
89 Ionia Ave, NW – Suite 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Legal Assistance Center
(616) 632-6000
Kent County Courthouse 5th Floor
180 Ottawa Avenue, NW – Suite 5100
Michigan Legal Help (legal help without a lawyer)
Upsolve Chapter 7 bankruptcy help
Parenting Resources
Children don’t come with an instruction manual. And just when you think you have it figured out, your next child is totally different. There are some things that people have found to be helpful. Check out these resources.
Alpha Women’s Center Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Kids parenting support groups
Parenting skills
a self-paced learning environment to enhance life skills and teaches financial security, positive parenting habits, career prep, and self-care.
Parenting and life skills classes online from The Life of a Single Mom’s Single Mom University
Very Well Family A lot of great information understanding child development, so you can better parent.
Tech Resources
CELL PHONE: Safelink.com 1-800-723-3546
Verizon Lifeline: Verizon Lifeline
COMPUTERS
Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council 225-379-3577
Computer Technology Assistance Corp
Computers with Causes 888-228-7320
INTERNET
Transportation
CARS
1-800 charity cars Ask for a free used car
Working cars for working families A program run by the National Consumer Law Center. Affordable rates to low-income families to finance or purchase a vehicle.
