Grants for Single Mothers in New Hampshire (2026 Guide)

Where to start in New Hampshire

Do not try to fill out ten forms in one night. Pick the problem that could hurt your family first: food, shelter, safety, health care, child care, or income. Use this table to choose your first step.

What counts as a grant in New Hampshire?

A true grant usually does not have to be paid back if you follow the rules. Many websites use “grant” for almost every kind of help, but real help may be a benefit, voucher, scholarship, tax credit, or local aid.

• Benefits include SNAP, Medicaid, and FANF cash assistance.
• Vouchers help with costs like rent but often have waitlists.
• Scholarships help pay for school or training.
• Tax credits may increase a refund if you qualify and file.
• Local aid may come from towns, Community Action, food pantries, or charities.

For a national explanation of the difference between grants and benefits, use ASMOM’s single mother grants guide and the real grants guide.

Cash and emergency help

FANF cash assistance

New Hampshire’s family cash assistance program is called Financial Assistance to Needy Families, or FANF. The state says FANF is provided through programs such as the New Hampshire Employment Program, Family Assistance Program, Interim Disabled Parent program, and Families With Older Children program. Start with New Hampshire TANF and apply through NH EASY or DHHS.

FANF is not a guaranteed grant. The state reviews income, household members, child status, residency, work-related rules, and other details. Ask DHHS what proof is missing before you give up on an application.

Town or city welfare

New Hampshire also has local welfare help through towns and cities. This can matter when rent, utilities, medication, food, or other basic needs cannot wait. Local rules vary, and assistance is often paid to a landlord, utility, or vendor instead of handed to the applicant. The state law is under RSA 165, and 603 Legal Aid has a plain-language guide to town welfare.

Food help: SNAP, WIC, school meals, and pantries

SNAP helps eligible households buy food. WIC helps pregnant women, postpartum mothers, infants, and young children with specific foods and nutrition support. They are different programs, and some families can qualify for both.

Apply for SNAP through NH EASY or the DHHS application process. If you already receive SNAP, keep your address and phone number current so you do not miss renewal mail, interview calls, or EBT notices. For more basics, ASMOM also has a SNAP benefits guide.

For young children or pregnancy, contact WIC early. WIC can be useful even if your SNAP case is pending because it has its own rules and local clinic process. Ask your WIC office what proof you need for identity, residence, income, pregnancy, and child age.

For school-age children, check your school district for free and reduced-price meal forms. New Hampshire also has a Summer EBT page for summer grocery help when the program is active. If you need food before benefits start, call 211 and ask for local pantries, mobile food, and prepared meal sites.

Health coverage and medical help

New Hampshire Medicaid can cover children, pregnant women, parents and caretaker relatives, eligible adults under Granite Advantage, former foster care youth, people with disabilities, seniors, and other groups when rules are met. DHHS decides eligibility based on income, resources when they apply, residency, and other non-financial rules.

Apply through NH EASY or DHHS. If you are pregnant, have a newborn, have a child with a disability, or recently lost coverage, say that clearly on the application and when you call. Health coverage rules can be different by group.

If you are unsure where to begin, ASMOM has a national Medicaid guide and a New Hampshire healthcare guide. These internal guides can help you understand terms, but the official New Hampshire Medicaid page is the source to confirm current rules.

Child care and school support

The New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program helps eligible families pay approved child care providers for children under 13, and through 17 for children with disabilities. This can help if child care is keeping you from work, school, training, job search, or another approved activity.

Use NH EASY or DHHS to apply, and use the official child care search to look for licensed providers. A scholarship approval does not always mean a provider has a spot open, so call providers early and ask whether they accept the scholarship.

Head Start and Early Head Start can also help with early learning, family support, meals, and referrals. Use the federal Head Start locator to search by ZIP code. For a deeper child care path, read ASMOM’s New Hampshire child care guide.

Rent and housing help

Housing help in New Hampshire is split across several doors. New Hampshire Housing runs the statewide Housing Choice Voucher program. Through that program, eligible households pay part of rent and utilities, and the housing agency pays the rest to the landlord. The home must pass program rules.

The voucher wait can be very long. New Hampshire Housing says most applicants may face an estimated wait of 7 to 9 years, though the real wait can be shorter or longer. Apply through the official voucher application if you are eligible, but do not wait for a voucher to handle an eviction or homelessness crisis.

For urgent rent or shelter needs, call 211, your town welfare office, and local Community Action. If you have an eviction notice or court date, contact legal aid quickly. The statewide housing picture changes by town, landlord, waitlist, and funding source. ASMOM’s national housing assistance guide explains the main program types.

Utility and heating help

New Hampshire winters can make heat a safety issue. The Fuel Assistance Program is New Hampshire’s LIHEAP program. It helps eligible households with heating costs when funds are available and can help with some heating emergencies. The New Hampshire Department of Energy explains the Fuel Assistance Program.

The state also has an Electric Assistance Program that can reduce electric bills for eligible customers of participating utilities. Applications are handled through Community Action agencies. CAPNH lists regional contacts for FAP and EAP.

If you already have a shutoff notice, call the utility and ask what hold, payment plan, medical form, or hardship option exists. Then call Community Action and town welfare. ASMOM’s New Hampshire utility assistance guide gives a more detailed state path.

Work, school, child support, and tax help

Work and unemployment

If you lost work or your hours were cut, check NH unemployment. New Hampshire Employment Security also offers job search and career services. Unemployment has wage and work-history rules, so file quickly and answer requests for information.

School grants and scholarships

For college, certificate, licensing, or career training, start with the FAFSA form. Then ask the school financial aid office about Pell Grants, campus grants, emergency aid, child care supports, work-study, and payment plans. New Hampshire students can also check NHCF scholarships and CCSNH financial aid if community college or short-term training is the goal. ASMOM also has a New Hampshire education grants guide and a national scholarships guide.

Child support

New Hampshire Child Support Services can help with locating parents, establishing parentage, setting child support orders, modifying orders, enforcing orders, and medical support. Start with Child Support Services. If safety is a concern, ask about safe contact options before sharing information.

Tax credits

Tax credits are not grants, but they can matter. The IRS EITC page explains the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Child Tax Credit page explains the child credit. If filing taxes feels hard, ask 211 about VITA free tax help during tax season.

Documents to gather before you apply

You do not need every paper to ask for help, but missing documents can slow a case. Keep copies or phone photos in one folder if you can.

If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed

A denial does not always mean you are out of options. Sometimes a case is denied because proof was missing, the agency could not reach you, the wrong household size was used, or the program did not fit your need.

For local backup ideas, use ASMOM’s local resource guide, New Hampshire community support guide, and New Hampshire emergency help guide.