Low Income Grants

Living on a low income can feel defeating.  Seemingly common tasks such as buying a home, paying for school or feeding a family are difficult tasks.  Even more insurmountable are loftier goals such as starting a business.  If you are a low income earner, you should know that there are millions of dollars in grant money available specifically for low income households.  By spending some time researching grants and by properly completing grant applications, you could be on your way to receiving some much-needed cash.

A one-stop shop for federally funded grants is the website www.grants.gov.  Take time to search the website for low-income grants that apply to your situation.  Be sure to include the words “income” or “low income” in your searches to ensure that you get the best results.

There are also several websites for specific types of grants.  If you are searching for money for housing, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, offers several low-income housing grants.  Their website, www.hud.gov, is an excellent resource.

If you are looking to start a business and need some initial funding, be sure to check out the Small Business Administration.  This is a very well-known organization that provides low-income business grants.  The website is www.sba.gov.  Keep in mind that you can also apply for business grants through this organization that apply to all income brackets to increase your chances of receiving funding.

Additionally, there are several low-income grant programs available for those seeking to pay for school tuition.  Each year the government provides Federal Pell Grants to many low-income students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees.  Information on the program can be found at www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html.  There are many other scholarships and grants available as well.  A great resource is www.scholarships.com, which has a comprehensive listing of hundreds of available scholarships for all income brackets.  Search for low-income scholarships and be sure to consider general scholarships as well.  Consider discussing your education plans with a school counselor who is specifically trained to help find the best scholarship for your needs.

As you search for grant programs that fit your specific goals, be sure to steer clear of online scam sites.  Many sites will ask you to pay a fee to look for grants or to receive funding.  These sites are illegitimate; you should never pay for grants or give your personal information out unless it is on an official application form.

Searching for grants and filling out grant applications can be a daunting task.  Be patient and put in the time to ensure that you receive the funding that you need.