Grants for Single Mothers in Oregon: What's Open in 2026

Two Oregon programs that single mothers lean on are not taking everyone right now. Child care help through ERDC has run a waitlist since November 2023, and Home Forward, the state's largest housing authority, is not issuing Housing Choice Vouchers from its closed list. Its only 2026 opening, for five apartment properties, closed in September and is being filled by lottery. Cash aid, food benefits and the Oregon Health Plan are open.

This guide to grants for single mothers in Oregon sorts each program by what it can do for a family of three this fall, then explains the rules that are particular to Oregon. Every figure was read on the agency, rule or statute page linked beside it on October 17, 2026.

Where each Oregon program stands in October 2026

Most programs share one application. ONE, the state benefits portal at benefits.oregon.gov, takes cash, food, child care and health applications together, and the phone line is 800-699-9075. The table lists the figure that matters most for a household of one parent and two children, the size most grants for single mothers in Oregon are quoted for below.

Program	Status now	Family of three	Where to start
TANF cash	Open	Up to $506 a month	ONE or a local ODHS office
TA-DVS (domestic violence)	Open	Up to $3,200 over 90 days	Call a local ODHS office
SNAP food benefits	Open, new amounts since October 1	Up to $808 a month; gross income under $4,554	ONE
WIC	Open	Gross income under $4,212 a month	Local WIC clinic or 211
ERDC child care	Waitlist, with exemptions	Copay capped at 7% of income	ONE, then waitlist screening
Oregon Health Plan	Open all year	Adults under $3,142; children under $6,944	ONE.Oregon.gov
OHP rent help (HRSN)	Open, once per household	Up to six months of rent	Your CCO
Eviction rapid response	Limited intake each month	Needs an eviction case number	833-746-8167
Home Forward (Portland area)	Voucher list closed; 2026 apartment lists closed	Lottery notices due late 2026	homeforward.org
Oregon Kids Credit	At tax time	$1,050 per child age 5 or under	Oregon tax return

Two things in this table change within months. Oregon Health Plan work rules start January 1, 2027, and SNAP amounts reset each October. The sections below give the detail and the exceptions.

Oregon TANF: $506, a clothing allowance and a family coach

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families pays a family of three with no other income up to $506 a month. As long as the family stays eligible, Oregon also loads a clothing allowance of $270 in total onto the EBT card, spread across May, August and November (Oregon Department of Human Services, TANF).

The amounts come from Oregon Administrative Rule 461-155-0030, last amended in July 2020. For a need group of three that includes an adult, the payment standard is $506, the countable income limit is $616 and the adjusted income limit is $485. A parent and one child get up to $432; four people get up to $621 (OAR 461-155-0030 and its charts).

Oregon also has an Exit Limit Increase. When a TANF family has earnings, the same rule raises the income line for a family of three to $1,012, which lets a working family keep TANF at earnings that would block a new applicant. It also applies when earnings closed a case and the family reapplies within 30 days.

Most adults on TANF join JOBS, the Job Opportunity and Basic Skills program. A family coach builds a plan with you that can cover training and work experience, a GED, a start in the trades or college, help finding housing, and referrals for health or substance use treatment (ODHS, JOBS program).

If you need to collect child support while on TANF, you can enroll in child support services through the Oregon Department of Justice for paternity, orders and payments. Washington runs its cash program differently; the Washington TANF guide covers that state if you live near the border.

Leaving an abusive home: TA-DVS pays for the move

Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors is Oregon's own grant for a parent or pregnant person at risk of abuse who meets TANF income limits. It can provide up to $3,200 within 90 days of approval, paid straight to a landlord or vendor, and a family can get help more than once a year (ODHS, Cash Assistance (TA-DVS)).

The money has to follow a safety plan you make with an ODHS worker. It can cover a rental deposit, first or last month of rent, new locks or cameras, a moving truck, replacement clothes and furniture, and one past-due rent or utility bill. It cannot pay ongoing rent, legal fees, a car, weapons or anything that benefits the abuser.

Apply the safe way

ODHS asks survivors to call a local office to choose how to apply, and not to send payment requests or private details through a ONE account or by text. Community advocates in some offices are not state employees and can offer confidential support.

Oregon SNAP income limits and the Oregon Trail Card

SNAP benefits load onto the same EBT card. For the year that began October 1, 2026, the federal maximum is $808 a month for three people and $1,023 for four (USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP cost-of-living adjustment).

Oregon sets its gross income line at 200% of the federal poverty level, while the federal standard is 130%. A family of three can earn up to $4,554 a month and four people up to $5,500, figures that apply from March 2026 through February 2027. ODHS says your house, car and bank balance usually do not count against you (ODHS, SNAP food benefits).

The work rule now covers able-bodied adults ages 18 to 64, and a parent caring for a child under 14 is exempt. One new caution for immigrant families: ODHS notes that since September 18, 2026, receiving SNAP may count in a public charge test. For how a neighboring state draws its lines, see Washington's food stamp income limits.

WIC adds food for pregnant women, new mothers and children under 5. Since July 1, 2026, a household of three qualifies with gross income under $4,212 a month, and anyone on OHP, TANF or SNAP meets the income test automatically. Oregon WIC reports that 71% of its families are employed (Oregon Health Authority, WIC eligibility).

ERDC in Oregon: who skips the child care waitlist

Employment Related Day Care pays part of the bill at a provider you choose while you work, study or take medical leave. Your copay depends on income and family size, and it cannot exceed 7% of monthly income; in August 2023 the average copay was just over $10.

You can start below 200% of the poverty level and keep the subsidy up to 250% of poverty or 85% of state median income, whichever is higher (Department of Early Learning and Care, ERDC).

New applicants go on the waitlist unless they report income at or under 200% of poverty and fit an exemption. The exemptions are families on TANF or TA-DVS now or within the past three months, families referred by ODHS Child Welfare, families reapplying within two months of losing ERDC, and families eligible for a contracted slot through Baby Promise or certain Head Start programs.

Families on the list are invited in the order they joined and get 45 days to apply. Once a year DELC asks everyone on the list to confirm they still want a place, and those who do not answer may be dropped. Keep your mailing address current with ONE.

While you wait, Preschool Promise offers free preschool for ages 3 to 5 at or below 200% of poverty, and Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten serves families at or below 100%. Texting "children" to 898211 reaches 211info's child care line. The child care assistance guide covers federal options that apply in every state.

Oregon Health Plan income limits for you and the kids

OHP is Oregon's Medicaid program, at no cost to members, and enrollment is open all year. Under the income table effective March 1, 2026, an adult in a family of three, parent or not, qualifies with income up to $3,142 a month. Children qualify up to $6,944, and a pregnant woman in a household of three up to $4,326 (OAR 410-200-0315, 2026 income thresholds).

Adults just above the parent line may fit OHP Bridge, which runs from 133% to 200% of poverty: up to $4,668 a month for three after Oregon's 5% disregard. Through Healthier Oregon, people who meet income rules can get full OHP whatever their immigration status, and OHP is not treated as public charge (OHA, Healthier Oregon).

Federal law is changing OHP. From January 1, 2027, many adults ages 19 to 64 need to show work, school or volunteer hours, but a parent of a child under 14 is exempt (OHA, exemptions checklist). From late 2027, many adults need to renew every six months instead of every two years. Watch your mail and keep your contact details current (OHA, New federal rules and upcoming OHP changes).

When OHP can help with rent

In Oregon, the Medicaid plan itself can pay rent for some members. Health-related social needs benefits can cover up to six months of rent, including late payments, plus utility setup and bills and up to six months of storage fees (OHA, HRSN housing benefits).

A member can qualify for rent help if, among other groups, she is pregnant or gave birth in the past 12 months, has a child under 6, or experienced domestic violence in the past year. The household also needs a lease, rental housing and income at or below 30% of the local area income HUD publishes. It is a one-time benefit per household and is not built for an eviction already underway.

Facing eviction, or a shutoff notice

If a landlord has already filed in court, the Eviction Prevention Rapid Response program run by Public Partnerships for Oregon Housing and Community Services is the route. You need an active eviction case number and no assistance in the current OHCS budget period, July 2025 to June 2027. Intake opens at the start of each month for a limited number of applications (PPL, OR Eviction Prevention Rapid Response).

Leave a message at 833-746-8167 with your name, phone, address, date of birth and case number. For free legal defense in eviction court, the Eviction Defense Project line is 888-585-9638.

Earlier rent help is thinner than it was. The state's main prevention program, ORE-DAP, has $35.5 million for 2025 to 2027, down from $105.75 million in 2023 to 2025, and households served in that earlier period got about two months of rent on average (Oregon Legislature, shelter and eviction prevention budget notes, February 17, 2026).

For power bills, Oregon Housing and Community Services funds LIHEAP and the Oregon Energy Assistance Program, which covers Pacific Power and Portland General Electric customers. Both run through local community action agencies, with income at or below 60% of state median income. The OHCS page still showed the 2026 program year table when checked, so confirm current dollar limits with your agency (OHCS, utility bill payment assistance).

Housing vouchers: Home Forward's closed list and 2026 lottery

Home Forward, the Portland-area housing authority, keeps its tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher list closed and is not issuing vouchers from it. In September 2026 it took applications for project-based waitlists at five properties, where the rent help stays with the apartment (Home Forward, September 4, 2026 release).

That window ran September 9 to 21. Every qualified application goes into a random lottery, and Home Forward plans to tell applicants their waitlist status in late 2026 by mail, email and RentCafe. A place on a list does not guarantee assistance (Home Forward, waitlists and eligibility).

Other counties have their own housing authorities and their own windows. The housing assistance guide for single mothers explains how voucher lists work and what to prepare before one opens.

Tax season money: the Oregon Kids Credit and Oregon EIC

Two of the larger grants for single mothers in Oregon arrive as tax refunds. The Oregon Kids Credit is refundable, so it pays even with no tax owed and no income. For tax year 2025, it is $1,050 per child age 5 or younger, for up to five children, when modified income is $26,550 or less. It shrinks above that and ends at $31,550.

Refunds from it cannot be garnished, though the state can offset them for debts such as back child support (Oregon Department of Revenue, credits).

The Oregon earned income credit adds 9% of your federal EITC, or 12% if a dependent is under 3. ITIN filers who miss the federal credit only for lack of a valid Social Security number can still claim the Oregon version. The tax credits for single mothers guide explains the federal credits these build on.

Paid Leave Oregon for a new baby

Paid Leave Oregon is insurance funded by payroll contributions rather than one of the grants for single mothers in Oregon, but it pays a weekly benefit for up to 12 weeks a year to bond with a new child, recover from a serious health condition, or take safe leave after domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Pregnancy and childbirth can add up to two weeks. You need at least $1,000 in base-year wages, and the job is protected after 90 straight days with the employer (Paid Leave Oregon, employee overview).

Back to school: Oregon's student grants

For a mom going back to school, the main grants for single mothers in Oregon come from OSAC, the state student aid office.

The Oregon Opportunity Grant is the largest, with no separate application: you file the FAFSA or ORSAA as early as possible after October 1, and awards go first-come, first-served until money runs out.

For 2026-27, a full-time student with an SAI of 0 or below can get up to $4,320 at a community college or $8,352 at a four-year school. The 2026-27 filing cutoff was May 15, 2026, so a form filed now counts toward 2027-28 (OSAC, Oregon Opportunity Grant).

Student parents can also apply for the Oregon Student Child Care Grant, worth up to $10,000 a year for a child 12 or under. The 2027-28 application opens in mid-January 2027, and returning recipients get first priority (OSAC, Oregon Student Child Care Grant). Federal Pell money stacks with both; see the Pell Grant guide for single mothers.

The Oregon Promise helps cover community college tuition, but only for recent high school or GED graduates, so it suits a young mom finishing school. Students graduating between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 can apply from October 2026 (OSAC, Oregon Promise Grant).

Free legal help and 211info

Legal Aid Services of Oregon and the Oregon Law Center run a Public Benefits Hotline at 800-520-5292 for problems with OHP, SNAP, unemployment and other benefits. They serve incomes up to 125% of poverty, sometimes a little above; Jackson County callers go to the Center for Non-Profit Legal Services (Oregon Law Help, Public Benefits Hotline).

For anything else, dial 211 or 866-698-6155 to reach 211info, which can point you to local shelter, food and rent help. The legal aid guide for single mothers covers custody and family law help.

Programs in other states work on different numbers; compare the California grants guide. For federal programs, see the national grants for single moms hub. The grants for single mothers in Oregon above change often, so check the agency page before you count on a figure.

Oregon benefit questions, answered

Are there grants for single mothers in Oregon that never need to be repaid?

Yes. TANF cash, TA-DVS payments, SNAP, the refundable Oregon Kids Credit, the Oregon Opportunity Grant and the Student Child Care Grant are not loans. What can trigger a repayment is an overpayment, such as unreported income, so report changes on time through ONE or a local office to avoid owing money later.

Can I get TANF in Oregon if I own a car or have savings?

Possibly. Oregon's resource limit for TANF is $10,000, set in OAR 461-160-0015, so a modest savings account or a paid-off car does not rule you out on its own. Income still has to fall under the countable and adjusted limits for your family size, and the caseworker reviews both at your interview before approving a case.

How long does the ERDC waitlist take?

No one can promise a date. DELC invites families in the order they joined, as funding and departures allow. Its FAQ still says at least 18 months, and the list has run since November 2023. Your number never changes, so a low number does not guarantee an early call. Reapply if you later meet an exemption.

Do I have to work to keep OHP in 2027?

Not if you care for a child 13 or younger. The new federal work rules start January 1, 2027 for many adults ages 19 to 64, but parents of children under 14 are exempt. You tell OHP the exemption applies, and from 2028 the state may ask for proof, such as a calendar or schedule showing your caregiving hours.

Can a single mom in college get SNAP in Oregon?

Often, yes. Students ages 18 to 49 enrolled more than half-time usually need a special condition, and Oregon lists a single parent caring for a child under 12 as one. Caring for a child under 6, working more than 20 hours a week, or getting TANF or work study also qualifies.

Sources

• Oregon Department of Human Services. TANF Cash Benefits ($506 for three, $270 clothing allowance). oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Secretary of State. OAR 461-155-0030, Income and Payment Standards; REF, TANF (charts, amended July 2020). secure.sos.state.or.us (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Secretary of State. OAR 461-160-0015, Resource Limits (TANF $10,000). secure.sos.state.or.us (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Department of Human Services. JOBS Program for TANF Clients. oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Department of Human Services. Domestic Violence Services, Cash Assistance (TA-DVS). oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• USDA Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP cost-of-living adjustment, fiscal year 2027. fns.usda.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Department of Human Services. SNAP Food Benefits (income guidelines March 2026 to February 2027). oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Health Authority. WIC income eligibility criteria (effective July 1, 2026). oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care. Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) and waitlist FAQs. oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Health Authority. OAR 410-200-0315, 2026 income thresholds (effective March 1, 2026). oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Health Authority. Healthier Oregon. oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Health Authority. Exemptions for OHP Work or Activity Rules: an explainer and checklist. oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Health Authority. New Federal Rules and Upcoming Changes to the Oregon Health Plan (updated June 10, 2026). oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Health Authority. OHP health-related social needs housing benefits. oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Public Partnerships (PPL) for Oregon Housing and Community Services. OR Eviction Prevention Rapid Response (EPRR). pplfirst.com (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Legislature. Shelter and Eviction and Homelessness Prevention Budget Notes (February 17, 2026). olis.oregonlegislature.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Housing and Community Services. Utility bill payment assistance (LIHEAP and OEAP). oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Home Forward. Home Forward will open project-based waitlists at five properties on September 9th (release, September 4, 2026). homeforward.org (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Home Forward. Waitlists and eligibility (2026 waitlist application). homeforward.org (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Department of Revenue. Personal income tax credits (Oregon Kids Credit, Oregon earned income credit). oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Paid Leave Oregon. Employee overview. paidleave.oregon.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Student Aid (HECC). Oregon Opportunity Grant (2026-27 award chart). oregonstudentaid.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Student Aid (HECC). Oregon Student Child Care Grant. oregonstudentaid.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Student Aid (HECC). Oregon Promise Grant. oregonstudentaid.gov (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• Oregon Law Help. Public Benefits Hotline, Legal Aid Services of Oregon and Oregon Law Center. oregonlawhelp.org (retrieved October 17, 2026)
• 211info. Home page and contact numbers. 211info.org (retrieved October 17, 2026)