Single Parent Housing
Who should move out after a family separation?
After a family separation or a divorce, you have to decide your living situation, and there's so many different examples of it because so many people stay. The husband and wife, the ex-husband and wife, stay in the house together and have parallel lives, just so the children feel more secure. Some people are trying this new thing where the child stays in the house and the parents move in and out. It's an experimental thing people have been doing for the last 10 years. With some people, the men move out. With other people, the women move out. It depends on your situation. It doesn't always have to be that the man moves out and finds a place. So it's something that you individually figure out.
Where am I going to live if I become a single parent?
The first thing about getting divorced or separated is, "Where am I going to live?", and "How am I going to live?" That's another thing that is actually not a bad idea to plan before you become divorced, to start looking around. Single moms are often moving in together where they can share everything. You can put an ad or look for another single mom that wants a single mom to live with them, so that the kids are together and the moms share everything. It's a good thing to do before you get divorced, to look at your options.
Should I move in with a relative if I become a single parent?
Some people, when they get divorced or separated, move in with a family member. That can be good in the way that it's good for the child to have the extended family. It can be less stressful as long as it is a transitional thing. I don't know that moving in permanently would be a good idea. Only you know that, but as far as a transition, it's not a bad idea.
How can I afford housing if I become a single parent?
One of the scariest things is how am I going to afford housing when I'm a single parent. And that's where a nest egg comes into play; that's where moving back home for a little while comes into play. That is where finding a room mate comes into play. It depends on your situation. And just know that there are a lot of decisions that you can start thinking about before you actually have to move out into your own place.
What assistance is available for a single parent?
People have no idea the amount of discounts and help you can get as a single parent, and if you don't ask, you don't get. You can call your electric company, your cable company, your phone company, your YMCA. People give discounts, whether it's 10% or financial aid. It's everywhere, and all you have to do is ask. The other discounts that you can get is you can go to your school and let them know that you're divorced and you don't know exactly what your bills are going to be. You can fill out some paperwork and they give you either free hot lunches for your child or $2 hot lunches, but it's a big deal. When there's field trips, they give you discounts on that, so all you have to do is tell your school and let them know that you need help, and it's there for you.
Are there programs where single parents can live together?
What's so great about being a single parent these days is that people are very available to be found. You can host postal listing at Craigslist for another single parent to live with, there's a website called 'Coabode' and that's a membership site that's like a match-making site that you can find housing. There's a lot of other actually housing places that if you Google them you can find matches for housing for other single parents.
What are the benefits of living with another single parent?
There are a lot of benefits to living with another single parent, because your child has another person to play with, you can take turns with getting time for yourself. The other person can babysit while you go to a movie or go out and you take turns. Also with housework and expenses - how many times do you go to Costco and you have to buy so much? This way, you share all those expenses and cleaning, and it's a win-win for everybody.
What if the other parent's home is not child-proofed?
When it comes to child-proofing in the other person's home, depending upon your relationship, I think it's a good idea to go over there, if you can, and take a look at everything. I think it's really important for you to know that your child is safe in the other home.
