I am a single mom, don’t get child support, and have many bills to pay. I was turned in to a collections agency by a hospital. Financially, I am hurting and worried about feeding and housing my daughter. Please help me.

You have both immediate and longer-term situations to address. Short term, you have to put food on the table for you and your daughter and provide shelter and basic needs for both of you. You need income. A source of temporary short-term income can be programs for which you apply through the department of social services or other charitable organizations that offer food assistance, medical insurance, rental and energy assistance, and sometimes cash assistance. Contact your county department of social …