Government assistance for teen parents?

I’m embarrassed to even have to post this because of the way I was raised, but I’m seeing now that everybody needs help sometimes.

I just found out I’m 8 weeks pregnant. I’m 17 and my boyfriend is 18. We need to get a place of our own because I can’t move in with him at his parents house and it isn’t safe for me to stay here (my father is an alcoholic and he becomes angry and mean when he’s been drinking, and I don’t think he’d do anything on purpose to harm me or the baby but I can’t risk it). We can’t afford a place of our own without receiving help.

I was informed of a government program called HUD (my boyfriend’s aunt discussed it with us) where they base your rent off of your income and you only pay what you can afford. Well, since my boyfriend only makes $10 an hour, she said that our rent would probably be paid entirely for us and that we should apply for WIC as well.

As great as this sounds, is it irresponsible of us to take this route? I wouldn’t be considering it if it wasn’t one of our only options. I didn’t plan on getting pregnant (I was actually on birth control when it happened) but now that I am, I want to do whatever it takes to take care of the baby.

Is this an okay plan or should I try to make things work at my dad’s house? Are there any ways to save money?