Mom of octuplets struggling financially

>>> suleman gave birth to octuplets back in 2009 , she insisted she would never take help to support her 14 children. but now the single mother is receiving assistance from the state of california and making headlines for her latest money-making venture. we'll talk to nadya exclusively in a moment. first, nbc 's kristen dahlgren brings us up to date on her story.

>> reporter: she's the woman known worldwide as octo-mom. famous in the tabloids, often vilified in the press. nadya suleman has always defended her decision to give birth to octuplets through in vitro fertilization.

>> hi, maria.

>> reporter: adding them to the six children she already had.

>> i've chosen never to go on welfare. i feel as though it is my responsibility to do what i can to provide for my children.

>> reporter: but recently suleman admitted to nbc news that she is receiving about $2,000 a month in aid from a state of california program that provides assistance to large families making less than $119,000 a year. and now suleman has a new source of income. she says the latest public exposure in the british magazine "closer" isn't about fame.

>> we've been in for "closure" for many nos now.

>> reporter: she received $8,000 for the photo spread, a fraction of what it cost to raise her kids. according to the department of agriculture , the average cost of raising 14 children is an estimated $9,000 a month.

>> whoa!

>> reporter: "today" viewers witnessed suleman 's hectic life firsthand last summer.

>> jeremiah. freeze, noah.

>> this is for the celebrity wrestling federation bing bang championsh championship.

>> reporter: suleman has traded in on her feign before, turned down lucrative offers to do pornography but said she had to do this shoot.

>> i can't allow my kids to be homeless. i've never been so terrified in my life.

>> reporter: with her attorney saying possible eviction is only weeks away and 14 little ones depending on her.

>> we've got to go!

>> reporter: the desperate mom says she'll do what it takes. for "today," kristen dahlgren, nbc news, los angeles .