If I leave then my mom goes broke. Now what?

I need help on this. Im 18 and plan on going to college(in the city, no dorms).The thing is this: I live w/my mom, and my dad, who lives accross the country sends rent money to help. He told us that once I get a job, he'll stop sending. Ok...and thats not even the bad part. If I get a job, theyll raise the rent, so I have to help my mom out w/ rent, try to put money aside and attend college all at the same time. My mom works, but we're scraping by. I would like to have the "independent experience" and live w/ a roommate and such, but I cant leave my mom with rent problems. What should I do?