We tried in the beginning but they all wanted the home study done. We literally got the home study approved 2 weeks before he was born. My best friend asked us to adopt when she found out she was pregnant, so we had a time crunch to get everything done
My husband and I are adopting through foster care. When you do the state covers a lot of your expenses. They even cover your attorney’s fees. But it is not always as straightforward. If your state offers “foster-to-adopt” that might be worth looking into. I don’t know about a grants off-hand. But I’m wishing you luck and joy on your journey.