"How I feel: I'm a single mom with 2 teens. Not sure I want be without an EF. It's a bit of a security blanket. "
Honestly, I think this is an important one. You might save some money long-term if nothing goes wrong, depending on the interest rate of your debt, by paying it off early with your EF. But how are you going to feel not having that safety net?
(Now, paying off debt has a good feeling, too, but in some ways it is very "short-lived." You make the payment, and you jump up and down, but the joy fades. The security of savings kind of hangs in the background, comforting you.)
For now, $1000 is a good EF, and once you get your debt emergency taken care of, consider growing the EF to cover 6 months of expenses (particularly if it helps you sleep at night!)