The first place to look when you need help to pay your bills.

Everyone is hurting (financially) right now. Recession, depression, call it what you want, the fact of the matter is: there is not enough. Our country has enough, it's just not getting to the people who need it. Families are expected to work more and get by with less. It's ridiculous. When and where will it end? I have revamped my national organizations page to, hopefully, make it more user friendly. In addition, please check out these other incredible pages :

****All direct links are in green or yellow

Please note, even though we try to, we cannot answer every post.

Soulight,

Elaine,

Lady Christie,

Ekikaseven,

The NATIONWIDE organizations listed below can assist you with your basic needs, including: food, clothing, rent, utilities, transportation, back to school needs, medical, dental, and holiday needs.

IF they cannot assist you, they may be able to refer you to someone who can.

211.org

• A service of United way – lists most nonprofit organizations in your local area
• available in most counties (not all)
• available both online and by calling 2-1-1 in your area ( free call)

Support for military personnel and their families
Assistance just for military and their families

Government benefits
Find out what government benefits you may qualify for

Social Services

the first place to go when in need – they can help with child care, child support, rental assistance, food stamps, healthcare, burial assistance, temporary financial assistance, etc.

Local benefits by state
Select a State from the map to view a list of the selected State's benefit programs.

American Public Human Services Association

Internet site that list social service agencies by state. A NATIONWIDE listing of social services offices and applications online

SSA.gov
To apply for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income

FREECYCLE
looking for something? Getting rid of something? Check out FreeCycle!

The following organizations may be able to fill in the gaps, or help, when Social Services cannot:

• Community Action Organization
  
  St Vincent De Paul
  
  Red Cross
  
  United Way
  
  Catholic Charities
  
  Salvation Army
• 
  

Emergency food and shelter board program

• The EFSP National Board does not provide direct client assistance. Direct assistance is provided through a variety of resources, which may include EFSP funding in your community. If you are in search of assistance for yourself or someone you know, you should look in the community services section of your local telephone directory. You should find these pages in the front of your directory and should look for listings for American Red Cross, Catholic Charities or Catholic Social Services, The Salvation Army, United Way Information and Referral, or other non-profit service providers. You may also click on Funded Organizations, here or on the EFSP homepage, to find organizations funded through EFSP in your community who may be able to assist or refer you to the appropriate assistance.

FOOD

FOOD STAMPS - OFFICES BY STATES

government program part of social services
WIC
Specifically for pregnant/postpartum women and children UNDER 5 - government program part of social services

Find a food co-op near you!

Angel Food Ministries – listings by state

HOUSING AND UTILITIES

HEAP
utility assistance - government program part of social services

FEMA NATIONAL SITE

HUD - RENTAL ASSISTANCE
If you need rental assistance this is the place to start. Subsidized housing is based on your income and often times it is much quicker to get into a subsidized apartment than to wait for a Section 8 Subsidy approval
Also check out how subsidized rent is determined

HUD/SECTION 8/Govt subsidized housing
Section 8 housing usually has a long list because the subsidy is attached to the person, not the property. This means that regardless of where the person lives, they still get the subsidy. In NY the waiting list is 8-10 years.

****If at anytime, you are denied accessibility to applying for any program, you should contact your local city, county, or state leaders and have them intervene on your behalf. - THIS APPLIES TO ANYONE WHO IS DENIED ASSISTANCE.

HOWEVER, there is another alternative. Subsidized housing where the subsidy stays with the property rather than with the renter. You would still pay the same amount of rent - it is based on your income - but you would have to move into a government subsidized property.

In most cases, these are handicapped accessible, family oriented, all the maintenance is included - among other things.

I am including the link for HUD below - just click on the proper state and take it from there. You will need a minimal security deposit - which you may be able to get from social services or another charitable organization.

Regardless of how long the list is you should still be able to be put on the list.
Contributed links:

hud rental assistance

fair housing act

home page

Americans with disabilities act homepage

HOUSING ASSISTANCE COUNCIL
Does NOT help individuals, BUT does have a lot of information and links for individuals- please browse through the site for more information.

WORK AND SCHOOL

Department of Labor
Can assist with: unemployment, job search, resumes, job training, wage and hour, layoffs, overtime, workplace safety, retirement and health benefits, and disability questions.
Ways to Work
How can you work if you have no transportation? Most social services programs do offer bus passes to help you get to and from work. This is different. This is NOT part of social services. This is a LOAN program specifically for low income families in need of a car or car repair, who do NOT qualify for conventional loans. They have their own set of requirements and are NOT available in every state.

http://www.alliance1.org/Programs/Waystowork.htm

Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA
government grants to finance your education

MEDICAL HELP

FREE MEDICAL CAMPS

United Health Care Childrens Foundation
Grants, up to $5,000, can help families pay for the costs associated with therapies such as speech, physical and psychotherapy sessions; for medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids and eye glasses; and for orthodontia and dental treatments.

Childrens Healthcare Emergencies

United Health Care Children’s Fund might be able to help. "Grants, up to $5,000, can help families pay for the costs associated with therapies such as speech, physical and psychotherapy sessions; for medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids and eye glasses; and for orthodontia and dental treatments."

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
assistance with medications for those without insurance

Donated Dental services
In each state at least one program coordinator is responsible for determining that applicants are either disabled, elderly or medically compromised and have no other way for paying for dental care.

Together Rx
discount card for prescriptions

GREAT DISCOUNT MEDICAL CARD

http://dwesley1981.aidpage.com/about.htm

GRANTS LOANS AND WISHES

evander holyfield foundation

MODEST NEEDS
non-profit organization reaching out to hard-working individuals and families who suddenly find themselves faced with small, emergency expenses that they have no way to afford on their own

OPEN DIRECTORY PROJECT
Listing of organizations which grant wishes to disabled, terminally ill, children and adults.

Prosper
loan program for people - from people

AZOGROUP.COM

How To Locate Small Business Grants,
Government Grants, and Other Grant Money

MISCELLANEOUS RESOURCES

(In other words, I wasn’t sure where to put these!)

Toys for Tots
Christmas assistance for families with children

Credit counseling

· CCCS

· NFCC

· money management. Org

· credit.org

• pro bono financial planning assistance

ATTORNEYS

• probono attys
• divorce source

PETS

If you need financial assistance, for a pet who is ill, check out this page:
National financial assistance organizations for pets

nichy org - resources

a series of Web resource pages on topics of high interest and concern. They're intended to connect you quickly with a range of resources, materials, and guidance on these topics.

is it a scam?

fraud and scam information

GRASSROOTS.ORG
This is one site you have to see for yourself! If you want to start a non-profit, volunteer, get involved, or just do some research, this is the place to start!

SEX OFFENDERS

Is there a sex offender living near you? find out here

My boyfriend and I recently moved out of our parents house and are trying to make it on our own...We are just running into a bunch of difficulties since its our first time. We are looking for a personal grant so that we can fix our apartment up (since we have no furniture) and to help us pay a few of our utilities to get us started since we just found jobs and are a bit behind..We are also trying to pay all our deposits..we are lookin for anything from 5,000-15,000 in grants...any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks

I am currently seeking financial assistance in paying off my credit card and student loan debit.

In paying off this debit, I hope to purchase a home of my own within the next  year.

Please offer any assistance you may have.

i am looking for assistance in paying for utilities and also how to find free government grants. i search the web but all the sites wants money to tell you how to get grants.  i would like to know how to find these grants and apply for them without paying someone to show me how. i do not have the money to do that. could anyone please let me know any information on this? thank you very much! jack

Hello everyone!  I am looking for a website that is totally free that I can find and apply for grants!  I'm interested in free grants to help pay past due bills and also to possible start a busines. All the sites I have been to once you go through the page and get to the bottom there is always some type of charge that it associated with it.  Any info will be appreciated!

Hello People,

I work full time and dont make much. Plus I work AVON on the side.  I'm a single mom and trying to start retail AVON kiosk in a mall.  THIS WOULD BE LIFE CHANGING. I'm tired of borrowing from peter to pay paul (as the saying goes).  HELP !!!!!!!!! Im looking for a FREE GRANT APPLICATION FOR SINGLE MOMS WITH OUT THE RUN AROUND.   Most grant sites want you to pay to become a member and than they send you information on places that you can call. I just want an application.  I hope someone out their can help out.  My business would take a start up fee of 30,000. 

Thank you for your help and keeping an ear open

Single Mom in Southern Claifornia

Im a single mother trying to get free grants to go to school but i cant seem to find them i need help going to school im trying to get help but finding it hard to do i try looking on the net but every where i look they want you to pay for information and i can do that i dont have any money and i want so badly to go to school to make a better life for me and my kids sombody please help me.

I am currently seeking any information on grants available for Long distance learning.

I live in a very isolated rural area and for my interest in Herbology, this would be my only option to obtain a degree.  I am in my fifties and take care of 73 acres and retired Military husband. We are just now beginning to make improvements upon our land and the study of Herbology will serve a big purpose later on.  I am just starting this journey to seek this long desired education. Any and all information is quite welcome.

I need information on free grants to asist me on becoming an vetenarian assistant. I am unemployed and a single mother of three children. I love to  work with animals.

I am a low income indvidual with no children. I work part time and attend school part time on and off. I am looking for a grant that will cover the full expience to purchace a home and also to further my education. I want to finish my education in social working because I want to help children as well as their families. But at this point in my life, I am the one that needs help. I have been trying on my own for many years to make thing happen for myself and still have not accomplished what I should have by now. With finacial assistance I feel I that I can in the near future be a great help to others.

Hello,

Im hoping to get some grant applications for SINGLE MOM starting a business.  Free of charge or paying back loan.  Start up cost is estimated at 40,000.  PLEASE HELP

Thank you,

Single Mom in Southern California

I'M LOOKING FOR FREE GRANTS TO HELP START A SMALL CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS.  I'VE LOOKED AT SOME SITES THAT SAY FREE GRANTS BUT IT'S NOT FREE, THEY WANT YOU TO PAY FOR INFORMATION. THAT'S NOT FAIR; YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GET SOMETHING THAT'S SUPPOSE TO BE FREE.  SO IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS ANY LEADS OR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR OR CAN HELP ME, THEN PLEASE CONTACT ME.   THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY.

I am looking for Grant Money to pay off my bills so that I may start up my own business at home. 

   Hi  Everyone;

           I am a mom of a 19 year old,helping my parents thru their golden years;and my son thru his college years.Don't get me wrong I have help with my husband,and thru the grace of God we have made it thus far.However,we are needing immediate financial help.Without having to pay it back immediately.We need to pay our bills,as my parents needed their medications;which come first before the rent.This is unfortunate,we had to choose between shelter,and my parents health.If there is anyone that can help please do.I welcome any and all help.

                          Thank You,

                                     Sarah Martinez

I am looking for a grant for personal use that doesn't have to be paid back also to help buy a home.  Every I find costs me money.  How do I get the applications?

June Spina

sti3ju@aol.com

PO Box 715

Malvern, Ohio 44644

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