How to Get Emergency Financial Help

Emergency financial help is available for struggling families facing a myriad of difficulties, be it illness, job loss, disability or a natural disaster.

In a down economy, especially a prolonged recession or depression, many workers lose their jobs and sources of income and find themselves looking for help for the first time.

Temporary assistance allows families and individuals to get back on their feet and work to regain self-sufficiency. Here are some places to go for emergency financial help.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Find out what assistance is available through your local Human Services department. In most cities and counties in the United States, you can simply dial 2-1-1 from your home phone to learn about civic emergency financial help options.

2. 
   WIC for babies

   Inquire about special options for families, such as medical care for pregnant women and babies and WIC for families with young children. The WIC (Women Infants Children) program gives food, such as cheese and milk, to qualifying families.

3. Look for local branches of national charities, such as Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and United Way. They have funds and programs to provide emergency financial help to those who can show genuine need.

4. Ask your church and other local churches for emergency financial help. Many religious congregations have social outreach committees to minister to the needy in their communities.

5. Consider applying for food stamps if you are in desperate straits and unable to put food on the table for yourself, your family, and especially the children in your care.

6. Look into federal and state housing programs to find out if you qualify for subsidized housing or rental assistance. You can survive on much less income when housing is covered.

Tips & Warnings

• After you have received emergency financial help and are back on your feet, be sure to give back and help others in need.
• Please don't use the comments section to ask for emergency financial help. Instead, use the resources mentioned on this page to find the assistance you need.

[atlantagolfshop]

on 1/30/2009 Always great info! Sometimes you just have to look for resources.

[AprilThomas]

on 12/7/2008 Good advice. Very pertinent to this time of economic problems.

[Crissleigh]

on 12/6/2008 Great article and with things being so tight for people this year I am sure a lot of people can use this. A1 Job!

[leanan]

on 12/5/2008 Everyone needs help at some point, thanks for the great resource.

[Geargirl113]

on 12/5/2008 This is a good article for this time. Thank you.