How to Help Low Income Families

In less than one hour a week, you can help a low-income family. Most low-income families cannot provide every family member with many of the basic living necessities, especially if three generations of family dwell in the same unit. Most public and private agencies have limited resources and cannot provide for all of those in need. If you know of a low-income family in your neighborhood, church or through another association, offer help to that family. Even a grain's worth of simple, kind gestures from a Good Samaritan are worth a thousand praises to a low-income family.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Business Cards

How to Help Low Income Families

1. Give the family contact information to a local social services office. Let the head of the household know that financial assistance may be available for the family, such as food stamps, energy or cash assistance, and shelter or health care.

2. Offer a ride to the local library where free Internet access can screen the family for eligible programs. Food stamp calculators provided online can determine a family's eligibility for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), informally known as food stamps. If the family is eligible for some help with food, it is a good indication that the family may be eligible for other services.

3. Offer errand trips or carpool with a family member to work. A ride to the grocery store or a doctor's appointment might take strain off the family, as many must rely on public transportation in all weather conditions.

4. Ask the head of household if you can take the family's children to the park when you take your children. Exchange contact information, and provide the specific time when you will leave for and return from the park, and any information you need about caring for the children before you leave.

5. Pass along free items to a family in need. When you grocery shop and receive an extra offer such as "buy one get one free," offer the free items to a low-income family, or donate the item to charity.

6. Organize a yard sale so other families can purchase items needed at a deep discount. What you do not sell at the yard sale, donate to charity or organize your own collection, and publicly announce items available for free to a good home.

7. Offer the elder of the family a ride to the city's township or local hospital for a consultation with the State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Programs (SHIPs) coordinator. SHIP offers counseling and placement for elders needing day care or other services. It might lower the stress of the family knowing that there are options available for the older generation in the home.

Tips & Warnings

• The same information you leave for a babysitter should be the same information exchanged with the mother or other responsible family member for the children. Offer this regularly if you know the family well or the family is comfortable with the arrangement. Design free business cards with quick reference and important numbers. Even though you are not in a business, small business cards containing important reference material are easy to carry in your wallet and hand out to neighbors or co-workers who may need them. You can order business cards or make them at home (see Resources). Since most libraries have a time limit on Internet access, use the food stamp calculator for faster answers for food assistance. If there are no time restrictions, fill out the questionnaire at the Benefits Checkup website to see all of the resources available to the family (see Resources).
• Do not offer a ride for any family member if you do not know the family personally. If the family is a part of your church or other organization, consider the offer with care. Set limits and boundaries with the family you help so you do not overextend yourself and you are comfortable with what and when you give.

References

• Social Services

Resources

• Social Services
• Quick Food Stamp Calculator
• Food Assistance
• Free Business Cards