Teacher Finds Government Assistance Services for Her School Kids

Well Done, Michelle.

I just had to share the great results that Michelle is getting in sharing the TANF lists with the children in her classroom. Their parents are applying for and……

….. getting! support with food, utilities, weatherizing their homes and other needs with these government assistance services’ grants.

They went through the link they found on our TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) list (scroll down) and got their applications in. Michelle shared with us that many of her kids are from families hard hit by the recession. She showed them the parents the links to visit for information on government assistance services and encouraged them to apply. The food assistance alone makes a huge difference in how they show up at school. We just have to say Well Done, Michelle! Her efforts went a long way in helping the kids in her school room and their families. Nice job.

It is these grant programs that help keep unemployed workers funded until they find new work; that help cover the gap to keep homes warm and families fed; that help with costs of medical prescriptions; that feed and help keep kids in school; emergency assistance..

Click here for the link to a tool by a federal government service to calculate where you fall on qualifying for assistance (but remember in your state it may be different). Each state determines its own qualification levels.

Click here to find out what the federal government assesses as the income poverty by state: you have to scroll down to find the income levels listed by state.

The funds are allocated by state. So no two states have the exact same programs. That’s why it’s so hard to say what all US citizens can expect in terms of assistance. What we used to call The Food Stamps Program we now hear referred to as temporary assistance or nutrition assistance. What was once called welfare (now a program that is gone) is now referred to as Temporary Assistance for Needy families. (TANF)

Click here to find your state’s programs for which YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW CAN APPLY. Get the word out. These funds are available for families, students, individuals, unemployed as well workers. These funds are for those who need to get help with food and utilities or perhaps winterizing their homes now that winter has fully arrived.( Brr…!) The list is long. It is different in each state.

To give you some ideas of what’s out there to apply for, here is one random state’s list of government grant programs – FREE MONEY – Here are some from the government services list:

* Child Care Subsidy (Help paying for child care)
* Emergency Assistance (Short-Term Financial Assistance for Families in Crisis)
* Food and Nutrition Services (Formerly Food Stamps)
* Heating and Air Repair and Replacement (Repair or replace inefficient systems)
* Heating and Cooling Assistance (Crisis Intervention)
* Low Income Energy Assistance
* Refugee Assistance
* Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (click here to go to WIC webpage)
* State-County Special Assistance, In Home (Help to Stay in Your Home)
* Weatherization Assistance
* Work First Cash Assistance

Apply! Help those in need to apply! Direct them where to go.. In the TANF list you will find phone numbers when I could find any.. In most cases, the web presence is where you can actually apply online and get things going right away.

Happy Holidays and Good Food and Warm Houses To You