CALCULATORS

Use these calculators to help review your finances & plan your next steps:

Resources

HELPFUL SOURCES

We have received a lot of emails and questions from women, who need immediate help to get them through the next few months, while they find new places to live, work, or improve their lives.

In this situation, you need practical, often locally based help. We want to help you find that help and to move forward with your goals.

Unfortunately the same services are given different names, or managed differently in each state. To help you search for local help, key words for internet searches are included in each section.

If you still can’t find what you are looking for, send us an email (including the name of the City/County/Sate where you live) – we are here to help.

(link from each of the heading below, to the section in the text)

General Help

Churches/Places of worship

If you are a member of a church, or a religious group – find out if they offer any assistance. Many religious groups provide short term assistance to their members, or people of the same faith.

Religious groups also often have good links and knowledge about other types of support and help in your town or city.

The Salvation Army offers a wide range of services, including specific projects aimed at the elderly, the homeless, low income families. To find out more about what is available in your area, visit the Salvation Army website http://www.salvationarmyusa.org then search on your zip code.

If you are looking for a church in you area, the National Council of Churches USA, is a good starting place http://www.ncccusa.org/

Internet Search Council of Churches + State or County or City

County Services/Local Government

Counties offer a range of services, including food stamps, housing assistance, welfare, social work assistance. Details of the services offered, together with contact telephone numbers, addresses and even on-line application forms are found on County websites.

We recommend that you start with local government first. Our personal experience is that local government is more responsive than state government, which is more responsive that federal government.

In addition many of these websites also contain useful lists of resources and additional services, that are available locally, e.g. food banks, shelters, support groups, housing associations.

Internet Search: County name

Housing

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development – www.hud.gov website provides general information on all aspects on housing, including home ownership, foreclosure, renting, public housing programs.

For Public housing assistance and help/information on (Section 8) Housing Choice Vouchers, you need to contact your local Public Housing Agency (PHA). Use the following link to find your nearest Public Housing Agency http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pha/contacts/index.cfm

There will also be local housing associations, shelters and non profits groups offering help and assistance in your area.

Internet Search: County/City + housing

Job Skills & Employment

Job Skills/Classes

Most areas have public occupational centers that offer classes to help improve and learn job skills. The centers teach a wide variety of subjects and fees are very low. Classes are held during the day, at weekends and at night. Some centers also offer low cost child care facilities for students. Centers have links to local businesses, so once you complete your classes staff may be able to assist in finding work or internships.

Completing classes and gaining job related skills will help in your search for a new job. More importantly the classes will also build up your confidence and belief in yourself.

If you can’t find a public occupational center nearby, look for community colleges and see what job related skills classes they offer.

Internet Search: Occupational center + city/county Community college + city/county

Unemployed – Have you considered relocating?

If you do not have close relatives, or many ties to where you live now – consider moving to an area where are more employment opportunities. The following website has employment rates by metropolitan area - http://www.bls.gov/web/laummtrk.htm (so you can compare where you live now to other areas).

The Top 10 metropolitan areas with lowest employment rates are shown below (Nov 2008):

1	Logan, UT-ID Metropolitan Statistical Area	2.4
2	Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area	2.6
3	Ames, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area	2.7
4	Casper, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area	2.7
5	Fargo, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area	2.7
6	Iowa City, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area	2.8
7	Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area	2.8
8	Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area	2.9
9	Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area	3.1
10	Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area	3.2
11	Provo-Orem, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area	3.2

If you want information on an area/city www.homecare.com is a relocation website. It has city reports and profiles, school reports and other related relocation information.

Childcare

Childcare Coops

Forming childcare coops is a great alternative to paying for childcare. This works great for one group of women we know – one women works as a waitress at nights, and babysits during the day; the second woman works weekends and the third works days at a grocery store. All three women go out the work and get free childcare for their children.

Childcare Assistance

Some states offer childcare assistance to low income or one parent families. These programs vary from state to state.

Internet Search Childcare assistance + State

Domestic Violence/Abusive Relationships

General information and additional resources for women looking to escape domestic violence http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_help_treatment_prevention.htm

The National Domestic Violent Hotline http://www.ndvh.org/ phone 1-800-799-7233 offers confidential help and advice.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has branches in every state, check out the State Coalition List for the group in your state http://www.ncadv.org/resources/StateCoalitionList_73.html

For local support groups and help search on the following:

Internet Search City/county + women’s shelter

Legal Help

The legal aid society in your county or city is a good place to start if you are looking for legal help. Depending on your circumstances it may also be worth contacting your County District Attorney office.

Internet Search City/County/State + legal aid society

Internet Search County + District Attorney

Internet Search State + legal clinic

Health Care & Insurance

Emergency Rooms

Federal law gives you the right to emergency medical care, regardless of your ability to pay. The hospital must provide treatment, without asking about your ability to pay. However, if you do not have a medical emergency, the hospital does not have to treat you. (See below for your other options).

If you have medical insurance, your insurance company will be billed for the treatment you have received. If you do not have insurance, then you will have to make payment arrangements with the hospital. These arrangements will depend on your circumstances and also on the hospital.

Health Insurance for Children

There is some support available to provide health insurance for the children of low income families, visit the Government website http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/ for more information. Start Healthy, Stay Healthy is a non profit website that also offers information on health insurance for kids http://www.cbpp.org/shsh/

Health Insurance for Adults

There are some federally funded centers that will care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. There are health centers in most cities and many rural areas, to find a health center near you visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

Getting basic health insurance may cost less than you think, some basic plans start from $60/month. The following are commercial websites, which offer information and also quotes on low cost health insurance:
http://www.healthinsurance.org/
http://www.low-cost-health-insurance-plans.org

There are also a number of state specific organizations that offer health related support to low income people, e.g. The Health Consumer Alliance in California.

Internet Search Health + State

Medicare/Medical

For information on Medicare and Medical, visit the FAQ page of the BreakFreee website http://www.breakfreee.org/faqs#21

Substance Abuse

People recovering from addiction to drugs or alcohol usually require professional help. Admitting you need help is often the first step – for further information for yourself, or a family member visit the following websites:

General information and how to get help http://www.helpguide.org/mental/drug_abuse_addiction_rehab_treatment.htm

For treatment services in your area visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association website http://samhsa.gov/treatment/index.aspx.

Each state has a state substance abuse agency, view the list to find the one for your state http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ufds/abusedirectors

Budgeting Tips

1. Keep a record of everything you spend money on for a week, or a month – you may be surprised to see where you money goes.

2. Understand your monthly expenses, how much money you have coming in and how much you are spending.

Income:

Wages
Child support
Other income
Total Income

Bills and payments:

Rent/mortgage

Property tax
Bills (electricity, gas, phone, water, trash, TV)
1. Vehicle – gas, insurance, tax
2. Food
3. Clothing
4. Childcare
5. Paying off debts (loans, credit cards)
6. Health insurance
7. Other (eating out, entertainment etc)

(Any bills that you pay annually – divide by 12 to calculate monthly payments)

Total Expenses

Then subtract your total expenses from your total income.

3. Work out your budget and write it down. This way you can track what you are spending, against your budget.

4. If you are spending more than your income, you need to reduce your expenses and/or increase your income.

Look at your expenses one by one, and see how you can save money….if you can save just a few dollars on each expense, that could make all the difference.

Just a few examples to start with - Clip coupons, check out the where to buy the cheapest gas, write a shopping list and stick to it, eating at home is cheaper than eating out, switch to a cheaper phone plan, shop around for insurance, start a babysitting co-op to reduce child care costs, look for a bank or credit union with lower fees, or even free checking accounts, pay bills on time – don’t waste money paying late fees and charges.

5. Increase your income – can you work a few extra hours per week? Are there any additional government or state grants/support that you are entitled to?

6. Pay off Debt – if you can, start paying off your debts, even a few dollars a month will help. Find out what interest rates you are paying and pay off the highest ones first.
If you are experiencing significant debt problems – contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling www.debtadvice.org.

7. Start saving – unexpected things happen to everyone. Having even a small amount of savings can help with unplanned vehicle or home repairs.

8. Remember to save for annual expenses – property taxes, insurance, etc. For bills you don’t pay monthly – save enough each month to cover these payments.

9. Think first – before every financial transaction – decide if every single expense is a need or a want. Make thoughtful choices about how you spend every dollar.

10. Keep trying. It takes time to change your habits. If you overspend your budget in the first month, try again the next month and the next…

For more information:
Visit the budgeting section on our Frequently Asked Questions page
Try out the budget calculators http://www.breakfreee.org/resources/calculators
Visit our resources page http://www.breakfreee.org/resources
Check out these consumer tips, from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling http://www.debtadvice.org/Consumer_Tips/consumertips_01.cfm