Question:
I would like to apply for a grant to pay-off my credit cards and make some improvements on my home.

Answer:

There is no one easy answer to the grants available to pay off credit card bills, because there are no programs in the government that is called “credit card bills.�  However, there are hundreds of programs that offer grant money that can be used to pay any bill like credit card bills, and there are also programs that offer free money to pay specific bills, like health care, prescription drugs, etc.

I know it is difficult to always be trying to get ahead of the game.  Especially when it seems like no matter what you do you still can’t get ahead of it.  So let’s get started with some sources that might get you going to where you want to be:

If You Ever Have Trouble Paying Your Rent Or Mortgage
There are now programs that will make your mortgage payments for you when you get into financial trouble. One of the best ways to find out if there are programs like this in your area is to contact the local HUD-approved Housing Counseling agencies. To find your closest agency, contact your state housing office, or the Housing Counseling Center locator at 800-569-4287; http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm

If You Need Free Credit Repair
The Federal Trade Commission has many publications to get you on the road to good credit and can also tell you your rights in dealing with collection agencies. Contact Public Reference, Room 130, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580; 877-FTC-HELP; www.ftc.gov; You can also get free counseling at your local County Cooperative Extension Service listed in the government section of your phone book under County Government. Or contact one of the non-profits that can help with your debt: National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 801 Roeder Rd., Suite 900, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 800-388-2227; www.nfcc.org; or Credit Counseling Center of America, P.O. Box 830489, Richardson, TX 75083; 800-493-2222; www.cccamerica.org. Remember that these non-profits get money from credit card companies so they are not likely to explain your bankruptcy options to you. And make sure no one charges you money for their services.

If You Need Extra Money For Emergencies

There are a number of national groups that provide free money and services through a network of local offices. Check each of the groups below and see what their local offices have to offer.

1. Catholic Charities USA
   1731 King St., #200
   Alexandria, VA 22314
   703-549-1390
   www.catholiccharitiesinfo.org
   Over 14,000 local organizations offer a variety of services for many different community problems, including child care, elderly services, emergency financial services, rental assistance, and more. To find an office near you go to their main web site and see “Need Assistance? Find A Local Agency?� and put in your state.
   
   
2. Salvation Army National Headquarters
   615 Slaters Lane
   P.O. Box 269
   Alexandria, VA 22313
   703-684-5500
   www.salvationarmyusa.org/
   Families in need can receive a wide range of services including, utility assistance, transitional housing emergency food, clothing, and more. For an office near you, contact the headquarters above or http://www.redshield.org/
   
   
3. United Way of America
   701 North Fairfax St.
   Alexandria, VA 2314
   703-836-7112 
   www.unitedway.org
   The United Way is a national organization that raises money for thousands of local non-profit organizations that offer money and services to people in their community. Your local United Way can identify non-profits in your area that may offer the resources or services you are looking for.
   
   To find a local chapter, go to the web site and enter your zip code under “Find A Local United Way.�

See If You Are Eligible For Programs At Your Local Community Action Agency

Over 1,000 local non-profit offices offer free money and help to improve your life in almost any area. Although these agencies do get money from the federal government, they also get money from other sources, and as a result, no two of these offices are exactly alike. But most of them help in the area of employment, bill paying, child care and self employment. The following is a sample of programs you will find when you contact an office near you. Along with the program, we also identify the local agency providing this program. These programs are specific to these areas. Check with your local office to see what they offer.

Get a $3 grant for every $1 you save
Community Action Partnership http://www.managingmymoney.com/

Free Cars, if you pay repairs and registration
CAP Agency Shakopee, MN http://www.capagency.org/pages/service.htm

Eviction Prevention
TEAM, Inc Derby, CT http://www.teamcaa.org/housing.htm

$10,000 to start a business
Community Action Program, Inc of Western Indiana http://www.capwi.org/new_page_9.htm

$700 for child care
Community and Family Services, Inc. Portland, IN www.comfam.net/pages/childcare.html

$350 for an air conditioner
City of Des Moines, Iowa
http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/CD/Comm%20Serv/L-I%20Assist%20Programs.htm

$1,000 to repair your furnace
City of Des Moines, Iowa
http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/CD/Comm%20Serv/L-I%20Assist%20Programs.htm

To find a community action agency near you go to: http://www.communityactionpartnership.com/about/links/map.asp or contact Community Action Partnership, 1100 17th St NW Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; 202-265-7546; Fax: 202-265-8850; www.communityactionpartnership.com;  Email: info@communityactionpartnership.com; 

If your local agency doesn’t have what you need, ask for names of other organizations that might be able to help.

You live in America and pay taxes. You have a right to know about and use these programs. If you run into a road block, don’t let a little negative feedback stop you. Try the next program, and then the next. And then start looking for more. This country has so much to offer, but you have to find it.

Find Federal Money Programs
Look at a book called the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. It contains all the federal government programs that give out money. This book is available at your local public library or the U.S. Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov. You can also search the contents of this book, by key word or government department, for free on the web at www.cfda.gov.

Find State Money Programs
Every state government has dozens of money programs that help people pay their expenses. The problem is that there is never one central place to look. You have to go agency by agency, or department by department and search for what is available. Some good departments to start are health, agriculture, commerce, and social services. You can find them by dialing 411 and asking for your state capitol operator or by going to the web at www.govengine.com and clicking on your state.

Find More Local City and County Programs
Start looking at every local city and county government for programs that might help. If you don't know where to go, you can call 411 and ask for the mayor's office or the office of the county executive. Just tell them you are looking for programs that might provide financial assistance to residents. You can also go to www.govengine.com and under each state there will be a listing of all cities and counties. Click on those of interest and start searching for programs.

Money From Non-Profit Organizations

There are 2 major sources for finding money from these groups:

A. The Foundation Center of New York City maintains a database of all foundations that provide money to non-profit organizations or individuals. Their information is available on the web at http://fdncenter.org or from their participating libraries by contacting 212-620-4230 (or they are also listed on the website).

B. The Guidestar company in Williamsburg, VA also maintains a database of foundations and they can reached at 757-229-4631 or at www.guidestar.com. Much of their database is accessible for free on the web.

Volunteer Organizations

There are a number of national volunteer organizations around the country that offer grants and other free services to solve problems for people in their community. The Lions Club awarded over $340 million in grants since they started, and the Kiwanis Clubs give out over $100 million every year.

Find your local club for each of the organizations below and contact them for information on their programs. If they do not have an ongoing program that specifically suits you, you can ask if you can send a letter of request for their consideration. It can’t hurt to ask. We’ve used these clubs in this way to help people in our “Show Me The Money Contest.�

These organizations run programs that offer money for:
 
- day care services
- summer camp
- scholarships
- travel
- free eye glasses
- cataract surgeries
- health problems
- travel
- medical equipment, and
- money for emergencies

• Kiwanis International
  3636 Woodview Trace
  Indianapolis, IN 46268-3196
  USA
  317-875-8755
  http://www.kiwanis.org
  Find a local Kiwanis club
  http://www.kiwanis.org/clubloc/ 
  
  
• United States Junior Chamber
  P.O. Box 7
  Tulsa, OK 74102
  1-800-JAYCEES
  http://www.usjaycees.org/
  Find a local Jaycees chapter http://www.usjaycees.org/chapter_links.htm
  
  
• Lions Clubs International
  300 W 22nd Street
  Oak Brook, IL 60523
  630-571-5466 ext 356
  http://www.lionsclubs.org/
  630-571-5466 ext 356

Money For Buying Or Fixing Up A Home In Virginia

To learn of all housing programs available from the federal government, you need to look in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (the government's money book). You can search housing online at www.cfda.gov. You can also check out programs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at www.hud.gov  But basically what you do is review every program closely and contact everyone that has even a remote possibility of helping you.

You Have To Check All Your State and Local Government Offices
You now have to contact your state, city, and county officials. Almost every local jurisdiction has money for housing and real estate. Many have money for closing costs, down payments, repairs and even rental assistance. It will take some effort, but it's worth the time. You can also locate your state, local and county government offices on the web at http://www.govengine.com/localgov/index.html.

Your Local HUD Housing Counseling Center Can Help
Contact your local housing counseling center.  This is a non-profit organization that gets paid by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that can help you find the money and help for a home.  They may not know every program available but they are a very good place to check.  To find offices near you, contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Counseling Center Locator, 800-569-4287 or http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcc_home.cfm.

See If You Are Eligible For $2,500 To Pay Your Insulation Bills
Storm windows, insulation and even weather-stripping can help reduce your heating and cooling bills. The U.S. Department of Energy offers the Weatherization Assistance Program. Many people are eligible for this program from renters to homeowners, from those who live in single-family or multi-family housing to those who live in mobile homes. Preference is given to the elderly and those families with children. You must apply through your state weatherization agency. States allocate dollars to non-profit agencies for purchasing and installing energy-related repairs. For information on eligibility find your office by contacting the National office at Department of Weatherization, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Stop EE-1, Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585; 202-586-9220; toll-free 877-EERE-INF; www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/

See If You Qualify For Money $$ To Pay Your Heating Bill
Even if you are not approved by the U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program, you might still be eligible for short-term assistance on your utility bill for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, LIHEAP serves low-income families by offering heating and cooling subsides, energy crisis intervention to assist in weather-related and fuel supply shortages and household energy-related emergencies, such as utility shutoffs. The amount of money and eligibility for this program varies from state to state, so you need to contact your state LIHEAP coordinator to learn how to apply. Contact the National office at U.S. Administration for Children and Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447; toll-free 866-674-6327; www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap.

Find Local Grants & Discounts To Pay Utility Bills

There is a large collection of hundreds of programs around the country offering money or discounts to help people pay their utility bills.  Although most of the grant programs have income limits, there are discount programs that have no income limits.  To find programs you may qualify for in your area you must search: 1) your city or township government, 2) your county government, 3) your state government, 4) local non-profit agencies and local development corporations, and 5) as well as your utility company.  Make sure you check with all of the following offices for help in locating appropriate organizations in your area:  1) your local library, 2) your local elected officials, 3) your local United Way, and 4) all housing agencies in your area.  Local government offices can be identified at www.govengine.com and your local United Way can be identified at http://national.unitedway.org/myuw/.  Listed below is a sampling of similar local programs around the country.  You can also contact your local area office on aging by calling 1-800-677-1116 or go to http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/How_To_Find/Agencies/Agencies.asp 

You should also seek out your local community action agency near you to see if they have a program to help you.  You can find your local agency at www.communityactionpartnership.com/about/links/map.asp or by contacting Community Action Partnership in Washington, DC at 202-265-7546

A lot of Local Utility Programs can be identified on the web by going to www.hud.gov, then choose your state under the title “Information by State.�  Most state pages have a link called “Renting Help Page.�  Click there even if you are a homeowner. Most Rental Help pages have a link called “Help With Your Utility Bills,� which describes programs for both renters and homeowners. 

Listed below is a sampling of the types of programs that are available around the country.

1) Seniors Making $24,400 Can Get $280 Discount
Energy Assistance Program Rate, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Sacramento. CA
http://www.smud.org/residential/bill/eapr.html

2) 50% Discount For Seniors 65+ Making  $31,992
Utility Discount Program, Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens
Seattle, WA
http://www.cityofseattle.net/humanservices/mosc/utility_discount_program.htm

3) 25% Discount On Water, Sewer, And Solid Waste For Seniors Making $19,248
Low Income Assistance Program, Tacoma Power
Tacoma, WA
http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/power/ResidentialServices/low_income_assistance.htm

4) Pay Only 10% Of Income If Income Less Than $19,245
Percentage of Income Payment Plan, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Ohio
http://www.puco.ohio.gov/PUCO/Consumer/information.cfm?doc_id=93

5) Pay No More Than 6% On Utilities If Income Under $24,464
Universal Service Fund New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
New Jersey
http://www.bpu.state.nj.us/home/USFQA.shtml

$8,000 to Improve Your Home So It Cuts Your Utility Bills
This program is called the Energy Efficient Mortgages Program and can be used to make energy-efficient improvements in one to four existing and new homes. The improvements can be included in a borrower's mortgage only if their total cost is less than the total dollar value of the energy that will be saved during their useful life. The cost of the improvements that may be eligible for financing as part of the mortgage is either 5 percent of the property's value (not to exceed $8,000) or $4,000, whichever is greater. The maximum mortgage limit for a single-family home is $160,950, plus the cost of the eligible energy-efficient improvements. (Limits may be lower in some areas of the country.) Contact: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410; 202-708-1112; http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm

It Takes Work

I know I have given you a lot of sources and have probably overwhelmed you. I apologize for this.  But it seems that nothing really worth doing in life is easy.  There are no real secrets to most of life.  The real secret is that it takes work.  But as I usually say, “who cares if it takes you a few hours or even a few days or weeks.�  Most of us have no idea what we did in the last few weeks.  Sure, nothing in life is guaranteed.  But you now have the best information available on the subject, and in here can lay a fabulous opportunity to improve your life.  This is your life and it is special to you and to the world. I hope what I have given you helps you grow into your full potential.

Good luck and remember that help truly is out there, it just sometimes takes the dickens to find it. Keep up the dream to improve yourself.

Matthew Lesko
President
Information USA, Inc.