Recession Resources

 

Helping Hand

The Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM administration, in cooperation with various social safety net groups, is creating a new state Web site where recipients can speed up the process of securing state assistance from food stamps to unemployment checks.

Called the "Helping Hand" initiative, the state has expanded its Web site to "bust the bureaucracy" and end the need to apply in person at various state offices.

She noted that in tough times, citizens should not have to stand in line and this one-stop center should reduce the time to process requests. For those without a computer, recipients can call 2-1-1 and those operators will link them to the services.  The new program is available at www.michigan.gov/helpinghand.

Filing an Unemployment Claim

File online or by phone with the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), the State of Michigan's source for unemployment claims.

• UIA may be reached toll free at (866) 500-0017

Michigan Works! provide in-person assistance, computers, and job postings, at local offices throughout the state:

• Alma:  (989) 466-4832
• Bad Axe: (989) 269-2311
• Bay City: (989) 667-0500
• Caro: (989) 673-8103
• East Tawas: (989) 362-6407
• Gladwin: (989) 426-8571
• Harrison: (989) 539-2173
• Midland:  (989) 631-3073
• Pinconning: (989) 879-6640
• Saginaw, Johnson St.: (989) 776-1511
• Saginaw, Bay Rd.: (989) 249-5232
• Sandusky: (810) 648-5800
• St. Charles: (989) 865-2477
• St. Johns: (989) 224-2000
• Standish: (989) 846-2111
• West Branch: (989) 345-1090

Other locations can be found using the Michigan Works map.

No Worker Left Behind - free tuition available to job seekers. Must apply by July 2010 for up to $5,000 per year for two years to get a degree in a high demand field

• Toll free phone: 800-285-WORK

For additional assistance in filing your claim, watch Filing Your Claim for Unemployment Benefits & Finding a Job at the UIA website.

Health Insurance Options

COBRA

If you do not qualify for insurance through your spouse/partner's employer or for Medicaid, you may qualify for a reduction of 65% of the cost of COBRA for up to nine months through a new government program. This program may also be available if you previously did not elect for COBRA.

• COBRA Program Website
• Toll free: 1 (866) 444-3272

Spouse/Partner's insurance

Consider enrolling in health insurance available through spouse's or partner's employer

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HIPPA, you have 30 days to enroll in your spouse/partner's plan if you lose insurance due to loss of employment, regardless of when the open enrollment period is

Private Health Insurance

Research health care insurance providers based on cost and amount of coverage.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance not-for-profit organization provides "Report Cards" on Health Insurance Providers.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BC/BS) of Michigan is the state's nonprofit insurer of last resort. BC/BS must accept all applicants.

• BC/BS may be contacted toll free at 1 (877) 4MY-BLUE [877-469-2583]

Government Funded Health Insurance

Veterans qualify for VA benefits: (877) 222-8387

Medicaid is available to low-income families, disabled persons, children, and pregnant women. To apply for Medicaid, go to or call your local Department of Health Services office.

MIChild helps children under age 19 of working families (those who do not qualify for Medicaid). This program has a higher income bracket than the Medicaid program.

• Toll Free at (888) 988-6300

Michigan's County Health Plans Genesee County, Saginaw County, and Bay County each offer low cost, community-based programs that provide basic healthcare coverage to low-income individuals in Michigan. The plans provide limited coverage for doctor visits, prescriptions, lab tests and X-rays with affordable copay amounts. This is not insurance, however, the coverage for many basic healthcare services has assisted many Michigan residents with their healthcare needs. If you are a resident of one of these counties, and meet income and other eligibility requirements, Genesee Health Plan, Saginaw Health Plan, or Bay Health Plan may be right for you. Click on your county in the map to learn more about the plan for you.

County Health Plans Many communities in Michigan are using an innovative approach to providing health care benefits to persons in need. Programs called County Health Plans are serving as a vehicle to provide access to organized systems of health care for the indigent uninsured and lower income persons without private or public health insurance.

Free or Low Cost Primary Care

A list of Free Clinics in Michigan can be found at the Free Clinics of Michigan site.

At Community Health Centers, you pay what you can afford based on your income.

Michigan Cover the Uninsured provides free and/or low-cost health screenings locally.

Project Healthy Living provides free and/or low-cost health screenings locally.

Finding a New Job

Cover Letters, Resumes & References

• About.com resume samples for most job-seekers
• More free resume templates, including writing tips
• LearningExpressLibrary, a database with information about resumes and cover letter, saccessible via the Michigen Electronic Library using your Driver's License or State ID
• Reference Letter tips - questions and tips for compiling your reference list
• More Reference Letter samples

Job Searching

Occupational Outlook Handbook looks at future growth in different occupations. Published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Handbook includes information on income, training, job searching and the job market by state.

The database ReferenceUSA is available through many libraries. Search for potential employers by industry, number of employees, location, etc.

Job searching websites:

• Indeed - Search by job title, keyword or company name
• Job-Hunt.org - for everything from anticipating a layoff to recruiting employees
• Jewish Vocational Services - JVS helps unemployed workers find meaningful employment
• The Riley Guide - Employment Opportunities on the Internet
• Job posting sites in Michigan
• CareerBuilder.com
• Craigslist jobs
• OCC training and assistance for unemployed workers

Interview Preparation

About.com's Job Search site offers a variety of interview questions, answers, and interview tips

Yahoo! offers interview tips for a variety of interviews

State of California Employment Development Department has an excellent site on interviewing. Includes questions, pitfalls and thank you notes.

Homeownership Preservation

 

Michigan State Housing Development Authority

• MSHDA provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve safe and decent affordable housing.   Use the Home Ownership Councelor Locator to locate services in your county.

Central Michigan 211 Foreclosure Assistance from United Way of Jackson County in partnership with Capital Area United Way, Eaton County United Way, Hillsdale County United Way, Lenawee  United Way, LifeWays & Livingston County United Way

• Toll Free: 211 or (800) 561-2500
• Learn about foreclosures or use a quick assessment tool to find out if you are at risk
• Referral services also available

Michigan Community Action Agencies

• MMCAA has over 20 programs to help low to moderate income families become more stable. Some of these programs include: Rent/Mortgage Assistance, Housing Repair/Rehabilitation, Homeownership/Down payment Assistance, Low Income Weatherization Program.

HoldOntoYourHome.org

• Operated by a coalition of Lansing-area organizations including the Allen Neighborhood Center, the Center for Financial Health, the Franklin Street Community Housing Association, Housing Services for Eaton County, and Lansing Affordable Homes, Inc.
  

GreenPath Debt Solutions

• Toll Free: (800) 550-1961
• Non-profit organization offering help with foreclosure prevention, repossession, and utility shutoff. Offers free debt counseling services either over the phone or in-person.
• Also information on loan modification scams that claim to be associated with the U.S. Dept of Housing and Urban Development
• Headquartered in Farmington Hills, MI, GreenPath operates 37 full-time branch offices in Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Arizona, and delivers licensed services throughout the United States over the Internet and telephone.

Save the Dream Program

• Toll Free: (866) 946-7432
• Program operated by MSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) to help homeowners keep their homes through refinancing

Michigan Foreclosure Prevention Project

• (734) 615-2450
• Collaborative statewide project from the Michigan Poverty Law Program that provides direct legal representation to homeowners facing foreclosure, support to housing counseling organizations, coordinating policy advocacy on a statewide basis, and provides training and technical support

Making Home Affordable from the Department of the Treasury

• Toll Free: (888) 995-HOPE
• Refinance or modify loans to a payment that is affordable now and into the future. A self-assessment tool provided allows homeowners to determine if they are able to benefit from this program. Also includes FAQs, payment estimators and lots of other valuable resources

Homeowner Crisis Resource Center

• Counseling & tools for avoiding foreclosure

Hope Now

• Toll Free: (888) 995-HOPE
• An alliance between HUD approved housing counselors and mortgage companies that provides free foreclosure prevention assistance.

HUD Guide to Avoiding Foreclosure

• Tips, refinance options, lender solutions

Mortgage Foreclosure Resources for Consumers from the Federal Reserve

• Information and links to agencies and organizations that may be able to help consumers

ACORN Foreclosure Campaign from Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now

• Toll Free: (866) 67-ACORN or (313) 963-1840
• Help for low-to-moderate income homeowners. Information about predatory lending and the foreclosure crisis

Foreclosure Prevention Resource Center

• The Mortgage Bankers Association provides information about the foreclosure process and borrower options

Credit Repair & Maintenance

Credit Score/Report

• AnnualCreditReport.com - get your free annual credit report. No strings attached.
• myFICO.com - Find out your credit score (must sign up for a trial but can avoid payment if you cancel within 30 days)

Maintaining Good Credit

• Federal Trade Commission -Building a Better Credit Report
• Michigan State Housing Development Authority - Your Credit
• About.com Credit/Debt Management - How to Survive Unemployment, Maintain Your Credit, and Manage Your Debt
• U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission - Learn more about credit and how to protect it
• Power Pay 5.0 - Power payments are part of a technique often suggested by financial experts to help families and individuals gain control of their consumer debts. This program developed in part by the Utah State University Extension can help you make power payments (you must create a username and password to access)

Credit Counseling

• Department of Human Services - Offers emergency assistance with bills to qualified individuals. Phone: (517) 373-2035
• Michigan Energy Renovation Program - Offers financial help to qualified individuals. Phone: (866) 200-1799
• Michigan State Housing Development Authority - Who to Call for (Credit) Help." Phone: (517) 373-8370
• Find a United Way  Your first call for help for information and referrels.
• Free, reputable credit counselors: Michigan State Housing Development Authority - Counselor Agency Locator. Phone: (517) 373-8370
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan - Credit Counseling and Finances

Additional Assistance Programs

General Assistance

United Way 2-1-1 call centers are a multi-lingual, comprehensive information and referral service available 24/7/365. Its database contains more than 20,000 programs and services such as after school programs, senior care services, medical and prescription assistance, credit counseling and mortgage foreclosure assistance, and housing and utility resources.

• Dial 2-1-1 if you are in Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, Kent, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mason, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana,Ottawa, St. Joseph, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties and across the Upper Peninsula  View map of Current and Planned Expansion.
  
• 2-1-1 is coming, in Summer, 2009, to: Allegan, Branch, Berrien, Cass, Clare, Gratiot, Gladwin, Isabella, Manistee, Midland and Van Buren Counties.
  

Michigan Department of Human Services

The Michigan Department of Human Services provides help in numerous ways. Call (517) 373-2035 for assistance.   Services and programs (pdf)

Utilities

The 2009 Michigan Energy Assistance Directory, developed by the Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm, provides information on private and public programs that offer energy assistance, as well as a county listing of utilities, programs, and resources available.

• Consumers Energy
• DTE Energy
• Home Healting Hotline at 1-800-292-5650.

Food Stamps/Food Banks

• Food Bank Council of Michigan
• Locate a "Food Bank of Eastern Michigan" agency
  
• Michigan Dept. of Human Services
• Salvation Army - (877) 725-6424
• Food Assistance Program Hotline - (800) 481-4989
• Food Banks

Senior Services

• Alternatives for Seniors - (888) 533-4636
• Michigan Office of Services to the Aging (989) 373-8230
  

Your Local Library

Click on library to access their website

Navigation

• Home
• Filing an Unemployment Claim
• Health Insurance Options
• Finding a New Job
• Homeownership Preservation
• Credit Repair & Maintenance
• Additional Assistance Programs
• Your Local Library
• Return to the Top

This webpage was design by
Metro Net Library Consortium