Help, assistance: WHAT TO DO FIRST IN A CRISIS

CRISIS -----ABUSE--- ELECTRIC IS GOING TO BE CUT OFF---NO HEAT-----NO WATER---SHELTER----LAID OFF--LOST JOB--CLOTHES--HOT LINES----LOST CHILD--CUSTODY--HEAT--SAFE HOUSE--WOMENS -CHILD ABUSE -SHELTER--HELP--PROBLEM KIDS--ANGER--HELP--AID-CRISIS---HOW TO GET A JOB WITH CRIMINAL RECORD--HANDLE A DEBT COLLECTOR---WHAT TO DO FIRST IF YOU JUST CAN'T THINK ANYMORE

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Also , for information that will help with day-to-day living as a low income person , go to this page :

http://national-resources-for-low-income-individuals.app-just-trying-to-help-1.aidpage.com/

I USED TO HAVE PART OF THIS PAGE IN SPANISH , BUT I HAVE FOUND MY TRANSLATION WAS NOT VERY GOOD. HERE IS A SITE WHERE YOU WILL GET TRANSLATION HELP FOR THE WHOLE PAGE :

TENÍA PARTE DE ESTA PÁGINA EN ESPAÑOL, PERO HE ENCONTRADO MI TRADUCCIÓN NO ERA MUY BUENO. AQUÍ ESTÁ UN SITIO EN DONDE CONSEGUIRÁS LA AYUDA DE LA TRADUCCIÓN PARA LA PÁGINA ENTERA:

GOOGLE LANGUAGE TOOLS

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IF YOU ARE HOMELESS AND NEED HELP GO HERE :

THE WORKING HOMELESS TONS OF INFORMATION AND NETWORKING

FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE

NATURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE

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IF YOU ARE NOT BEING ABUSED , SCROLL PAST THE NEXT SECTION TO THE THREE LINES OF BLUE STARS*******

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IF YOU ARE BEING ABUSED

Domestic Violence Hotline:
800.621.HOPE (4673)

Crime Victims Hotline:
866.689.HELP (4357)

Rape & Sexual Assault Hotline:
212.227.3000

TDD Phone Number for all hotlines:
800.810.7444

Before ANYTHING ELSE if you or your kids are being abused ;BREAK THE SILENCE ! If you can, leave and go to a safe place. NOW.

• This can be anywhere the abuser can't find you or where you and your children will be protected. Transition Houses are good choices for a safe place to go. Never leave without taking your kids.

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If you can, call the police or ask someone to call them for you.
• If you are in immediate danger dial 911.. You have the right to report an assault to the police.

• If you can, call a support line: This is the National Domestic Abuse Support Line :

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

See your doctor or go to a hospital
• You can choose to see a Doctor or go to the hospital regarding your injuries without making a police report.

• If you choose to file a police report, all injuries need to be reported and documented.

• You need to make sure your injuries, or those of your children, are not serious or life threatening.

See a Lawyer

• You may need to get a restraining order.

• You may need to get an interim custody order.

• You need to know your rights.

□ Legal documents:
Marriage license, divorce or separation
Papers, custody agreements, court orders

□ Driver’s license or photo identification

□ Birth certificates:
Yours and your children's

□ Passports:
Yours and your children's

□ Immigration papers:
Yours and your children's

□ Social Security Cards
Yours and your children's

□ Money, check book, credit cards

□ Bank book, bank statement

□ Lease, rental agreement, house deed

□ House keys, car keys, safety deposit box
Key

□ Address book, phone numbers
Include friends, family members and
Others who may be able to offer you support

□ Medications, medical records:
Yours and your children's

*It is not your fault or you kids fault.

The abuser is the one with the problem*

When I left my home with my daughter to escape an abusive husband , I didn't want to go to a shelter . I was afraid of what it would be like. I moved in with different friends instead. My friends were really kind and helpful , but it did put alot of pressure and stress on everybody.

I look back and think that I should have done it differently. A shelter would have had all the things my daughter and I needed at the time : counseling , help with what to do next , other women and kids who could relate., and a place to stay at least for a while (we lived with 5 different families. They were wonderful , but kind of passed us around from family to family -we all knew each other and everybody wanted to help.This gave everybody a chance to help , but left my daughter and I with an even more lost feeling.)

If you are afraid of going to a shelter , don't be. They have heard every story in the book .

Here is an idea of what it will be like :

SHELTER TOUR

This page has state-by state domestic violence contacts and resources :

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES FOR EACH STATE

Do you have more questions about abuse ? Go to this site and look on the left side bar.

WINGS PROGRAM RESOURCES

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How to make decisions in the middle of a crisis.

Here is another good site that lists steps to making a decision. Sometimes when we are in a crisis situation , it is so hard to think about anything. This page helps put some order in what we should do about those hard decisions that come with a crisis.

MAKING DECISIONS.

COPING WITH JOB LOSS

STEPS TO TAKE WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN LAID OFF

Unfortunately, in today's economic climate, layoffs are happening to many people. Some might have seen it was coming, while others were caught off guard. Either way, it can be a scary situation. Here is some helpful information and things you should do when you have been laid off:

1. Get a letter of recommendation from your employer. Obviously, you have been laid off through no fault of your own. It would be a great asset for you to have your employer give you a letter of recommendation to give to a prospective employer. It would also help if the employer states in the letter of recommendation that you were terminated due to a layoff.

2. Ask your current employer if he has any business referrals or recommendations on other places to seek employment. Perhaps he has a business colleague that can use your services.

3. Find out what kind of severance package you will get, if any. If you have insurance, you will be eligible for COBRA benefits. Although COBRA benefits can be expensive, it will carry you through until you are once again employed and covered by your new employer. If, by chance, you cannot afford your COBRA premiums, you should look into short-term insurance coverage. Bear in mind that most short-term insurance policies will not cover pre-existing conditions. Another viable option is to check into health insurance "plans."

4. Apply for Unemployment Insurance and Benefits. More than likely, you will qualify for unemployment benefits. The eligibility requirements differ from state to state and it is important that you contact your local unemployment office right away. This should be your first step, especially since it will take a few weeks for the processing and until you see your first check. Some states will require you to go into their office to apply, while others will allow an application done on the phone. Either way, if you have access to a computer, it is important that you go to the Department of Labor's website (http:www.//dol.gov) to get information pertaining to your state. Or, you can contact them directly at: 1-877-US-2JOBS (TTY: 1-877-889-5627).

5. The Department of Labor also has good career information which can be found at: http://www.careeronestop.org/.

6. Another helpful site on unemployment is the AFL CIO. They offer a handbook on unemployment, as well as resourceful articles. More information can be found at their website: http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/help/.

7. Update your resume. It is extremely important you have an updated resume. Make it clear, precise and professional. There are many sites offering assistance on creating a resume. Monster (http://www.monster.com) and Hot Jobs (http://www.hotjobs.com) offer free resumes that you can create, and post to their websites. Higher versions of Microsoft Works also have resume programs available right in their software.

8. Get an email address. The majority of employers are accepting resumes through email. This is much faster than sending your resume through the postal service. You will need an email address in order to not only send resumes, but to receive replies. There are numerous places online to get free email addresses. The most common sites are: Yahoo! and MSN Hotmail, although you can get a listing of other available websites for free email addresses at: http://fepg.net.

9. Seek jobs online and through the classifieds. Online job searches are the most popular and there are many websites dedicated to seeking employment. The more popular, online employment websites are: http://careerbuilders.com, http://hotjobs.com, http://monster.com, and http://jobs.net. The classifieds in your home newspaper is also a good place to seek employment. You can either look for employment in the newspaper or at the newspapers online website. If you are seeking a job in another area, you can check out that areas employment site directly online. To find a listing of all newspapers, check out this website: http://usnpl.com.

10. Register with professional employment agencies. There are numerous, private agencies available for employment. Some might require a small registration fee, while others are totally free.

11. Cold calling. Stop by other corporations and companies that are similar to the place you have been working at and drop off a resume.

12. Make sure you have an answering machine or voice mail. This will be particularly helpful when you are not home to make sure you do not miss out on any important calls relating to employment.

13. Review your finances. This is the time for you to know exactly what kind of financial situation you are in. Make a list of all of your assets, as well as your monthly bills. If you can, contact your mortgage company or landlord and alert them to your situation. They might be willing to work something out with you until you find other employment. It would also be wise to contact your credit card companies, as well as your insurance carrier and bank that has your car loan to see if they will offer you any extensions.

14. Adjust your standard of living. This will be the time when you will have to temporarily cut back on unneeded expenses. Determine which things can be temporarily eliminated and cut back.

15. Further your education or training. When you are not seeking employment, this could be a good time to check into the possibility to further your education and/or training. When you apply for unemployment, ask if they have any programs available to assist you.

16. Be focused and determined. Whatever you do, keep your wits about you and know this is only a temporary situation. Be thorough and consistent in your job search. Good Luck!

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How to feed a family on the lowest budget possible.

Starting from scratch , without any food at all , the following site tells how to feed a family of 4-6 for a whole week , including snacks for between 45-51 dollars.

That's where this site comes into play. We are designed to help you reduce your grocery bill as low as it can go. It won't solve all of your financial woes, but it may give you some breathing room so you can make a significant dent in your situation. We teach you the best foods to buy on a budget and how to cook them so the family will be better fed than they've been in years. You'll find tips and techniques here that you won't find anywhere else on the web. Everything here is free, provided by God's grace. If the information you find here helps you and your circumstances, then please share what you have learned with others, so they too can benefit from your new knowledge.

--Miss Maggie

HILLBILLY HOUSEWIFE HOW TO EAT WELL ON AN EXTREMELY LOW BUDGET

How to Get a Job With a Criminal Record

"Whether you've just been released from a lengthy incarceration or you had a minor scrape with the law when you were a kid, a criminal record can be an added source of anxiety in an already stressful job search. Depending on the severity of your offense(s), your criminal record may not affect your employment prospects at all, or it may make finding a job nearly impossible. Still, you have reason to be hopeful. While you may face some hurdles, you will eventually be able to find employment, regardless of your record. "

HOW TO GET A JOB WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE NO ELECTRICITY, This list is for surviving a 'brown out , or black out' when electricity goes off in the whole city. But , you can use it for when you can't pay the electricity bill and you want to know how to survive. :

NO ELECTRICITY

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HERE IS A GREAT LINK WITH LOTS OF IDEAS ABOUT EMERGENCIES AND SURVIVAL IN HARD TIMES :

EMERGENCIES AND TOUGH TIMES

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NO HEAT , OR PREPARING FOR WINTER EMERGENCIES :

PREPARING FOR A WINTER STORM OR NO HEAT

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THE POWER GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY

STEPS TO TAKE IF THE POWER GOES OUT

Here is another good list of steps to take in a crisis. It helps to have lists when you are stressed , so that you don't forget any important things you need to do.

SURVIVING A PERSONAL CRISIS.

CRIME VICTIMS

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Are you a victim of any kind of crime ? Here is a page full of helpful links , courtesy of Elaine of TSA :

http://www.nacvcb.org/statelinks.html

This page is the best on the web page with links to child abuse and neglect.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT LINKS

CRISIS HOT-LINES

Child Find Hotline (parents reporting lost children)
800-I-AM-LOST (800-426-5678)

Child Find of America – A hotline for victims (and their children) trying to escape domestic violence
800-A-WAY-OUT (800-292-9688)

Child Help USA (for victims, offenders and parents)
800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453)

Covenant House Hotline (for problem teens and runaways)
800-999-9999



    National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
800-843-5678

National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence/Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
800-537-2238, 800-553-2508 (TTY)

National Runaway Switchboard
800-621-4000

National Youth Crisis Hotline – A referral hotline for youth in crisis
800-HIT-HOME (800-448-4663)

Operation Lookout, National Center for Missing Youth (for missing child emergencies and sightings)
800-782-SEEK (800-782-7335)

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
303-839-1852
Child Abuse

Childhelp^®
Phone: 800.4.A.CHILD (800.422.4453)
Who They Help: Child abuse victims, parents, concerned individuals

Child Abuse Hot Lines by State :

http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp.cfm?rs_id=5&rate_chno=11-11172

Child Sexual Abuse

Stop It Now!
Phone: 888.PREVENT (888.773.8368)
Who They Help: Adults, parents, offenders, concerned individuals

Crime Victims

National Center for Victims of Crime
Phone: 800.FYI.CALL (800.394.2255)
Who They Help: Families, communities, and individuals harmed by crime

Family Violence

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: 800.799.SAFE (800.799.7233)
Who They Help: Children, parents, friends, offenders

Mental Illness

National Alliance on Mental Illness
Phone: 800.950.NAMI (800.950.6264)
Who They Help: Individuals, families, professionals

Missing/Abducted Children

Child Find of America
Phone: 800.I.AM.LOST (800.426.5678)
Who They Help: Parents reporting lost or abducted children

Child Find of America—Mediation
Phone: 800.A.WAY.OUT (800.292.9688)
Who They Help: Parents (abduction, prevention, child custody issues)

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Phone: 800.THE.LOST (800.843.5678)
Who They Help: Families and professionals (social services, law enforcement)

Rape/Incest

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
Phone: 800.656.HOPE, Ext. 1 (800.656.4673, Ext. 1)
Who They Help: Rape and incest victims, media, policymakers, concerned individuals

Substance Abuse

National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Center
Phone: 800.784.6776
Who They Help: Families, professionals, media, policymakers, concerned individuals

Suicide Prevention

National Suicide Hopeline
Phone: 800.784.2433
Who They Help: Families, concerned individuals

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Phone: 800.273.8255
Who They Help: Families, concerned individuals

Youth in Trouble/Runaways

National Runaway Switchboard
Phone: 800.RUNAWAY (800.786.2929)
Who They Help: Runaway and homeless youth, families

For the following situations :

Adult Survivors of Abuse Child Abuse Child Custody Child Sexual Exploitation/Missing Children Children Home Alone Domestic Violence International Parental Child Abduction Legal Help Mediation/Conflict Resolution Respite for Caregivers Runaway Youth Substance Abuse Victims of Crime

GO HERE : http://www.childwelfare.gov/admin/find_help.cfm

MORE HOT LINES AND SITES : http://www.hhs.gov/about/referlstprint.html

IN DEBT : HOW TO GET OUT

This is a very useful resource for knowing what debts are more important . In other words , what you should pay first in order to survive.

http://www.thirdage.com/news/articles/ALT04/04/03/29/ALT04040329-01.html

HOW TO HANDLE DEBT COLLECTORS

Being in debt is stressful enough , then you have to face talking to debt collectors , who are only 'doing their job' , but are stressing YOU out BIG TIME !

Here are some pages that will help . I hope : )

HOW TO TALK TO A DEBT COLLECTOR

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was passed in 1977 to protect consumers from abusive debt collectors. Here's a closer look at the rules a third-party debt collector must follow when collecting a debt.

Contacting a debtor. A collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves of such contacts.

Contacting a third party about your debt. If you have an attorney, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting such third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money.

Giving written notice. Within five days after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money.

When a consumer doesn't owe the money. A collector may not contact you if within 30 days after you receive the written notice you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe money. However, a collector can renew collection activities if you are sent proof of the debt, such as a copy of a bill for the amount owed.

No harassment Debt collectors may not harass, oppress or abuse you or any third party they contact.

Debt collectors may not:

Falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives.
Falsely imply that you have committed a crime.
Falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau.
Misrepresent the amount of your debt.
Give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit bureau.
Send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency when it is not.

Debt collectors may not state that:

You will be arrested if you do not pay your debt.
They will seize, garnish, attach or sell your property or wages unless the collection agency or creditor intends to do so and it is legal to do so.
Actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you when such action legally may not be taken or when they do not intend to take such action.

No unfair practices

A debt collector may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt from you.'

Debt collectors may not:

Collect any amount greater than your debt, unless your state law permits such a charge.
Deposit a postdated check prematurely.
Use deception to make you accept collect calls or pay for telegrams.
Take or threaten to take your property unless this can be done legally.

Source: Fair Debt Collection, a brochure for consumers from the Federal Trade Commission. (ALSO FROM THE SAME SOURCE AS THE LAST LINK ON THIS PAGE. THIS IS WHERE THEY GOT THE INFORMATION )

Here is a really good page by a lawyer on how to handle debt collectors. Some points that I like : You do not have to talk to a debt collector on the phone. It is better to deal in writing. If you do talk on the phone ,write down everything the debt collector says ,and ALWAYS write down their name and company and their supervisor , if they will tell you.

MORE WAYS TO HANDLE A DEBT COLLECTOR

FOR MORE HELP WITH DEBT PROBLEMS ,THIS IS A GREAT SITE :

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSLING SERVICES (NONPROFIT)

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IF YOU NEED HELP WITH FOOD ,CLOTHES , HOUSING.

TRY THESE LINKS.

ONE IS MY HOMEAIDPAGE

( NOT JUST FOR SINGLE MOMS.HAS TONS OF GENERAL THINGS TO DO FOR HELP)

SOULIGHTS AIDPAGE

You should also contact any human services agencies in your state that may be of help to you . Here is a list of all states and helpful phone numbers/contacts for each state :

CONTACTS FOR STATE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES

IF YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT , HERE ARE SOME PLACES ON THE NET THAT HAVE HELPED ME :

ANNIE'S PAGES ARE ALL WONDERFUL . HERE ARE 2 THAT ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGING :

ANNIES COMFORT PAGE

ANNIE'S LIST OF ENCOURAGEMENT PAGES

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For more help with almost everything , click here :

MORE PAGES FOR FREE HELP

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