Help Getting Through the Recession
Call 2-1-1
For information and referrals for health and human services, including housing, legal help, utility assistance, health care and disability services, call 2-1-1 from anywhere in Washington state.
Help for hard times
- The United Way of Snohomish County provides information and resources for people dealing with unemployment at www.uwsc.org/get_help.php
- In Whatcom County, visit http://www.unitedwaywhatcom.org/index.php?page=helphardtimes
- In Island County, visit http://www.unitedwayic.org/resourceguide.html#family for help for families and http://www.unitedwayic.org/resourceguide.html#employ for help with employment.
- In Skagit County, visit the Skagit County Community Action Agency’s website at http://www.skagitcap.org/Services.htm
- In San Juan County, visit http://www.unitedway-sanjuancounty.org/programs.htm
Help for homeowners
The President’s Making Home Affordable Plan offers assistance help some homeowners lower their mortgage payments, stay in their homes, and avoid foreclosure. To learn more and find out if your family is eligible for help visit www.financialstability.gov/makinghomeaffordable
For more information about resources available to help struggling homeowners, visit www.hopenow.comor call 888-995-HOPE.
Help for small businesses
The Small Business Administration is working to increase credit for small businesses and provide tax incentives and financing opportunities to help them create jobs. For more information visit http://www.sba.gov/recovery/index.html
Help for seniors, disabled veterans and SSI beneficiaries
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides a one-time payment of $250 to adult Social Security beneficiaries, veterans disability beneficiaries and to SSI recipients. No action is required to get the payment, which will be sent separately from the person’s regular monthly payment in late May 2009.
Transparency for taxpayers
To see how your economy recovery dollars are being spent, visit www.recovery.gov or www.recovery.wa.gov. Recovery.wa.gov also provides information for organizations hoping to access recovery dollars.
Financial stability
For information on the President’s plan to stabilize our financial system visit www.financialstability.gov
