Assistance With Rent

Does this sound familiar? Looking at the economical statistics, more and more people are finding themselves saying words just like that. Losing your job can be both financial and mentally devastating but once the shock passes, its time to get focused. The first think you need to do is find out if you qualify for the government Unemployment Compensation program. Go the the Department of Labors website and see what qualifications exist in your state. Usually this means  “You must be determined to be unemployed through no fault of your own (determined under State law)”. If this is the case then in most cases you will be eligible for Unemployment Compensation. Once on Unemployment you will be paid for a limited amount of time a lower percentage of what you were paid when you were working. After the limited time is up, you will no longer receive compensation unless you apply for an extension. During this time that you are one Unemployment you will be held responsible to show that you are actively looking for work and applying for jobs. If you are unable to provide that information, the service will be terminated. One tip for anyone getting Unemployment is to make sure you save some for taxes. Usually the government does not take out enough taxes out of your unemployment benefits to cover taxes at the end of the year. Bottom line, save about 15% of your unemployment benefits in case you have to pay taxes that tax season.

You might not qualify for Unemployment benefits. In this case its time to start job hunting anyway. Remember that because you are in a pinch it is no time to get picky with job selections. Anything to get income back in your pocket is a good thing. If you get a quick job that can cover bills, you can then start to actively look for a better job opportunity but never do the reverse. Do not hold out on jobs you think are below you. This is a very inactive way of thinking that can lead to long term unemployment. Ill list some good places to start looking for jobs. From experience I can tell you that trying to find work on graigslist.org is not the best route for finding a new job. Rather use this list of resources for the best place to start. Let us know if you have any other resources that have helped you in jobless times or also let us know if you are in need of help and explain your situation so that a people can help provide answers.

Job Finding Resources:

 Department of Labor Job Resource Center – Find jobs and career information

www.Careerbuilder.com – Great starting point

Monster.com – The biggest job finder online

Tip: Sometimes specific states offer government job positions on their website.

Winter can be very beautiful and amazing but it can also be a very dangerous time for people that need assistance with rent. If you are unable to sort out a comfortable place to live you are going to be literately stuck out in the cold.  If you have a young family or a disabled person in your family then this can be particularly dangerous. The good news is that there are a handful of places that offer help for people that are facing homelessness during the most bitter times of the year. These programs usually also offer some type of food or just accompanying service other then a place to stay. I am not 100% familiar about the programs in all stats that offer rent assistance during winter months but here are a few general information was able to find about assistance with rent during the winter for some popular states:

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities – Winter Termination Program

City of Boston.gov – Heating assistance and discounts

Michigan – Low Income Heating Rental Assistance Programs

I know these programs are regional but if you do not live in the areas where I posted some resources I think it is good to see examples other states helping people heat their homes and provide aid for people that cant pay bills. You should be able to do a small about of research in your area and find programs similar to the ones that i listed above but in your area! Even if you are able to just get 10% off on heating bills that another 10% saved. Also, if you know other programs that help during the winter please let us know!

Hi there,

I keep reading in the news that people are not being able to pay their rent or mortgage. If you are one of the many people that need assistance with rent then this site is for you. We are going to try and make a community for people to talk about problems they are having and others can offer help and advice if they have been in a similar situation but worked their way out of it. This seems like a place that has needed to be around for years but just hasnt been! Well here we are! Ill be posting information about services, tools and advice I get so make sure you come by often if you need assistance with rent or a mortgage. Lets make 2012 our b*tch!!

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