Helping Hands Grant Type 2. Bridge to Employment Grants
Care For Others makes Bridge to Employment Grants by remitting payment for a small fee or expense that will allow a temporarily unemployed individual return to productive, full time employment.
In making a Bridge to Employment Grant, our goal is to provide a willing but temporarily unemployed person the means to return to work.
You may be eligible for a Bridge to Employment Grant if:
You are currently unemployed and need help to afford a small, work related expense that will immediately return you to full time employment (35 hours a week or more). For example an unemployed nurse who has a job offer in hand but cannot afford the cost of renewing his/her license or buying new uniforms for work would be an excellent candidate for a Bridge to Employment Grant.
In order to qualify for a Bridge to Employment Grant:
1. You are currently unemployed.
2. No more than 60 days will have passed before you will be
starting a documentable position where you will be working 35 hours a
week or more.
3. The salary you stand to earn in connection with this job will
increase your “net” household earned income to at least double the rent
or mortgage but not more than the rent or mortgage plus $2500.
4. The work related expense with which you need assistance can be paid on your behalf directly to a vendor
5. The work related expense with which you need assistance can be
paid in full for no more than the maximum grant for which your household
qualifies from Care For Others.
6. The work related expense with which you need assistance can be documented.
Please note:
Bridge to Employment Grants cannot be used to remit payment for an
expense that might or might not have the effect of returning that
individual to full time work. For example an applicant seeking
assistance with tuition for a class in hope of getting a job would not
be eligible for a Bridge to Employment Grant unless there was a
documented job in hand dependent upon completion of that class.
General Documentation Requirements for Helping Hands Grants
As a 501 c 3 (tax exempt) organization, Care For Others is required by law to perform due diligence on the applications we receive prior to making a grant.
Applications should be honest, concise and factual. If any verbal or written information is found to be dishonest, fraudulent or deceptive during the verification process the applicant will automatically become ineligible for assistance.
Before we can review an application for a Helping Hands Grant we must have documentation for the following:
• Proof of identity. This may be in the form of a drivers license, state issued ID or a military ID
• Proof of address. This may be in the form of a utility
bill or other major bill in the name of the applicant and being mailed
to the address listed on the application.
• Proof of employment/income. Usually documentation of two
months income is required This can be in the form of pay stubs where
salary and hours worked are indicated., social security benefits letters
and disability benefits letters. In the case when it is new employment
or income is direct deposited a letter from the employer on their letter
head indicating contracted hours, salary, position and start date will
suffice. In most cases the most recent copy of your income tax return
will be requested. In addition, the name, address and contact number at
place of employment is required.
• Proof of circumstances surrounding your need. For example
if a person has requested help paying rent because they had surgery and
lost income because of medical leave we would require documentation
from their physician as to the date of surgery and when they were
released to return to work.
• Proof of expense and amount of assistance requested. For
example if a person is requesting help with a car repair bill we would
request an estimate from a certified car mechanic. If the estimate is
over $500 two estimates will be required. In addition all requests for car repairs would require proof of current car insurance.
In addition:
• Your application and documentation must be able to prove that
your expense is short term and it is a documentable extenuating
circumstance.
• You must be able to prove that there is a plan in place to improve
your situation. (i.e. a documented job search or working
with an employment agency, taking a class to improve employment options
and working with a budget counselor are a few examples).
• Your household net income (after deductions) must be at least 50%
more than what you are paying in rent or mortgage but no more than
your rent or mortgage plus $2500. For example if your rent or mortgage
is $500 a month, your household net income must be a minimum of $1000
and no more than $3000.
• All savings and investment resources must be utilized before seeking our assistance.
• All resources through your state, county or local organizations,
churches and clubs must be exhausted before seeking our assistance.
All documentation is completely confidential. We will never request documentation that an honest applicant could not obtain. However, an application cannot be sent to the review board or receive funding until we have documentation to support it. All documentation must be received no later than 30 days after your application is filed or your application will become null and void.
