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Find information on organizations and charities that provide financial help to people near or at the point of utility cutoff and eviction from their homes. Other forms of aid can also be offered that will ensure people become self-sufficient over the long term.
People who are faced with having their utility service turned off, or who may be evicted can turn to Sunnyside and Crisis Control Ministry for assistance. The non-profit charity organization provides grants, counseling, financial help, and referrals to other resources to people who are at or near the point of utility cutoff and eviction from their homes.
Most of the people seeking aid are doing so for the first time. Just over the last few months, about 1,800 households were making their first request for assistance from the organization, and about 55 percent of them were recently unemployed. Requests for assistance for paying electric bills is up 41 percent year over year, and assistance for gas and fuel bills is up 46 percent over last year. The number of people requesting rent help has also skyrocketed.
One thing to note and be aware of is that Duke Energy can take up to three months before deciding to cut off a customer's utility services, so people have time to get assistance.
Sunnyside can provide financial help at a maximum of once every six months, and the amount of money that they will typically provide is equivalent to the amount that is needed to prevent cutoff or eviction
Crisis Control, said that the non-profit agency makes financial-assistance decisions on an individual-case basis. Over the last 4 months the organization paid 502 electric bills and 172 fuel bills, and helped dozens of people pay their rent. Call them at (336) 724-7875 to learn more or apply.
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Another place to turn to in Forsyth County and Winston Salem is the local community action agency, Experiment in Self-reliance, Inc. The agency is located in Winston-Salem and can be reached at (336) 722-9400. They offer the resources noted here, as well as many more.
Self-sufficiency program - A counselor will be assigned to the applicant. The counselor will work one on one to help the person become self-sufficient over the long term. For example, they will help a person find a job, develop life skills, and more. In addition, clients may also receive financial assistance and cash grants as part of their individual case plans. The assistance can help them pay bills over the short term. Such assistance may include childcare assistance, or tuition and books for improving education, transitional housing, money for transportation and more. Also emergency assistance is also available in some circumstances, in the interest of preventing clients from becoming homeless or in other crisis situations. Emergency assistance can include grants for utility bills or funds to pay rent.
NC Saves - Forsyth County residents can receive debt counseling, credit card help, budgeting skills, and more. Participants in this program may also be eligible to become ESR clients. This can provide them with intensive case management services, including budget counseling, tools to help them get out of debt, and basic economic literacy training. Click here to find other ways to reduce credit card debt.
The financial counseling program emphasizes savings, asset building, debt reduction, budgeting, and wealth accumulation, and provides participants with the tools to help them become financially stable, eliminate debt, and eventually become economically self-sufficient over the long term.
In addition to the organizations listed above, find how to get rental assistance from non-profits that specialize in meeting housing needs. The main goal is to help people avoid evictions and homelessness. Find more rent help in Winston Salem area.
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If you are behind on your bills, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Forsyth County (896-1191), offers consumers a debt management program. The agency employes Certified Credit Counselors who will review your financial situation, and the counselors can conduct a financial analysis on your behalf to determine your debt repayment capability and together you can explore your options for getting out of debt. They will negotiate with your creditors on your behalf and also establish a cooperative plan to eliminate your debt. The plan will lower your monthly payments, reduce interest rates, improve your credit scores, and even waive any fees.
Cancer Services, Inc. provides financial assistance, physical support, grants, and emotional support for individuals with cancer and the agency also provides community education on all types of cancer. Click here to learn about other ways to get help for cancer expenses, or dial 760-9983.
One agency has the objective of providing early, high quality and free access to medical care for those residents of Forsyth county and Winston Salem who cannot afford to pay for their medical and hospital bills. The health clinic, known as Community Care Center (760-1234), is staffed by volunteer healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses and other non-medical volunteers who have an interest in the health and well-being of the local community.
Hispanic Clinic, Novant Health helps people of all races. Located in Winston-Salem North Carolina. It is a free Healthcare clinic that is staffed by retired Novant Health employees, medical professionals, nurses, and physicians. Call (336) 718-5000.
In addition to the locations above, a few other dental and medical centers in Forsyth County provide free care to the low income, unemployed, and individuals with no health insurance. Find the phone numbers and addresses of more community clinics in Winston Salem and the county.
Homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments, or facing a foreclosure, can turn to Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Forsyth County. The professionals at this organization are credit counselors who can help with debt issues, but who are also certified Housing Counselors through the NC Association of Housing Counselors and also the Affordable Housing Coalition. In addition, the agency is a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency for all of your housing counseling needs. They can help people by using the North Carolina foreclosure mediation program, negotiate directly with lenders, and guide people through tools at their disposal that can be used to save their homes. Learn more, or call 896-1191.
Winston-Salem based Fair Housing Enforcement, Winston-Salem Human Relations Department ((336) 727-2429) is a HUD approved Fair Housing Enforcement Office that can direct people to foreclosure prevention programs, and resources to help with landlord / tenant issues and evictions.
Legal Aid Society of Northwest North Carolina, Inc. is a non-profit law firm that provides free legal advice and representation in civil legal matters (including foreclosures, family law, domestic violence, landlord/tenant cases and consumer law) to low income clients in Winston Salem. 725-9166.
The Forsyth County Salvation Army supplies basic human necessities such as shelter, free food and groceries, and clothing. In addition, financial assistance can help with past due rent, utility and air conditioning bill payments and security/utility deposits. In addition, the Salvation Army provides shelter and case management for homeless families and single women across the county. Call 723-6366 for more information.
Get help paying utility bills (both during the winter and summer) from the Winston-Salem Low income energy assistance program (LIEAP). this federal government funded provides a one-time/year cash payment to help eligible families/individuals pay their summer cooling and winter heating bills. Call (336) 727-2850.
The Winston-Salem Urban League (725-5614) can help people find a job. The agency offers job finding services, including pre-employment training, resume review and preparation, help building networks, and referral for African-Americans, the disadvantaged, low income individuals and other minorities in the area.
AGAPE Care and Share provides food items and groceries free of charge to families and individuals in need of help. Families are eligible every 60 days for food assistance. (336) 744-4004
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