Howard County assistance programs.

Help with prescription drugs and free health care.

A new health care program known as the Healthy Howard Health Plan is offering residents high quality, low priced health care and even free prescription medicines. It covers the uninsured, and it may be a model for a federal government health plan. Phone 410-988-3737.

Since the health care program started, Howard County has assisted more than 2,000 people across the county and in Columbia with signing up for federal and/or state assistance programs, and they provided discounted health care for hundreds of others across the county. It provides health care to those who can't afford to pay for their health insurance but make too much to qualify for Medicaid or other federal programs.

For example, for a family of four to qualify for this aid, a family's household income needs to be somewhere between $32,000 - $66,000 a year. While it is not insurance, but the health care plan does provide for emergency services and inpatient care through the Howard county general hospital, six primary care visits and they also receive access to a network of specialists.

It turns out that many who initially applied for this plan did in fact qualify for state or federal programs but didn't know they did. The county then proceeded to help get them sign up for those assistance programs and then eventually ended up with about 400 members in the county's program. Members of the Healthy Howard Health Plan pay $50-$85 a month for their coverage, depending on their income. However, even at that price some still have trouble paying for the coverage. Click here for help with prescriptions.

While the program does have many benefits, one of the key components of Howard County's program is preventative care. For example, every person must agree to personal health coaching to improve their health, thus preventing the need for more costly medical care at a later date. The program does have its limits. It does not provide care outside the area say if you're traveling and get sick, so coverage is only limited to the county.

 

 

 

Assistance from Community Action Council of Howard County, Maryland, Inc.

This non-profit organization offers low income, the elderly, unemployed, and other struggling Columbia and Howard county residents with numerous services and assistance programs. Below you will find some examples of the services and resources that they offer individuals and families. Call (410) 313-6479.

• First Month’s Rent - This program helps with paying the first month’s rent, in advance, when an individual is moving into a new home or apartment.
   
• Eviction Prevention funds will assist people with paying past due rent. Eligibility for the rent program is based on an applicants total household income and the applicant also needs evidence of crisis such as a judgment of restitution or eviction notice.
   
• Rent assistance - A rental assistance program known as One Month’s Rent Initiative is offered by a private community organization which partners with CAC to assist clients with paying past due rent.
   
• Food bank and pantry - This program provides emergency food grants, groceries, and other products to families to ensure that both families and individuals families have adequate nutritious food.
   
• Electric and heating bills - The agency offers a total of five different programs that provide people with help for heating, energy, electric, gas, and overall utility bills. The various options and programs include the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), Crisis Intervention Initiative (CII), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Fuel Fund, and the Electric Universal Services Program (EUSP).
   
• General emergency assistance for rent, energy bills, mortgage, foreclosure, and other expenses - An option known as Emergency Assistance to Families with Children (EAFC) provides general help and assistance to individuals and families to help them deal with an emergency need as a result of lack of heating fuel, heating oil, mortgage payments, avoid utility disconnections, or utilities or threat of imminent utility cutoff, prevent an eviction or foreclosure, or funds to deal with a disaster. Learn more on Maryland mortgage programs.

 

 

Financial assistance programs

FISH of Howard County, which is based in Ellicott City Maryland (phone (410) 964-8660), provides utility and heating bill assistance, prescription medication vouchers, emergency food and groceries, and eviction prevention subsidies/rent help.

Grassroots Crisis Intervention, Inc. runs the federal government funded Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program. This program can offer financial assistance for eviction prevention, rental assistance and security deposits to qualified individuals. (410) 531-6006 Columbia, Maryland based.

Interfaith Coalition for Compassion ((410) 997-2781) is a non-profit agency that provides cash grants and financial assistance to help prevent evictions, funds to help pay rent and termination of utility services. The agency will even occasional assist with prescription drugs.

Columbia Maryland based Salvation Army of Howard County (phone (443) 656-3376) runs a food pantry on site, offers financial assistance for paying rent as well as heating and energy bills, may offer prescription medications, and runs a holiday program, including Thanksgiving meals.

Food pantries, banks, and distribution centers

Elkridge Love Mission runs a food pantry and provides both Christmas and Thanksgiving meals and gifts. Call (410) 693-0058.

Howard County Food Bank offers emergency and federal governmental surplus food to persons in need on help. (410) 313-6440

Find more information on food banks and how they can provide free groceries and even information on government programs.

Howard County Maryland Health Care

Howard County Health Dept., Columbia Health Center (Main Clinic) offers medical care on a sliding fee scale. The county clinic offers general medical services and health screenings, medical care, as well as maternity services, WIC, prescriptions, family planning and the MCHIP program to eligible Howard County and Maryland residents. Dial (410) 313-7500, or locate Maryland dental centers.

Foreclosure counseling and housing assistance

If you are behind on paying your mortgage or facing a foreclosure, contact Legal Aid Bureau - Howard County. Get free legal help and advice with the following issues including family and domestic; consumer debt; landlord/tenant; evictions, bankruptcy filings; welfare problems, and Social Security issues. Will provide free mortgage foreclosure counseling and representation with lenders and banks. Phone (410) 480-1057.