Financial assistance from MCOP - Monroe County Opportunity Program.
The resources from Monroe County Opportunity Program are extensive. The main goal of everything offered is to help a very low income family both make it through a crisis and gain long term stability. So to this end, both financial aid as well as case management is administered.
There are a few main topics. The services range around preventing homelessness or feeding the hungry. There are also programs targeted at seniors, such as home repairs. Other support from MCOP will help families apply for support such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
Food resources from MCOP
The Community Wide Food Bank in Monroe County is a network of 15 food pantries located throughout Monroe County Michigan. All of the centers work toward the overall goal of feeding the hungry. They assist the homeless as well as low income. In addition, the network will help with improving the quality of available to people in need who live in rural areas.
Families have the ability to choose the food bank closest to them as their source for groceries. When visiting one of these pantries, people should bring along proof of household income, residency, and documentation of how many people live within their household.
There are other options as well in Monroe County. Staff from MCOP can help people apply for:
- Another government resource, the Commodity Supplemental Food, furnishes groceries or meals to low-income families that include five and six-year-old children and/or seniors over the age of sixty.
- MCOP’s Emergency Food Box is available once each year for low-income households in immediate need.
- USDA long term benefits, the main one being food stamps.
- The Mobile Food Pantry is available throughout the year in different towns and communities. Monroe County Opportunity is involved in moving this to a new location within the county each month.
- The TEFAP - Emergency Food Assistance Program conducts quarterly distributions to help working poor residents. Distributions are held at 12 locations throughout the county.
Rent and utility help from Monroe County Opportunity Program
Any financial aid is combined with Family Self-Sufficiency – FSS. This will help each client gain independence from public assistance and learn to save money to for their bills. They can use it to buy a home over the five-year program period, or learn how to save money for other expenses.
The MCOP Rental Assistance Program can provide up to three months of payments for qualifying households. In order to qualify for a grant, an applicant must complete a state of emergency relief (SER) form and submit it through the DHS - Department of Human Services in Michigan.
The next step is to receive a decision notice. This is when the agency will decide to issue a grant for their rent, or some other form of aid such as a loan. The applicant must be able to show proof of income to show sustainability and an eviction notice.
The purpose of the two-year Supportive Housing Program is to help the homeless, mentally ill and the disabled in Monroe County Michigan to become self-sufficient. As a scattered-site housing service, SHP from Monroe County Opportunity Program provides the opportunity for qualifying clients to choose where they will live. To apply, an applicant must be medically disabled, homeless, and low income. There are a number of other financial resources for the disabled in Michigan.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) is a housing assistance program for low-income veterans or their spouses/families. SSVF helps qualifying veterans with Eviction Prevention, Case Management, Assistance for moving into Apartments, Access to Benefits, Personal Financial Planning, as well as Health Care Referral.
Monroe County Opportunity Utility bill assistance program helps with bills for heating, electricity, gas, and deliverable fuels such as propane. Each utility provider in the state of Michigan has its own income limitations. Applicants will also need to fill out an SER - State of Emergency Relief form.
To qualify for help for utilities, a household member must be disabled. Other criteria may be there must be children in the home 18 years of age or younger or a household member must be at least 65 years old. Any financial assistance from MCOP is dependent upon availability of funding, and each utility has its own criteria in regard to income.
The Emergency Housing Rehab Program provides the qualifying homeowner with one specific and complete home rehabilitation project. Such work on the property may include, but are not limited to, duct work, repair or replacement of roof, furnace, or well. Both federal government grants or loans may be used.
Similar to above is the MCOP Minor Home Repair Program. This receives funding for the purpose of providing repairs to the homes of Monroe County residents aged 55 and older. These may include repairs to floors, furnace, a roof, doors, steps for the disabled, walways, and more. Much of this is around safety. Find more information on federal government free home repair services.
The Monroe County Opportunity Weatherization Assistance Program is a federally funded service providing low-income homeowners with free home energy conservation services. The goal is to help reduce energy usage and costs, leading to increased household self-sufficiency.
MCOP may arrange for adding extra Insulation and Ventilation (walls, attic, and/or foundation), Dryer Venting, Reduction of Air Leakage, Smoke Detectors, Furnace Tune and Clean, or adjusting items such as Window and Door Audit.
Assistance for seniors and the disabled
Help with the daily tasks of running a home or apartments are available to Monroe County senior and disabled residents. The name of this service is Home Care. The staff from community action help with the following tasks of Housekeeping, Meal Preparation or Planning, Personal Care, Shopping, and also Respite for Family Caregivers.
The Home Chore Department assists Monroe County seniors aged 60 and older with outdoor as well as indoor home maintenance tasks that serve to enhance the home’s safety and efficiency. The following is a list of just a few of the available Home Chore service from MCOP - Monroe County Opportunity Program. The team can assist with Snow Removal, Mowing Lawns, Cleaning Gutters, Installation of Window Air Conditioners, and also Minor Electrical and Plumbing Repairs.
The agency also has on call a Senior Resource Advocate Service Coordinator. This person is trained and experienced in assisting the elderly with the application process for Medicare, discounted medications or Medicaid. Areas of service include help in finding the best Medicare Part D Prescription Program or other resources for addressing health care needs. Service Coordinators are available to answer specific questions or help clients navigate through the steps involved in the application process.
Case managers from MCOP also assist residents who are aged 60 and older with filing their state of Michigan Homestead and Heating Tax Credit forms. Most renters and homeowners in the county will be able to receive some money back on their taxes. The amount will be based on amounts paid in property taxes, rent, or home heating costs.
The disabled as well as senior citizens (or retirees) in Monroe County often need low stress employment. Or maybe part time work. Staff from Monroe County Opportunity Program can offer solutions for this. All of it may be effective at increasing short term income or wages. For more information, find great jobs for senior citizens, which may also be opportunities for the disabled too.
Applying for help from MCOP
As noted, any support includes income, budgeting, and other advice. As financial help, or even information on benefits, is combined with guidance. For more details, MCOP - Monroe County Opportunity Program is located at 1140 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, MI 48161. The phone number is 734-241-2775.
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