Assistance programs from Community Action Marin.
Assistance from the Community Action Marin County is extensive. The non-profit coordinates everything from emergency financial assistance for housing or bills to self-sufficiency. The non-profit also offers financial resources such as Chronicle Season of Sharing to programs for children, including Head Start. Find help from community action in Marin County. Some of the primary resources available from the agency are noted below. If the non-profit known as CAM can't meet a qualified low income families needs, then they may have referrals. Call them for information on job training, rent and security deposit help, counseling, and LIHEAP energy bill assistance.
Emergency help from the Marin County Community Action
Community action runs the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund. They also help people apply for utility assistance (such as LIHEAP) and housing resources. Community Action Marin operates a financial assistance program that provides help with paying housing costs and other bills. This can include rent or mortgage payment help in CA and security deposits. There may also be funds available to pay for a number of other emergency needs. be met through other assistance programs. While there are no official income restrictions or requirements for the emergency assistance program, such as Chronicle Season, applicants must demonstrate that they have minor young children living at home, they are senior citizens, or have a disability. Some clients may be issued a loan as part paying expenses such as rent. There is also housing assistance from Community Action as part of Housing Justice Community Alternative Response & Engagement (CARE). This can help with expenses ranging from rent to deposits and more, and another Community Action Marin program is offered from the Transitional Aged Youth program as well as the local homeless outreach teams. Community Action Marin can coordinate electric and utility bill help as well. The agency serves as local administrator for the federally-funded Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP. More details are below. LIHEAP Assistance provides once-per-year help with meeting electric, wood, natural gas and propane home energy costs. Eligibility and level of assistance are determined according to gross monthly income, household size and program priorities as well as government funding levels. Please note that program restrictions may change on an annual basis, according to funding availability. The community action agency Energy Program also acts as a information provider and can offer linkage to other energy assistance and residential conservation programs. They do this mostly by providing referrals. A partial list of organizations and resources they work with is below: Case managers can help clients enter into utility payment plans and arrangement. Access to federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (weatherization). This is the US Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Utility company operated conservation programs, as well as programs that forgive utility bills . PG & E-Sponsored CARE Program (20 percent discount on PG & E Rates). State of California sponsored resources such as Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA), REACH (Direct Financial Assistance), and/or the Medical Baseline. Community Action Marin help people find government benefits . Most of the government assistance programs are for Marin County families living in poverty. However there are others in which the income restrictions and limits are not quite as restrictive. As an example, many lower income families (even though not technically in poverty) often qualify for CalFresh (SNAP food stamps) or MediCal (Medicaid) It is never a bad idea to see what type of aid someone may qualify for. The Marin County community action office is a place to learn about all of the options available. The team can go over the income thresholds as well as application processes in place for any number of social services. Some of them are as follows. MediCal (Medicaid) as well as Medicare. As there are various California government insurance plans . SSI disability (which is technically a social security program) but the team can provide details. Low income housing as well as section 8 HUD vouchers. Telephone payment programs including Lifeline. Affordable health care act or any alternatives as well as prescription drug discount plans for seniors and Medicare Part D. There are many other state of California and federal government benefits to explore as well. Those are just a few of them. As noted the income guidelines for these forms of public assistance vary widely. But any struggling family (whether low income or unemployed) can always make an inquiry. As often people are qualified but they just do not know it.
Financial well being and development services from Community Action
Sparkpoint Marin Center
is a one-stop community service center that offers a range of financial resource services. Its purpose is to help you and your family learn, grow and prosper. This is accomplished with the assistance of financial coaches and credit counselors. They will help you create a step-by-step plan for addressing your unique needs. The center provides the tools to: Find a job or build a career. Even get tips on how to make a side hustle a Full-Time Job . Learn how to start or expand a small business. Reduce debts and improve credit. Get help with filing taxes at no charge. Learn About and Apply for Public Benefits such as CalWorks or disability. Open a Prepaid Debit Card or Access Banking Services. Sparkpoint Marin Center is located in the office of Prosperity Partners at Community Action Marin, or CAM. They are dedicated to working with you to achieve lasting financial stability. The location's financial coaches and counselors include staff members of local organizations, such Marin County Health and Human Services, Community Action Marin, The Canal Alliance, United Way of the Bay Area of California, as well as Prosperity. Various business start up, career counseling, and employment services are administered. The Job Readiness and Employment Services offers a variety of programs in the larger Marin County community. It can be used as a tool to prepare unemployed as well as underemployed youth and adults for successfully finding and retaining living-wage employment. There is also help in start a business. Specific services include the following: Searching and placement support, including the use of computers. This can include basic computer training on Apple and Microsoft products. Job-readiness activities and training for the new position. Work experience through volunteer on-the-job training. Intensive case management from Community Action Marin also involves employment-related assessment. All of this is done with one goal in mind. Community Action staff in Marin County wants clients to work toward the goal of becoming self-supporting and independent of public assistance. People should not rely on charities, food pantries, or other support services. However, if someone needs proper work attire, that may be arranged. The outreach process is also ongoing. MAAP, or the Marin Asian Advocacy Project , provides comprehensive services that are specifically targeted to help ease the transition into American society for Marin County Asian, immigrants and South Asian community members. MAAP's services address the following issues. Health needs can be addressed, such as Heart Health, Smoking Cessation, Drug and Alcohol Issues, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Workplace Safety. Economic Development: Get advice in applying for Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), Individual Development Accounts, ITIN - Individual Tax Identification Numbers, Free Income Tax Preparation, Credit Repair, and Financial Literacy Trainings. Social Justice, Advocacy and Equity Activities. Immigration Rights, advice and free legal assistance is coordinated by community action. Family Dynamics - The focus is on self-sufficiency, so it offers Parenting Classes, Violence Prevention, and support for Fatherhood Issues. Translation and Interpretation Services for newcomers to the county.
Head Start
is the region's and state of California's main child and family development program that provides low-income families and their children with comprehensive education, health, nutrition and social services. Families that meet low income levels will receive support as they make positive changes in their lives that will benefit them now and in the future. Parental involvement has been instrumental in the success of Head Start, so they are provided with the opportunity to play a vital role in the daily life of the program. Some of the options available from Community Action Marin to parents include meetings, literacy classes, and a classroom volunteer program. The Marin County Head Start is successful because it is built on partnership among staff, parents, teacher and the community. Other services offered include the following: Full and Partial-Day Classrooms for Children Three to Five Years Old. Home-Base Support for Home-Schooling Parents, such as Adult Literacy Classes. Health and Nutrition Services, including Free Nutritious Meals served in a fun, Family-Style Environment. Free Health and Safety Education for Children and Parents in Marin County, including Medical and Dental Screenings Prenatal Support and Education for Pregnant Women. Treatment Assistance for Health and Developmental Problems. This also includes assistance in Identifying Children Who May Have a Disability. Infant/Toddler Day Care Centers. Coordination with Special Education Providers and Specialists to Meet the Educational Needs of Children with Disabilities. Connecting families to Marin County resources and referrals to government programs. The Children’s Center offers a parent-participation service and a pre-school program for children from two-and-a-half to five years old. In addition to that, extended afternoon day care is also available for children from low to income families that are two-and-a-half to ten years of age. The program is affordable. What it does is it emphasizes social, cognitive, emotional, and physical development of the child and students. It encourages the development of intellectual skills and addresses the balance between self-identity and learning to relate to a group, to other children, and to adults. The Center works closely with the local school districts in Marin County to provide a seamless transition between pre-school and kindergarten.
Contact information
The main location of CAM - Community Action Marin is at 7665 Redwood Blvd., Novato, CA 94945-1405. Dial 415-526-7500.