NEED HELP ? Unique to U.S. and Canada - CALL 211 (2-1-1) SOCIAL EMERGENCY HELPLINE - to speak with a live, highly trained person in your area 24/7 all languages, completely confidential: food, health, housing, utilities, job support, reentry, veterans, emergency assistance, other services in your area. www.211.org
Traditional emergency phones: U.S. Canada: Call 911 (9-1-1). Worldwide: click here

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Read This First
In searching for a job, funding, material support, etc. be aware that there are many scams. Check out the following:    Excellent advice
"Have you ever wondered if a job is real or a scam? Sometimes, it can be hard to tell the difference.  Here are some tip-offs to help you identify fake job offers and avoid job scams." Top 10 Job Scam Warning Signs
Second, before we get into all the ways to find a job, make money and generally survive, take a moment to consider what volunteering can do for you - quite a lot as it turns out. Volunteering can provide you with new skills, broaden your horizons, open up new possibilities for a job, give back to the community, and help you enjoy the life you have while you are searching. As described by the contributor of the links below "Whether you build your salesmanship skills by helping a local animal shelter get donations or work on communication skills while volunteering at a youth center, the possibilities are endless. Best of all, you'll be making a rewarding and truly meaningful difference in your community. Below are some awesome articles I found with information on how people of all ages, abilities, and interests can volunteer in their area and build valuable skills in the process." Lexie Dy readyJOB.org

Third, I have been asked by a number of people how they can find funding to give them a chance to move ahead, to get out of a financial hole. When all of the traditional means of obtaining funding are closed for any number of reasons, where does one turn for help? This page will attempt to give some direction to those seeking for answers. Good luck.

Before you leave this section, it helps to have some structure in your request. 'Help, I need $2,000 in a hurry' is not going to get you very far if you post that on a site or a forum.

Here are some recent suggestions I wrote to someone requesting help.

First, I know that there are people willing to help, but they need to be given a request which they can handle, and know that the individual they are helping has a specific way of generating money in the future. It is important for them to know that the financial aid given will, in fact, provide a basis for that to happen.

Second, they need to be confident that you are who you say you are, and really need the help. Therefore, any background you can give would be helpful, as well as a reference or two which can be checked out.

Third, you need to account for the reasons for your situation, and specific ways to prevent this from happening again in the future, plus actively starting to put these into practice.

Fourth, you need to find the talents, the experiences, and the desires which will make any step forward a movement toward an achievable goal. Everyone has something which they like doing, are good at, or have some expertise or experience which is not being used at the present time. All of these may be made profitable even in the worst of times. It is important that you convey this sense of self knowledge to anyone seriously considering helping you.

Fifth, the specific steps (not in detail, but in general), which will be taken to realize the stated goals towards sustainability, need to be presented. In this regard, realistic assessments of the possibilities or opportunities which actually exist within you and within your environment need to be made.

When you have worked all these out, go out there and ask.

Sites we have found that we consider to be legitimate help for online jobs   

Federal Grants to Individuals, Groups Other Than Individuals, Disaster Assistance

Federal grants to individuals

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Getting yourself out of debt (One of the best recommendations I have found)

Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert.com Debt Problems - Where to start, what to do, where to get help. "There is no such thing as an unsolvable debt problem. It mightn't be easy or quick, but there's always a route."

It's one of the best step by step guides I have seen. Very complete. It's directed at the UK but most of the ideas, steps, and type of agency or helping hand are available in some form elsewhere. There are four videos which can make the experience of going through the explanations easier. All for free - he calls it consumer revenge. Plus other relevant articles, free money saving tools, relevant forums. This service is free.

• County Departments of Social Services for New York State found under the office of Children and Family Services.
• Services for Erie County Programs and Benefits (includes Buffalo) Food Stamps, Medicaid, Public Assistance, Temporary Assistance, Child Support, Day Care, Employment, Home Energy Assistance Program, Children Families and Adults, special Investigations, Legal Advocacy For Disabled, Help Guide.Note: Do not make the mistake of looking for Buffalo County - You will end up in Wisconsin.
• Charity Guide - Worldwide listing of charities Found 1984 charities in Buffalo, NY"There are many ways in which to support worthwhile causes in your area. Whether it is in the form of monetary donations, or a small bit of your time each week."
• American Red Cross Location finder for a Red Cross chapter near you. Provides help in an array of services after a disaster. One such help, the Hurricane Recovery Program (HRP), provided assistance to those affected by the hurricanes. Other services after a disaster include: Contact family members, find shelter and supplies, recover after a disaster. The Red Cross also has a number of services to help military families.
• Salvation Army To find a center near you, use locator provided. Or go to National Salvation Army. Branches also in Canada.
• General Shelter and Other Transitional Housing Programs: New York U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Local HUD Information for information by state and communities on rent assistance and shelters for homeless.
  
• HUD Main Site (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). Information on Apply for FEMA housing assistance, Buy a Home, Find Rental Assistance, File a Discrimination Complaint, Learn about the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Access the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) System, Access the Limited Denials of Participation List, Find My Local Public Housing Agency (PHA).
  
• HUD in New York Many LOCAL resources: Get Rental Help, Avoid Foreclosure, Find Homeless Resources, Access Disaster Assistance and Help, Learn About Homeownership, Find Senior Resources, HUD Homes for Sale, Subsidized Apartment Search, Homebuying Assistance, Help With Your Utility Bills.
  
• Hunger Action Network of New York State Provides an Emergency Food Program Directory which helps locate a food program county or zip code.
  
• Need food assistance? call National Hunger Clearinghouse 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE en Espanol
  
• For Hunger Hotline in New York City has map of locations in the city.
• Catholic Charities USA To find help in other cities, states, or zip code. 
• Supportive Services Corporation a nonprofit Supportive Services Corporation which "assists job seekers 55 years of age and over, as well as, employers seeking qualified job candidates throughout all of Erie County. We also operate a Senior Community Service Employment Program (Title V Senior Aides Program) which provides part-time community service work to eligible individuals at participating local non-profit, governmental or public agencies. Additional services include weatherization assistance to income eligible Erie County residents outside of the City of Buffalo."
• People Inc "Western New York's leading non-profit human services agency. Through a variety of services including residential, employment, community outreach, health care and recreation programs, we help seniors, families and people with disabilities live more healthy, independent and productive lives."
• Directory Assistance Nationwide
  • Yellowbot.com Can find social services listing. For the key words 'social services' for 'Buffalo NY', I found 200 buffalo NY Also has a scrolling map which marks the location for each service.
  • Find social services nonprofits nationwide through Yellowpages Superpages What: type in 'Social & Human Services Organizations' and Where put in your city and state. Received 403 results for one city. Requires some sifting through, but you can probably find what you need. When put in the city 'Buffalo NY', found social services organizations Buffalo