Financial Assistance

Financial Family Assistance
Deployments put a strain on many families’ budgets, but there are resources available to help Service members and their families who are experiencing financial hardships due to deployment.

There are also other financial relief programs offered through the American Red Cross, USO, Salvation Army as well as other community service programs, but conditions do apply. Contact your Regional Family Assistance Center for more information.

Financial Assistance Websites

Air Force Aid Society Fund
Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve personnel away from home station on extended active duty 15 days or more under Title 10 USC are eligible for emergency assistance when the emergency is incident to, or resulting from applicant's active duty tour.

For more information go to http://www.afas.org/assistance/body_reserve.cfm

EANGUS Foundation
The EANGUS We care for America Foundation, Inc. (WCFA) will offer an emergency grant (referred to here after as the “National Guard Soldier and Airmen Emergency Relief Fund”) to any member of the Army and Air National Guard (referred to as “eligible member”) who has experienced catastrophic financial hardship and personal property loss while serving as a member of the National Guard of the United States. The assistance will continue to be made available based on availability of funds. Membership in EANGUS is not required for eligibility in this program.

For more information go to http://www.eangus.org

Friends of National Guard and Reservists Foundation
The Friends of National Guard and Reserve Families Foundation is here to help ease the burden of the financial strain deployment brings to Citizen Soldiers and their families. The foundation provides financial gifts to citizens of Massachusetts who are members of the National Guard as well as all other Reserve components who are suffering financial hardships due to activation or an extended military commitment.

For more information go to http://www.mangfriends.org

Helmets to Hardhats
Helmets to Hardhats is a new national program that offers direct entry into apprenticeship programs within the construction industry to National Guard, Reserve and transitioning active duty members. It provides our members with quality career training and employment opportunities within the construction industry. For any of your soldiers who are deploying an apprenticeship can be waiting for them when they return home. This is a great benefit to any soldier that wears or has worn the uniform. Any soldier can register to use the site. For soldiers who are not interested in the union, there may be opportunities for referral to positions offered by agencies affiliated with the unions. It can even benefit spouses.

For more information go to http://www.helmetstohardhats.org/

Red Cross Emergency Aid
The Red Cross works with the military aid societies (Army Emergency Relief, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance). This partnership helps to provide financial assistance for emergency travel that requires the presence of the service member or his or her family, burial of a loved one, or with assistance that cannot wait until the next business day (food, temporary lodging, urgent medical needs, or the minimum amount required to avoid eviction, utility shut off, etc.).

For more information go to www.redcross.org or contact the Family Program Office

Salvation Army Fund
The Salvation Army is a worldwide organization committed to serving people, changing one life at a time. The Salvation Army works every day to make life better for countless people in your community. The Salvation Army helps all military families that are in need whether they are suffering financial hardship or in need of heating assistance. The military member does not have to be activated to qualify for help.

For more information on this program contact your local Family Assistance Center .

UnMet Needs Foundation
While our military troops are working to keep us out of harm's way, the Unmet Needs Program is attempting to do the same for their families. Thousands of families across the nation are facing financial challenges while a spouse is deployed. The Unmet Needs Program was created to extend a hand.

For more information go to http://www.unmetneeds.com/

USA Cares
USA Cares is a "Hand Up and not a Hand Out" to our military servicemen and women and their families. The primary intention of the donated funds is to assist families in quality of life issues. Our most important objective is to be there for those immediate issues that require a quick turn around, like food on the table, or other quality of life issues.

For more information go to http://usacares.us/index.html

USO New England
USO of New England is not a government agency. We are a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization supported by private citizens and corporations. The USO of New England delivers programs and services to men and women called to duty for the War on Terrorism. Through public support we provide FAMILY ASSISTANCE (emergency assistance to active duty military families). The USO of New England is a last resort type of assistance for families that have exhausted other alternative ways of support.

For more information on this program contact your local Family Assistance Center .

Weber Foundation
The Weber Foundation’s Helping Hands for Hero’s and Freedom Fund is set up to benefit those courageous veterans and their families who have been adversely affected by the war on terrorism. We want to show our veterans that we honor and appreciate their courageous service to our Country and want them to know they are not forgotten; we are there to help make their life and the life of their families as normal as possible during their deployment and upon their return.

For more information go to http://www.theweberfoundation.com