Mary G. Ross, Today's Google Doodle!

                                                                   

                              Today's GOOGLE DOODLE Mary G. Ross 110th Birthday!

GOOGLE  celebrates Mary G. Ross' 110 Birthday!

Google tells us about Mary G. Ross 

Today’s Doodle celebrates the 110th birthday of Mary G. Ross, the first American Indian female engineer, whose major contributions to the aerospace industry include the development of concepts for interplanetary space travel, manned and unmanned earth-orbiting flights, and orbiting satellites.

Great-great granddaughter to Chief John Ross of the Cherokee Nation, Ross was born on this day in 1917. Her math skills were surpassed only by her passion for aviation and the sciences. After teaching in Oklahoma for 9 years, she attended the University of Northern Colorado to pursue her master’s degree and love for astronomy and rocket science.

During World War II, Ross was hired by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation as a mathematician. It was there that she was encouraged to earn her professional certification in aeronautical engineering from UCLA in 1949, after which she broke new ground as one of the 40 founding members of the top-secret Skunk Works team. Her work on the team included developing initial design concepts for interplanetary space travel (including flyby missions to Venus and Mars) and satellites including the Agena rocket (depicted in today’s Doodle). "Often at night there were four of us working until 11 p.m.," she later recounted. "I was the pencil pusher, doing a lot of research. My state of the art tools were a slide rule and a Frieden computer. We were taking the theoretical and making it real."

Leading by example, Ross also opened doors for future generations of women and American Indians by participating in efforts to encourage their pursuits in STEM fields, including being a member and Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). In 1992 the SWE established a scholarship in Ross’s name, which aims to support future female engineers and technologists, including Aditi Jain, a current Google Maps engineer. “More than money, it gave me confidence,” says Jain who earned a degree in Math and Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University “I don’t think I considered myself an engineer until I received the scholarship.”

Here’s to Mary G. Ross, a pioneer who reached for the stars and whose legacy continues to inspire others to do the same.

Special thanks to both the family of Mary G. Ross and the Society of Women Engineers for their partnerships on this project. Jeff Ross, nephew of Mary G. Ross, shares his thoughts on his aunt’s legacy:

The Ross family is excited that Google has chosen Mary G. Ross for a Doodle on her 110th birthday. A proud Cherokee woman and the great-great granddaughter of Chief John Ross, Mary is an excellent role model for young women and American Indians everywhere. Her accomplishments are a testament to her determination and love for education. Our hope as a family is that her story inspires young people to pursue a technical career and better the world through science.

Check out more info and photos

Got Google Photos?

                                                               

                                                     

So, for the second time, I was talking to someone about GOOGLE PHOTOS and the other person had no idea what I was talking about ... so I thought it would be a good idea to talk about it here. Photos are so important to people, being able to get to photos they assume were long gone, may be there.

The following are tips from articles online to help people navigate and use GOOGLE PHOTOS.

Lifewire 

What Is Google Photos, and Should You Be Using It?
It has a lot of features that set it apart from a built-in Gallery app

by Molly McLaughlin
Updated May 08, 2018

Search, Share, Edit, and Backup

One of the most notable features is search. Google Photos automatically assigns tags to your photos based on location, facial recognition, and image type – such as selfie, screenshot, and video – and then creates folders for each. It even classifies animals and objects. In our experience, this feature started out pretty hit-or-miss (mistaking people for cars and the like), but it's gotten a lot smarter since we have begun using Photos.

Continue Reading Article

The Verge

How to master Google Photos

Tips and tricks for getting the most from Google’s great service
By Chris Welch@chriswelch  Jun 9, 2017, 10:25am EDT

By now, you’ve almost certainly heard how good Google Photos is. Your friends, family, and coworkers are probably using it and singing the app’s praises. It makes backing up your photo library effortless. It can identify people — even babies — in your images with freakish accuracy. It automatically creates GIFs and movies that the people in your life will cherish. Hooray.

But there’s really no great manual or user guide for Google Photos. Google’s FAQ site is about as close as the company comes to a “getting started” handbook. So I’ve compiled some how-tos and tips here and plan to update this article to keep up with any big changes that Google makes to the app.

MOVING TO GOOGLE PHOTOS

Few tasks feel as daunting as transferring your entire photo library from one service to another. And few things feel worse than accidentally losing images or videos that you can’t replace. So as great as Google Photos might be, switching to it won’t be a small undertaking for everyone.

Apple Photos: If all of your pictures and videos are on your phone or Mac, this should be relatively straightforward. Just install Google Photos app on your iPhone or the desktop app for your Mac. On iOS, Photos will automatically start backing up your photo library. On Mac, you’ll need to point it to the folder where your photos are stored.


There’s just one potential snag to be aware of if you’re using Apple’s iCloud Photo Library. Depending on your settings, some of your images could be in the cloud and visible on your devices — but not actually stored on them. This might be the case if you got tired of warnings about low storage on your phone and decided to buy more space with iCloud. If you’re using iCloud Photo Library, Google Photos might be unable to see or upload your photos and videos. The easiest solution is to make sure every file is actually saved on your smartphone or computer. To do that, just enable the options below:

Continue Reading Article


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I hope you find the information in these articles helpful! I know that just by me letting people know about it made them very happy! They found photos they didn't know they had access to and many photos, they thought were lost a long time ago!

What Happened and Where were you on July 26, 1976?

                                                               

                                                                Marjorie Evans (1976)

(yep, that's me)                                           

What Happened in 1976 Important News and Events

Apple is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Nadia Comaneci scores the first ever perfect score in Gymnastics. NASA Unviels first space shuttle, Fidel Castro President of Cuba, $2.00 bill Issued, Notting Hill Carnival Riots, United States Bicentennial celebrations, First Legionnaires Disease,

How Much things cost in 1976

Average Cost of new house $43,400.00
Average Income per year $16,000.00
Average Monthly Rent $220.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 59 cents
Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling
Average House Price 12,704
Gallon of Petrol 0.76



Plymouth Arrow$3,175.00
Polaroid Camera $28.00
Mens Sports Jacket $37.15
Zenith 25" Color TV $599.00
CB Radio $147.00
Micro Wave Oven $169.00

#1 Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band

**
Out of all of this information, I find How Much things cost in 1976 the most interesting. 
I graduated in 1976. Looking at things like a Micro Wave Oven, I didn't event know they existed! I remember the first time I saw a microwave was at work, in the break room. That was around 1983...I remember going into the break room and opening the door on the microwave..someone had placed a Wendy's burger in it, inside the foil it was wrapped in. Inside of the microwave was full of sparks!

Take a look at the cost of a mens sports jacket, almost $40.00, really?
Minimum wage, in reality was $2.30 an hour!

1976 was a mixed bag for me. I think of that time now and I really am grateful to have grown up in the time period I did...

#ThrowbackThursday

Focus: Youthful Look or Healthy, Mind, and Body Spirit?

                                               

I find myself going through "growing pains." I find myself dealing with the "battle of the bulge." Coping with "love handles" that I hate. I think I've lost weight, only to find it's just "rearranged" itself.

My closet and drawers are divided into, "fits now," "may get back into," "hope to get into again", "Big time" and "fat chance."

It's really a struggle. When I was younger, I never had to worry about my weight. With age, nothing's the same. It doesn't help to be bombarded with media signals that I should want to look 20 years younger, and what I should buy to achieve that look.

I don't want to look 20 years younger. I just want to feel good about myself, be healthy and not be self conscious about what I look like.

Our society focuses on youth ... Me, well, I am focusing on a healthy mind, body and spirit. How about you?

Moving? Should You Buy or Rent?

                                                                   

By Jane Bryant Quinn, AARP Bulletin

To rent or buy again? That is the question retirees face when it comes to real estate and downsizing.
It's zero hour. You've decided to sell your house and move to something smaller or to another town. As a homeowner, you naturally think of buying again — a house or maybe a condo. But should you? Maybe you should rent instead.

Ownership is solidly entrenched among retirees. They weren't even shaken by the real estate collapse. From the peak of the housing bubble in 2006 to the present, the rate of homeownership for people 65 and up has held steady at about 80 percent, the Census Bureau reports. It runs to over 90 percent among married couples in which one person is 65 or older.

For those 55 to 64, however, it's another story. The portion who own the place where they live has dropped to 76 percent, compared with 81 percent in 2006. Some in this age group switched to renting because they couldn't manage a mortgage anymore. Others, however, rent by choice.


That leads to the question of how to dispose of the proceeds when you sell a house. You can use part or all of it to buy another house or condo, with or without a mortgage. That pot of money is now tied up. You could tap it at some point in the future, by taking a home equity loan or reverse mortgage, but that probably isn't your plan.

Read Complete Article

Press Release Study: Medicaid work requirements and health savings accounts may impact people’s coverage, access to care

                                         

                                               Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health


                                              Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
For immediate release: June 20, 2018

Boston, MA – Current experimental approaches in Medicaid programs—including requirements to pay premiums, contribute to health savings accounts, or to work—may lead to unintended consequences for patient coverage and access, such as confusing beneficiaries or dissuading some people from enrolling, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The study will be published online June 20, 2018 in Health Affairs.

“There’s been a lot of recent research showing that expanding Medicaid leads to improved access to care and better quality of care—which suggests that any expansion will be better for public health than not expanding,” said Benjamin Sommers, associate professor of health policy and economics at Harvard Chan School and lead author of the study. “But our findings suggest that some of the benefits of expanding Medicaid may be at least partially compromised by some of the current innovations in use.”

Under the Trump Administration, which has prioritized increased flexibility for state Medicaid programs, some states have been experimenting with new approaches. Most recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved proposals from Kentucky, Arkansas, and Indiana for the first-ever work requirements in Medicaid, and other states, including Kansas, have expressed interest in following suit.

The researchers sought to assess views about new Medicaid approaches in three Midwestern states with different policies: Ohio, which has a traditional Medicaid expansion without premiums and with minimal cost-sharing; Indiana, which expanded Medicaid coverage in 2015 but which requires enrollees to pay premiums and contribute to health savings accounts; and Kansas, which did not expand Medicaid and where only very poor parents and disabled adults are eligible.

The researchers conducted a telephone survey in late 2017 of 2,739 low-income adults in the three states. The survey gathered respondents’ views on health insurance, access to and quality of care, financial well-being, experiences with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health savings accounts, work requirements, and private vs. public insurance coverage.

The study found:
In 2017, health insurance coverage rates were significantly higher in the Medicaid expansion states (Ohio and Indiana) than in the non-expansion state (Kansas).
Cost-related barriers to care were more common in Indiana than in Ohio. Indiana’s health savings accounts were confusing for many enrollees, with nearly 40% saying they had never even heard of the required accounts and only 36% making regular required payments—meaning that two-thirds of beneficiaries were at risk of losing benefits or coverage for non-payment.
In Kansas, 77% of low-income individuals said they supported Medicaid expansion. Although Kansas is considering work requirements for its Medicaid program, most potential enrollees in the state were either already working or had a disability that prevented them from working. Only 11% of potential enrollees said they would be more likely to seek work if required to do so by Medicaid.


“For both work requirements and health savings accounts, the policies may operate as intended for modest numbers of Medicaid beneficiaries who understand or react to the incentives. But there’s a real risk that even greater numbers of low-income adults will be adversely affected because they don’t understand the new policies, can’t afford them, or get tied up in administrative complexity. For these reasons, it’s critical that there be ongoing independent monitoring of these approaches,” Sommers said.

Other Harvard Chan School co-authors of the study included Carrie Fry, Robert Blendon, and Arnold Epstein.

Funding for the study came from the Commonwealth Fund and the REACH Healthcare Foundation.

“New Approaches in Medicaid: Work Requirements, Health Savings Accounts, and Health Care Access,” Benjamin D. Sommers, Carrie E. Fry, Robert J. Blendon, Arnold M. Epstein,Health Affairs, online June 20, 2018, doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0331

Visit the Harvard Chan School website 

University Study Public Release - 'Good cholesterol' may not always be good"

                                                       

                                                     PUBLIC RELEASE: 19-JUL-2018
                                               'Good cholesterol' may not always be good
                     UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOLS OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES


PITTSBURGH, July 19, 2018 - Postmenopausal factors may have an impact on the heart-protective qualities of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) - also known as 'good cholesterol' - according to a study led by researchers in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

The findings, published today in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, a journal of the American Heart Association (AHA), indicate that this specific type of blood cholesterol may not translate into a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease in older women--bringing into question the current use of HDL cholesterol in a common equation designed to predict heart disease risk, particularly for women.

HDL is a family of particles found in the blood that vary in sizes and cholesterol contents. HDL has traditionally been measured as the total cholesterol carried by the HDL particles, known as HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol, however, does not necessarily reflect the overall concentration, the uneven distribution, or the content and function of HDL particles. Previous research has demonstrated the heart-protective features of HDL. This good cholesterol carries fats away from the heart, reducing the build-up of plaque and lowering the potential for cardiovascular disease.

"The results of our study are particularly interesting to both the public and clinicians because total HDL cholesterol is still used to predict cardiovascular disease risk," said lead author Samar R. El Khoudary, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.H.A., associate professor in Pitt Public Health's Department of Epidemiology. "This study confirms our previous work on a different group of women and suggests that clinicians need to take a closer look at the type of HDL in middle-aged and older women, because higher HDL cholesterol may not always be as protective in postmenopausal women as we once thought. High total HDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women could mask a significant heart disease risk that we still need to understand."

El Khoudary's team looked at 1,138 women aged 45 through 84 enrolled across the U.S. in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a medical research study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). MESA began in 1999 and is still following participants today.
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Just for laughs - Older Women

                                                   

                                                                  Phyllis Diller


Maybe age is kinder to us than we think. With my bad eyes, I can't see how bad I look, and with my rotten memory, I have a good excuse for getting out of a lot of stuff.
Erma Bombeck

I've always felt there are two things a woman should never do after the age of thirty-five: stand in natural light and have a baby.
Erma Bombeck

"You know you're old if your walker has an airbag."  Phyllis Diller

"Photos of me don't do me justice. They just look like me. " Phyllis Diller


"The best way to get rid of kitchen odors is to eat out." Phyllis Diller


"I really don't think I need buns of steel. I'd be happier with bus of cinnamon.""You should never assume.You know what happens when you assume. You make an ass out of you and me because that's how it's spelled." Ellen DeGeneres

"There's lotion for your face,lotion for hands. lotion for your fee, lotion for your body. What would happen in you put hand lotion on your feet? Would your feet get confused and start clapping?" Ellen DeGeneres

"If you want to get rid of stuff, you can always do a good spring-cleaning. Or you can do what I do. Move."  Ellen DeGeneres

Women Celebrities who Joined the 60's Club in 2018!

         



                                                           

                                                 Madonna (image Instagram/Backgrid

I turned 60 last year and I've wondered about women celebrities who will join the 

"60's Club" this year.

Madonna turns 60 August 16, 2018. 60, sounds so old, until you get there...

So, the photo on the left is a wonderful selfie Madonna took, in a bathroom. The photo on the right was taken late after a night out. Hey, that one on the right is a beautiful as the one on the left!

                                         

                                                                     bustle.com 

Age is only a number. That's something many Twitter users have quickly found out after learning Ellen DeGeneres is turned 60 on Jan. 26. It truly is mind-blowing to think that The Ellen DeGeneres Show (director: Liz Patrick) host could be 60. She has such a youthful spirit that her age is understandably sometimes forgotten by her fans (*raises hand*). Ever since she tweeted on Jan. 20 about her 60th birthday, Twitter users have been reacting quite hilariously. They cannot get it through their minds that DeGeneres is 60 years old.

On Saturday, she tweeted, "I can’t believe I’m going to be 60 this week! I love rating your babies but this week I want to rate the 60 year olds in your life. #EllenRateMy60YearOld."

For those unaware, she regularly has a segment on her daytime talk show called, "Ellen Rate My Baby". On Jan. 8, she even showed a special edition of "Ellen Rate My Baby: Staff Edition." Obviously, she is changing it up in honor of her birthday and wants to "rate the 60 year olds" people have in their lives.

Click on the link at the to Bustle to read the replies on Twitter

*BTW. I think Ellen looks Amazing!

********

                                                            

                                                                    Michelle Pfeiffer 

Michelle Pfeiffer joined the 60's Club April 29, 2018

As her kids grew up, Pfeiffer “took for granted how nice it was to not be under the spotlight,” she told the New York Times. “I remember thinking, ‘Do I really want to step back into [acting]?’ And I just realized that I’m not done. I have a lot more to do and a lot more to say. I’m never going to be one that retires.”

*Michelle is a genuine beauty. She is just as talented as far as I'm concerned!

                                                   

6 Ways For Seniors to Get a Helping Hand

                                               

Researching information for low income seniors, I found the following information:

Nerdwallet

1. Get help with utility bills
Need help paying your heating or phone bill? These programs may be able to help:

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households cover heating and cooling costs. Grants are issued via states, which receive funding from the Department of Health and Human Services. Each state sets its own eligibility requirements, including income levels.
The Lifeline program offers discounted landline or cell phone service. Lifeline is an income-based program, so you must meet certain eligibility requirements.


2. Thinking of going back to school? Check this out!

Apply for college grants
College grants, like the federal Pell Grant, can make it easier to pay for college. Students who are eligible for the Pell Grant could get up to $6,095 for the 2018-19 award year. The exact amount awarded is based on factors that include financial need, the cost of attendance and enrollment status. Students can apply for the Pell Grant by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The application is also used to qualify for many state and institutional grants and scholarships

3. In addition to receiving food and access to the nutrition services, seniors are offered daily contact with staff or program volunteers. This means someone can check up on them as well as provide company. They will provide seniors a link to additional services in their communities. Find out how to apply for Meals on Wheels

Free food is offered to seniors over 60 years of age from the federal government funded Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Healthy meals and groceries are offered in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and your state. Additional nutrition information is also provided in order to help facilitate good health from the USDA CSFP program.

For seniors struggling to feed their pets, free dog or cat food may be available too. Some Meals on Wheels services now provide this for low income elderly and the homebound. It is not yet offered nationwide, but an increasing number of providers are implementing this program for those elderly households that have a very low income.

The free food for a clients pet will free up their often fixed income salaries for other basic needs. In addition, having a healthy pet can really help a senior citizen or disabled person by providing companionship and other benefits. Learn where to go to get free pet food from meals on wheelsand how the service benefits the homebound.

4. Help with Rent Programs

Get help with rent and find assistance
Find help with paying your rent from various government agencies, non-profit organizations and charity programs. Some of the agencies may provide ongoing financial aid. Or learn how to apply for one time rental assistance as well as get referrals for longer term housing support. The exact type of assistance available will depend on the amount of funds available as well as the tenant’s situation. Applicants can either get help with rent or they can get support in signing up for public housing or other resources.

State and local government organizations that help pay rent
Many states as well as local governments operate agencies that administer public assistance type programs that can provide help paying rent, security deposits, or other housing expenses. For example Massachusetts offers RAFT, the THHSC is available in Texas, the Florida EFAHP program, and there is the Connecticut RAP. There are some of the state administered rent assistance programs available for struggling tenants.

The organizations offer one time or ongoing rental assistance by issuing free grants and there are many other government housing benefits available as well. Each state run program is focused on offering short term financial assistance to help pay a portion of the rent that is due, and this is done in an effort to reduce homelessness in the community.


The goal is to provide temporary rental assistance to low to moderate income tenants. To learn more on how to apply for funds, contact the assistance agencies and programs in your state. The case managers will provide information on how to get rent help from these types of resources. Each county, city, and town will often have numerous local agencies that can offer rental payment assistance, and they are also listed on the page.
In addition to the government organizations, there are many other non-profit options available for rent help, including churches, charities like the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and other groups. Many of them partner with the government, and they too will offer assistance for paying rent. The information is located across this site along with details on how to apply for funds.

Or call your local community action agency to find how they can offer low income families short term rental assistance. Case managers will go over what government services and grant type programs that may be available. The staff can help tenants apply for funds as well. There is also a search box above to find local programs that can offer help with paying rent or other housing costs. Type in your need (such as need help for back rent), city, county, or state to search for assistance.

Rental assistance from Federal Housing grant programs
The federal government provides billions of dollars each and every year for housing as well as ongoing rental assistance. There is the Emergency Solutions Grants program, which is the main one. Additional support includes vouchers, free legal support, and a wide variety of other assistance programs that may all help with making rent payments. The government and ESG will also provide additional funds on an annual basis to local agencies.

The money is allocated across the nation with thousands of non-profits receiving grants, and the money is given directly to qualified applicants. All of the funds have a goal of helping tenants pay past due rent or even utility bills. There are funds being allocated each and every year to families that are struggling to keep up with their housing needs.

The name of the primary resource being funded is The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, but there are others. Most of the rental help is being distributed at the local government level. Your local social service agency, county government, charities and other organizations will process applications. Learn more and find how to apply for homeless prevention services, and discover how it combines rent help along with case management.

Find how to get help from Federal Government organizations
The largest organization is HUD (Housing and Urban Development). The agency administers several different programs for the homeless, tenants facing eviction, and low income families. Almost 1.5 million families use one or more of their programs. Housing and Urban Development helps those in need pay their rent as well as security deposits. There are also vouchers available from HUD that can help the disabled as well as senior citizens pay any rental arrears they may have. Or the vouchers can be used to access subsidized housing. Other housing costs such as energy bills may be paid for as well.

Most of the financial aid is targeted to low income individuals, including senior citizens and the disabled. In addition to offering grants that help pay rent, the government Rental Voucher Program also helps to increase the availability of affordable housing choices. It does this by allowing families to select privately owned rental housing, including apartments or townhomes. Read more on local HUD housing programs.

USDA Rural Development provides affordable housing, vouchers, and rental assistance for struggling rural families. Beneficiaries tend to be low-income residents, disabled, immigrants, farmers, and the elderly who live in multi-unit housing buildings in smaller cities or towns. Continue with USDA rental assistance programs.

Veterans and their families can get help with paying rent from a federal government resource known as Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program. It is a grant based program that can provide financial help for one or more months. This service is providing rental assistance vouchers as well as security deposit assistance to both veterans as well as their immediate family members. It can also be used to stop evictions from happening. Read more on rent help for veterans.

Receive legal advice to prevent evictions. Over one million people per year receive some form of free legal assistance or counsel from an attorney to help them deal with evictions as well as pay or quit notices. Lawyers not only provide advice, but often can refer clients to resources that can help them pay their rent or address other housing expenses. The assistance is provided from the federal government funded Legal Services Corp.

As part of this federal government funded service, attorneys can try to mediate a solution with your landlord in order to help with any rent payments and advise you on your rights. Or they can help you apply for government benefits such section 8, offer help with solving housing discrimination, represent the tenant in housing court, and provide applications to other forms of financial aid. There may even be lawyers that can represent the tenant in housing court, and this process may refer the client to a place that can help them with their rent. Find more details on free legal advice.

Apply for free government or private grants for paying rent. The funds will not need to be repaid. There is money available for paying rental arrears and related housing costs. Many non-profit private organizations as well as the government have information on or offer cash grants that can be used to help pay rent.

Housing First is a solution that combines money for paying rent, moving costs, lease application fees, and other costs along with a home or permanent, affordable apartment to live in. The federal government, using agencies such as HUD, partners with states and non-profits to offer this solution. The rental assistance as well as placement into permanent housing helps reduce homelessness in local communities. Learn more on Housing First programs.

Eviction prevention programs
In a crisis, tenants can find emergency rental assistance from programs that prevent homelessness from evictions. The federal government, many local and state housing authorities as well as non profit organizations have emergency eviction prevention programs in place. It combines everything from legal aid to short term housing as well as help with paying past due rental costs. The assistance is targeted at low and moderate income individuals as well as families that have notice from their landlord.

Many of the programs will try to prevent evictions and associated lawsuits by assisting with a small portion of past due rental costs, with a goal of stopping homelessness. Some even try to stop foreclosures. They provide resources such as mediation, landlord and tenant assessments, conflict resolution, direct rent payments or grants to tenants, as well as other forms of expedited rental assistance. Or an agency may be able to help you locate more affordable housing. Continue with eviction prevention.

Families with an eviction on their record due to unpaid rent or even energy bills often find it difficult to lease a new home. They often need assistance is trying to work through any legal issues or credit score challenges. Lawyers, along with non-profits, can provide help. They offer everything from free advice on dealing with courts to resources that provide help for rent, deposits, and credit counseling. Find more information on renting with a past eviction on your record.

Rent assistance from charities and local resources
For short term rent help, there are many local community groups, churches, and charitable organizations that will sometimes have funds that can help people who are having financial difficulties. Some of the non-profit organizations, such as the Salvation Army and United Way, can assist with making back rent payments if they have funding available. Find how to contact, and apply at, some of these charities below.

The demand for any time of rent assistance is always very high. Priority is often given to people living in an apartment who are faced with a short term financial hardship or crisis and that also have some form of income. Many of these charities as well as non-profits have some type of money that can help with paying housing costs. Funds can be used to cover back rent, energy bills and even security deposits.

Dozens of national and local charities help with rental expenses. They will also often provide case management, referrals, and other social services. Even if they do not have funding, staff from a charity often can provide information on how to apply for free grants for paying back rent. See the following link of organizations that can help.

There are also additional charities or not for profit organizations that can provide help with paying other housing costs, such as utility and heating bills. Resources provided are often one-time-only or they are given on a first-come-first-served basis. This means that you should not depend on these sources over the long term for ongoing rent or housing assistance.

Calling and applying at these organizations, even if you are not directly affiliated with their group or already a member, can sometimes get you the financial help you need. Or if an organization does not have funding, many can refer people to another agency that can help with paying rent as well as other bills if your need is great.

Some examples of agencies that can help with these types of expenses include Catholic Charities, government social service offices, the United Way, American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Legal Aid Society. There are other organizations that can assist with rent in a crisis, such as applicants dealing with unexpected unemployment or a reduction in household income. Find more emergency rent assistance agencies.

Many local churches are increasing their assistance programs, including offering more rent help, electric bill aid, and more. However many of these churches rely heavily on donations from the community and therefore tend to have very limited funding available.

Short term and transitional housing programs are operated by numerous non-profit agencies. For families that are behind on their rent and facing imminent eviction or individuals that are currently homeless, these programs can help them find a place to live, such as a shelter or low income apartment. They can also help clients gain self-sufficiency as they stay in this short term housing.

Once stability occurs, get assistance in locating a new, low income home or apartment to live in. While more limited, some of these transitional services can direct qualified clients to resources that can help them pay for expenses. There may be financial help to pay for moving costs, a security deposit, storage fees, or maybe even the first months rent that is due to the landlord for their new home. Find a list of temporary transitional housing programs, including apartments or shelters.

Non-profits as well as charity organizations may also offer help with paying rental deposits. In general, if a family is living in a now unaffordable home, or if an individual was homeless and they now have a job, assistance may be provided. There may also be help in paying for moving costs or first month’s rent that a landlord requires.

Financial help for a security deposit or moving expense is not as common. An agency will often want the applicant to be stable before any money is provided. However there may be short term rent assistance available as part of a rehousing program or other government backed program. Find more details on security deposit help.

Find help with rental payments for low income groups
Some agencies focus their resources on certain situation. As an example, there may be rent assistance available for the disabled, senior citizens, or maybe single parents. Other programs support families living in or under poverty guidelines or if the tenant does not have a job. Find solutions for single mothers, who may be given a cash grant that covers housing, including rent and moving costs, for themselves and their child.

Low income households with a physically or mentally disabled member may qualify for rent help. The federal government has two different voucher programs as well as income subsidized apartments, and this is in addition to any SSI payments. Government grants can help with paying rent, there may be funds for paying energy bills as well as other housing costs. The goal is to ensure the individual with a handicap has a home or apartment to live in. Find how to receive rental assistance for a disability.

Very low income families can get assistance with their rent from income based programs. The main one is HUD (Housing and Urban Development) section 8 vouchers. This will require the family to pay a portion of their income for their housing expenses, including rent, utilities, and other costs. HUD also can provide loans or grants to help a family eventually buy a home when the time is right.



Most of the support is for families living in or near poverty. But there is also rental assistance for low income senior citizens, the mentally or physically disabled, and victims of domestic abuse. The government will provide financial aid to the client, and the funds or vouchers can help pay some of their rent while the family will need to pay the balance of what is due. Read more details on HUD section 8 housing choice vouchers.

Need Additional Rent Help or Assistance?
Send us an email @ info@needhelppayingbills.com  Please include your email address and state. The information is needed to send a reply. Or visit or register in the community forum (the link is on the lower right margin) and we will reply to your message there. about resources that may offer help with rent payments.


5. THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SENIOR CITIZEN LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Posted by Ben Todd | Oct 26, 2015 |

Read Rull Article Echeck.org

There is a wide variety of assistance available for Senior Citizens throughout the United States. Many of the assistance programs available can make life easier for the senior citizens and their families. These programs covers a wide range of services and programs that include, housing assistance, food assistance as well as healthcare assistance. There are several to choose from that many are not even aware of, so as a result, this article will explore all the assistance programs available, and how and where to find them.

6. New Retirement 

Help for Seniors with Low Income: Government Benefits and More!

February 6, 2018 | by Kathleen Coxwell

A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund found that seniors apply for low income benefits at significantly lower rates than other demographics – even though there are greater out of pocket health care expenses and usually fewer alternatives like additional work to fund these needs.

While numerous public and private programs hope to provide financial assistance to vulnerable retirees, a sizable proportion of eligible seniors do not participate in the programs. In some cases as few as 25 percent of eligible seniors participate in a program.

The Commonwealth Fund study suggested that enrollment would increase by increasing awareness of programs and simplifying the application process. Read More