Financial Help for Headstones and Monuments for Children

In response to a question in the comments, I went looking for places that offer financial help in purchasing a headstone for an infant.  While most states legally spell out the level of government which is responsible for burying those too poor to afford their own burial, tombstones and memorials are outside the barest necessities, and not covered.  But private organizations in some localities attempt to fill this void.

In Georgia, Children's Burial Assistance will help some expenses for children's funerals in the state, and sometimes outside of it IF--and that's a big if--there are the funds.  In central Florida, the Bradley Summersill Foundation offers financial help for children's headstones.  Their contact information is:

2460 Peterson Road, Apopka, FL 32703,phone: (407) 733-1062.  The Josh Rojas Foundation works to give children in the Rochester, New York area headstones.  The Conner Kirby Infant Memorial Foundation provides help for infants in the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland.

The Northern New York Community Foundation has a fund for gravestones for children in their service area, via the "Forget Me Not" program.     

For more on the program, contact the NNYCF.

On the national level, there is one organization I found that does not seem to have a geographic limit, and that's the Dempsey Burdick Memorial Foundation.  A few families per year are chosen to receive a memorial stone for their loved one.  Again, this is dependent on availability of funds.

Homestead Property Tax Exemptions--in Ohio, and Other Places

"Homestead" exemptions are exemptions on the value of a home to shield the homeowner fromtaxation, or to shield the home from creditors in case of bankruptcy.

In Ohio, the homestead exemption on property taxes are available to everybody over 65, or totally disabled, or the surviving spouse of a qualified homeowner who was at least 59 at the date of their spouse's death.  It shields $25,000 of the market value of the home from property taxes. At one time, there was an upper income limit for eligibility, but that was repealed several years ago.  And while this is a statewide law, you have to apply for the homestead exemption at your county auditor's office.

In Florida, there is a homestead exemption of up to $50,000 for which Floridians may be eligible if it's your permanent residence.  There are also exemptions for the disabled, blind, widows and widowers, and disabled veterans--all the links are on this page.

In Texas, those over 65, disabled, or a partially or totally disabled veteran may also qualify for an exemption on their principle residence.  More detailed information on Texas property tax exemptions here.

Get Extra Collateral to Fund Your Ohio Business. Get Access to More Funds in 10 More States

One of the biggest roadblocks in business funding for newcomers is finding the collateral that will make you a good loan prospect.  Many just don't have enough.  The Ohio Development Services Agency has a fairly new program to help.  It's the Collateral Enhancement Program.  It can provide up to 30% of the loan collateral for a small business (up to 50% for certified minority or women-owned businesses, or businesses in the HUB Enterprise zones. While business owners cannot apply for the collateral, lenders can.  However, if you think collateral might be an issue, you can contact a local Development Services Agency office and ask them to direct you to a lender that participates in the program. 

This program is the result of a grant from the U.S. Treasury Department to enhance the access of capital to small businesses in 11 states.  If you a small business owner in the other ten states-- Tennessee, Iowa, Idaho, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Virginia, Oregon, and Alabama-- use the links to your state's business development office to find out what programs might be offered in your state.

Where to Look for Burial Funding Assistance

Providing the poor with a decent, dignified burial is one of the oldest social services on earth.  If you need help with the expenses of burying a loved one, here are some places to look:

--If your locality has a 211 agency referral number, call ask the referal experts to see if there are any agencies that provide burial expenses.  If your area has a searchable website, search under "burial/creamation expense assistance."

The Funeral Consumers Alliance, a fine organization, has a page devoted to indigent funerals, including a state-by-state chart of public funeral funding.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs also provides some assistance to members of federally recognized tribes if they lack other resources.  See this site for details on how to file for assistance. 

--Your state's social service agency.  Some help with burial expenses for poor people.  In Michigan, this is the website for burial assistance.   

Another source for help in Michigan for the families of those who commit suicide is the nonprofit group Six Feet Over, which offers assistance with the cleanup, funeral and memorial for the victim.  See their website (bottom of the page) for financial assistance).

 --In the city of Toledo, the Cemetary Office of the Department of Parks and Recreation handles the cremation and burial of indigents.  Their website is in need of modifications.  Please call directly at 419 936 3081.

 --FYI, here's a page from the Ohio Legislative Services (albeit 2007) on the obligation of local and state government to provide burial or cremation for certain poor people, like veterans and residents of state institutions.  According to 9.15 of the Ohio Revised Code, if an indigent person dies and is not a resident of an institution, the city or municipality must pay for the cost of a burial or cremation.  The government body is not absolved of the cost of a burial or cremation if the body is claimed by an indigent person.

--Here's a listing of some indigent burial services in the greater Cleveland area, courtesy of the 211 referral service.

--Some counties help with indigent funerals.  In Florida, contact your county's human services agency.

--In Oregon, indigent burial costs can be applied for at the state Department of Health.

--In Pennsylvania, here's the state regulations and who to contact for indigent burial.

--In Alaska, here's the site of the state social service agency that has "limited" funds for that.

--In Alabama, the county has the responsibility to provide a small sum for the burial of indigents, and those whose relatives cannot bury them.  In the case of deaths on the job, the employer is supposed to pay up to $3000 towards the funeral.

--In Illinois, it's covered by the Department of Family and Community Services, and here's the informational link.  For more information, call  (217) 524-5294 or (217) 558-6653. 

--In the District of Columbia, there's the Department of Human Services, which will give $800 towards a funeral or $450 for a cremation.  The total cost of the funeral cannot be over $2000.

--In Louisiana, the burial of paupers may be paid for by the municipality or parish where they died, with each city or parish establishing the maximum amount paid.  If the pauper were in a state institution, the state of Louisiana is responsible for their burial.

--In Georgia, the county deals with costs for the burial of indigents, and you start by contacting the county's Department of Social Services. Here's a useful publication to give more details--see #16.

--Here's the state information on indigent burial assistance in the state of Indiana.

 .--In New York, there is a guide for burial assistance options.  It's been updated (2011) and may give you an idea of where to go for help. There’s also assistance for New York City residents of up to $900 and an application online.

--For indigent people of the Jewish faith in the New York City area, the Hebrew Free Burial Association will provide a religiously and culturally appropriate funeral.

--Social security.  There is a small lump sum amount at the death of a Social Security recipient ($255).

--Was the deceased a veteran?  Besides VA benefits, some states have burial funds for veterans.  For veterans who have died in military conflict, while a resident of a VA-approved nursing home, receiving veteran's pension or other circumstances, they may be entitled to more compensation.  See this page.  Check your state's veterans office.  Here' the information for Ohio veterans burial benefits.

--Did they die as the result of a crime?  Some states have benefits for those who have died as the result of a crime

--Did they die as a result of a federally-declared disaster?  If so, and the family has no financial resources for burial, they may be eligible for disaster aid.   If so, contact FEMA at 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362) for more information.

--Religious organizations. If you are a member of a church or denomination, they may help the burial of indigent people in that faith. 

--If the deceased is a child, there are organizations that assist in funding the burial of children in parts of the U.S.  The Unforgettables helps with funeral expenses of children in Orange County, San Bernadino and Riverside, California.  AMT Children of Hope, based in the New York City area, works to prevent the abandonment of infants, but also provides assistance for the burial of children.  Child Burial Assistance Inc. of Georgia also helps child burials in that state.  In Michigan, the Olivia Raines Foundation helps up to $500 with the cost of an infant's burial.  In California, the Emilio Nares Foundation helps with the cost of children who die of cancer in their area of service.  Call 1 (877) 507-7788 for more information.

AgapeCare Cradle, Inc offers financial help for the burial of infants in the Witchita, Kansas area.

The Tears Foundation will assist in funding the burial of an infant between 20 weeks gestation and 1 year old in the states of New York, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and Washington state, if there are sufficient funds.  You can contact them at (253) 200-0944.

--The angels of Aidpage came up with another winner: a page full of suggestions on burial financial help.  They include references to several individual cities.  like Milwaukee,   The link to Nashville is dead, but I found the new Nashville burial help site here, and here is the Maryland burial site.  Colorado has burial assistance also.

--Another possibility is crowdfunding. See this blog entry for more.

***See more on indigent burial at this entry.****

New Money to Prevent Foreclosures

Fresh money is being pouring into the fight against foreclosure in 17 states. The Hardest Hit Fund is being strengthened in the ten states that originally got two rounds of cash—Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Rhode Island—and seven new states: Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. These are all areas that have experienced unemployment rates higher than the national average. In total, $3 billion will go towards helping out homeowners whose ability to pay their mortgages was hit by an event such as the loss of a job. Homeowners may be eligible for up to $50,000 in interest-free loans to cover mortgage interest and principle, mortgage insurance, hazard insurance, and taxes until they are employed once again and can resume their home payments.
Other states with unemployment higher than the national average may apply for housing funds, too. Right now, each state is responsible through their state housing agency for their own particular guidelines. If you are a resident of one of these states, contact your housing authority (links above) to see when the rollout will be for your state. For instance, Ohio’s is September 27th. Remember that while the general purpose is the same, each state will have its own rollout date AND eligibility rules. Finally, other states may apply for money, too, so if you are in a high-employment state or locality, check your housing authority or foreclosure resources in your state.

***Update: for states not covered by this, a new program has emerged in 2011. 

More Funds for States Hardest-Hit by Foreclosure

One and a half billion dollars have been released to five states particularly hard hit by the foreclosure crisis: California, Michigan, Florida, Nevada, and Arizona. Each of these states is setting up a program for helping homeowners in danger of foreclosure with money, rather than simply asking for forebearance from banks (a policy that has not borne a lot of fruit so far).

If you are a homeowner in one of these states and need foreclosure help, click the link above for your state and get answers about your state's program from the housing authority. You can find out if you are qualified to receive aid from the Hardest Hit fund. More severely effected states are expected to get funding soon, so stay tuned.

Don't be a Starving Artist!

So where can an artist look for funds to do his or her work?

There are some great/smart places to look for arts grants. One is the online Foundation Directory of Grants to Individuals (see the July 24^th entry), which can be accessed at a Foundation Center cooperating collection. Or, you can subscribe for at-home access for about $10 a month.

Another great (free) place to look is the wonderful website for grants to individuals set up by Michigan State University. Besides classifying grants by eligible population groups (minorities, women, disabled), and academic levels (graduate, postgrad, etc.), Jon Harris, the creator of the website, has them categorized by subject, including arts, music, photography, writing and film. See all the categories that apply to you, and check them out. There may be some cross-posting between the categories, but you will find excellent resources.

State arts councils are also good places to seek grants for both art groups and individual artists. Programs for individual artists may include artists in residence programs. The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has a directory of its membership. The National Endowment for the Arts also has a listing that includes not only state arts councils, but regional ones as well. And, speaking of the NEA, the listings of their grants for both organizations and individuals is another place to look.

Another possibility is public art. Many states have a program where some small percentage of the cost of a new state building project (say, 1%) is set aside to buy art for that public space. To find these state programs, see this Florida website. It has links to many other states. Also, check the local art commission where you live to see if your city has such a program.

Takin' It To The Bank

In your quest to find out about all the money you can get, there is free, skilled, legit help along the way. People turn up their nose at public assistance and food stamps, but the fact remains that, along with earned income tax credits, these are some of the biggest financial programs available. There are also sources of financial help you may not know about--help with fuel bills or insulation, for instance. And, for people in Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and the District of Columbia, there are people who can tell you what major financial help programs you are eligible for.

The Benefit Bank has a network of agencies that host them throughout each of these states. When you go to their website, you can enter your address, city and state, and pick which services you would like information about: taxes, benefits, or voter registration, and click "search." It will pull up a list of Benefit Bank places that provide counseling. You can call the one most convenient to you and set up an appointment to meet with them. You will need to bring supporting documents, like pay stubs, so ask what sort of documents you need. Check out this site and find someone who can really help you get money.