Emergency Financial Assistance
Scenes From the Screening Office
CCHASM consistently offers a HAND UP to all that call to make a request.
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IF YOU’VE EVER SAT IN THE CCHASM INTAKE OFFICE, YOU KNOW THE CHALLENGE WE FACE
EACH DAY. CLIENTS CALL IN WITH STORIES THAT PULL ON OUR HEARTSTRINGS, AND WE
WANT TO HELP EACH ONE.
BUT HOW TO BE FAIR? HOW TO MAKE SURE THE MOST GOOD IS DONE WITH OUR LIMITED
FUNDS? WE’VE COME TO APPLY THREE QUESTIONS TO HELP US DETERMINE IF A CLIENT IS
TRULY LOOKING FOR A “HAND UP” OR JUST A “HAND OUT.”
CASE 1: STOPPING THE DOMINO EFFECT
Client Emergency: The Client is a two-parent family with two elementary age children requesting
assistance with rent in the amount of $560 per month. The Father was recently hospitalized with a
mental disorder and lost his job due to illness.
Background: Documentation was provided to support the request. Mother is employed full-time
making approximately $1290 monthly. Monthly household expenses totaled $1989. Department of
Social Services assisted with their power bill of $202. Household receives food stamps which help
to free up some cash.
The TOUGH Questions:
1. Do the expenses listed on CCHASM’s Financial Screening Worksheet match the amounts
that the Vendors have been receiving from the Client? Yes
2 Based on the family’s income and expenses, did the Client have enough income prior to
this emergency to sustain their monthly obligations? Yes.
3. Once this emergency has been met, does the Client's income and expenses indicate
that they can maintain their household in the future? Yes.
Some Advice: CCHASM suggested that the client consider reducing expenses by eliminating cell
phone and cable in order to save about $50 a month. CCHASM also recommended client to
Consumer Credit Counseling for information on how to lower monthly obligations for credit card and
medical expenses. With the extra burden of the husband's hospitalization expenses, the family
needs to take steps not to fall into debt any further. The Mother understands the importance of
increasing household income during this time, so she will be looking for an additional part-time job
until her husband can work again.
CASE 2: STOPPING A PATTERN OF DEBT
Client Emergency: A Single Adult household with the Client receiving disability payment of $732
per month. Household expenses total $950. Client claims an emergency need to pay "pay day
loans totaling $800".
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Same CCHASM Screening Process:
Based on the household income and expenses, again we ask:
Did the Client have enough income prior to this financial emergency to sustain her monthly
obligations? No.
And once this emergency has been met, does her income and expenses indicate that she
can maintain her household self-sufficiently? Again, No.
The Client indicates that she does not have enough money to support her debts and that
is why she felt compelled to take out a "payday" style loan.
Do the expenses listed on CCHASM’s Financial Screening Worksheet match the Vendor
data? No.
CCHASM’s further investigation reveals a discrepancy on the Financial Screening Worksheet. The
expense for one Vendor as reported by the Client does not actually match with the amount the
Vendor has been receiving. The Vendor further informs us that the Client often does not pay the
full amount due.
This Client was advised to contact the Department of Social Services’ Adult Services Unit to see if
she can get help with her loan. The Client seems to have some mental difficulties and may not be
making sound financial decisions. She may be eligible for food stamps which would free up her
money currently used for food purchases.
CASE 3: THE INCONSISTENT INCOME TRAP
Client Emergency: The Client is a single adult with 2 teen-age children in the household. The
Client has been in an auto accident and missed time from work. A document from her physician
confirms that she was unable to work from 5/23-6/28. She is self-employed and states her monthly
household income at $2700 with household expenses at $1180. The Client also receives food
stamps. She has applied to Department of Social Services for assistance but it appears she needs
to provide them with further documentation concerning her income.
Based on the household’s income and expenses was there enough income before this
financial emergency to sustain their monthly obligations? Yes, but it appears that her
self-employment does not produce consistent income.
Do the expenses listed on CCHASM’s Financial Screening Worksheet match the Vendor
data? No. The rent has not been paid since March.
At this time, the Client does not meet our criteria. CCHASM will reconsider this
request once she explains to why she has not made rent payments for March through May. A
missed June payment is understandable. We would also require that she follow through with her
application at the Department of Social Services and provide them with the documentation needed
to process her case.
EMERGENCY NEED SCREENING:
THREE EASY (YET TOUGH)
QUESTIONS FOR ELIGIBILITY:
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1, Does the expense information listed on the
CCHASM Financial Screening Worksheet match the
amounts that the Vendors have been receiving from
the Client?
2. Did the Client have enough income prior to this
emergency to sustain their monthly obligations?
3. Once this emergency has been met, does the
Client’s income and expenses indicate that they can
maintain their household in the future?
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