Disaster Recovery Resources for Michigan Families
DOWNLOADAugust 30, 2023 - Michigan State University Extension
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Michigan State University Extension Resources
- Michigan State University Extension
- Severe Weather and Flooding: Information for agriculture, family, community and home
- Family: Resources on aging, bullying, caregiving, early childhood development, homeownership, managing relationships, money management and violence prevention
- Ask an Expert: Information and resources for consumers, farmers, businesses with questions
- Resources for Farms Impacted by Flooding
- Food Safety During Emergencies
Disaster Resources
National Relief Agencies
- American Red Cross: Helps prepare communities for emergencies and keep people safe
- Catholic Charities: The Disaster Preparedness and Response Program provides relief and recovery services, including emergency food, shelter, direct financial assistance, counseling and support (1-800-919-9338)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Your Disaster Checklist to protect financial records
- Extension Disaster Education Network: Educational resources to reduce the impact of natural and man-made disasters.
- The Children and Disasters page offers useful tips to help children, youth and teens respond to and recover from disasters.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): May provide assistance and tax relief to residents of a community that has been declared a federal disaster area. (1-899-621-FEMA)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Dealing with Weather Emergencies: Practical tips to help financially prepare for, deal with and recover from a weather emergency, plus spotting scams and imposters.
- Housing Counseling Disaster Recovery Toolkit from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including checklists:
- Household Recovery Checklist: Goes over filing insurance claims, contacting your mortgage company and other creditors, protecting your income and credit rating, applying for disaster assistance, and managing the rebuilding process.
- Insurance Claims Checklist: Reviews the steps to file homeowner and renter insurance claims.
- Working with Contractors Checklist: Contains tips on finding a contractor, executing a contract, and overseeing the work.
- Healthy Homes After a Disaster Checklist: Covers rebuilding including protecting yourself, staying safe, and damage assessments.
- Avoiding Post-Disaster Scams and Fraud Fact Sheet: Helps with awareness of many types of contractor, financial, fake charity, and car scams targeting disaster victims.
- National Consumer Law Center Disaster Relief Flow Chart: Visualizes homeowner post-disaster road to recovery.
- The Salvation Army: Provides assistance and resources during a disaster; contact your local Salvation Army office.
- Small Business Administration (SBA): Provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sies, and private, non-profit organizations to repair or replace property that has been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.
Michigan Relief Agencies
- Michigan Local Emergency Management Programs: Coordinates state and federal resources to assist local government after an emergency or disaster event.
- MIREADY: The Michigan State Police MIREADY program provides resources and education to prepare Michigan residents for emergencies, disasters, and threats to our homeland.
- FEMA/Ready.gov for Michigan
- Michigan Volunteer Registry: To help support a public health or medial emergency response.
Crisis Resources
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS): Helps people meet basic needs like health care, economic assistance, and services for children; also serves people with disabilities and older people. Locate your county office
- Michigan Crisis Services: Connect with various crisis intervention hotlines.
- Also available: Call 2-1-1 or visit org/get-help
- Community Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 800-317-0708
Agriculture Resources
- Michigan State University Extension
- Severe Weather and Flooding: Agriculture
- Resources for Farms Impacted by Flooding
- Delayed Planting Resources
- MSU Extension Ask an Expert: Answers from agriculture experts with Michigan State University Extension
- Managing Farm Stress
Benefits Screening, Referral Services and Assistance
- MI Bridges: Helps people determine eligibility for public health care, child care, tax credits, food support and energy assistance; available in English, Spanish and Arabic.
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS): Helps people meet basic needs like health care, economic assistance, and services for children; also serves people with disabilities and older people. Locate your county office
- Gov/Benefits: Official U.S. government website on benefit and assistance programs.
- Michigan Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging Services Administration: Services for seniors and information on county offices
- United Way 2-1-1: National information and referral search service for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling, and more. Call 2-1-1 or 1-800-543-7709.
Consumer Education and Protection
- Federal Trade Commission: Provides consumer protection information (1-877-382-4357)
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Insurance help line (877-999-6442)
- Michigan Attorney General: Resources on consumer protection, housing, health care, senior legal rights, cars, personal finance, identity theft, charities search, fraud, etc. (1-517-335-7622 or email miag@michigan.gov)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Financial tools about various consumer loans, financial products, money management, buying a house, planning for college and retirement, and more.
- Insurance Information Institute: Aims to improve public understanding of insurance, what it does, and how it works.
- Direct Marketing Association (DMA): Submit requests to stop unwanted marketing messages through direct mail, telemarketing and emails:
- To stop direct mail marketing: Send a letter to Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512
- To stop telemarketing: Send a letter to Direct Marketing Association, Telephone Preference Service, PO Box 1559, Carmel, NY 10512
- To stop email marketing: Visit dmachoice.org
- Do Not Call: Place your phone numbers on the Federal Trade Commission’s national registry to stop unwanted telemarketing calls (1-888-382-1222)
- Opt-Out of Credit: “Opt-out” of pre-approved credit offers (1-888-567-8688)
- Phone Discounts for Low-Income Users: Sign up for services such as Lifeline, Telephone Assistance Plan (TAP), and Link-Up; contact your local phone company for information.
Employment and Unemployment Resources
- Michigan Community Action: Local assistance to families, including energy assistance, weatherization, food and clothing shelves, Head Start, child care programs, and job assistance/training. Contact your local agency for more information.
- S. Department of Labor: For information and resources for employed and unemployed workers, and retirement and health care benefits for dislocated workers.
- Michigan Works!: Helps with job searching, career planning, and job training (1-800-285-9675)
- Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO): Resources on essential tools to make job searches successful
- Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency: Temporary benefits to qualified persons out of work
- Offender Success: Provides re-entry services that help incarcerated persons prepare for release; also provides resources for ex-offenders in job searches, housing, clothing, and family services
Financial Management
- Michigan State University Extension Mi Money Health: Resources for family resource management, financial security for later life, financial literacy, resource management for daily living, and homeownership.
- American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM): Provides daily money management services to members
- AARP: Money management information with focus on those 50 and over
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants: Tips and tools for managing money through marriage, parenthood, homeownership, college savings, and retirement
- Consumer Federation of America: Provides consumers with a voice in decisions that affect their lives in the areas of communications, energy, finance, food and agriculture, health and safety, and housing
- Federal Reserve Bank: “Consumer Information” page includes a credit card repayment calculator, mortgage foreclosure resources, general information for consumers, and more
- Money Sense: Basic financial education information and tools for consumers
- gov: Provides information from 20 federal agencies and bureaus on making smart financial choices. Also available in Spanish.
- Smart About Money: Articles, worksheets, and other information to manage dollars better from the National Endowment for Financial Education
- Social Security Administration: Estimate future Social Security benefits or find information on Medicare benefits and applications
- U.S. Department of Treasury, Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Provides a variety of resources for financial literacy, savings, and more
Credit Counseling
- National Foundation for Credit Counseling: Find a certified agency by visiting their website or call 1-800-388-2227
- Consumer Credit Counseling Services: Visit their website or call 800-769-3571
Debt Management
Bankruptcy Resources
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan: Filing without an attorney
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Michigan
Gambling Resources
- Gamblers Anonymous: Visit the website or call 1-800-270-7117
- Michigan Association on Problem Gambling: Prevention, education, and resources for solving gambling problems. Visit the website or call 517-672-6904.
- National Council on Problem Gambling: Visit the website or call 202-547-9204
Other Debt Resources
- Federal Reserve Bank Consumer Information: Includes a credit card repayment calculator, mortgage foreclosure resources, general information for consumers and more.
- PowerPay: Interactive calculator helps determine how to manage credit and debt
- S. Department of Education: Student loan consolidation information, visit the website or call 1-800-872-5327
Investment Resources
- Federal Reserve Bank Consumer Information: Includes a credit card repayment calculator, mortgage foreclosure resources, general information for consumers and more
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority: Investing information
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: Consumer investing publications and online calculators
Food and Nutrition Resources
- Michigan State University Extension
- Michigan Food Pantries: List of some food pantries in Michigan
- Food Bank Council of Michigan: Cooperative food resource and distribution program to local emergency food providers
- United Way 2-1-1: Help with accessing food. Also available in Spanish.
- Michigan Food Assistance Programs: Visit the website or contact your county health and human services office
- Free or Reduced School Breakfast and Lunches: Apply any time to your local school district
- MyPlate.gov: Personalized eating plans and interactive tools from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help access and plan food choices based on the dietary guidelines for Americans
- USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP): Develops and promotes dietary guidance that links scientific research to nutrition needs of consumers
- WIC (Women, Infants & Children Program): Provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income women, infants, and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk
Health Care, Medical and Dental Resources
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Help Finding Health Care Page: Information on health care programs, general assistance, Healthy Michigan, and medical assistance
- U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration Find a Health Center Tool: Low-cost health care options
Housing Resources
Heating Assistance
- Michigan Public Service Commission
- Contact your local Community Action Agency
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Foreclosure Prevention Resources
- Federal Housing Finance Agency Mortgage Assistance: Help with mortgage payments
- Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA): 1-855-646-7432
- Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF): Resources if you are behind on mortgage payments or property taxes. Visit the website, call 844-756-4423 or email MSHDA-HO-HAF@michigan.gov
- Search your address to find out if your mortgage is Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac:
- Find a HUD-approved housing counselor
- County Register of Deeds: Records real property documents, including deeds, mortgages, and liens.
- County Treasurer: Property taxes, hardship extension, and repayment plans.
- Local Tax Assessor: At your city hall or township, for Principle Residence Exemption for owner occupied homes and Poverty Tax Exemption for low income.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Information to help those in foreclosure or worried about it in the future (1-800-569-4287)
Home Repairs
- Find your local Community Action Agency
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development: Visit the website or call 517-324-5190
- Habitat for Humanity, Michigan: 855-422-6424
- HUD Michigan Homeowner Repair and Rehabilitation Assistance
- Federal Home Loan Bank Indianapolis (FHLBI): Accessibility Modifications Program, serves Michigan residents (800-443-2568)
Rental Assistance
- HUD Housing Counseling Office: Find out about public housing and eligibility (1-800-569-4287)
- JustShelter.org: For renters in distress
Immigration and Human Rights Issues
- Michigan Legal Help: For legal resources, also available in Spanish
- MSHDA Fair Housing: Information about discrimination and rights, and how to file a complaint
- Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
Legal Resources
- Michigan Legal Help: For legal resources, also available in Spanish
- Michigan Legal Services
- State Bar of Michigan
Military Service Member Resources
- Michigan Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
- Military One Source: Education, information, resources, referrals, and counseling for military service members and their families
- Veterans Affairs Transition Assistance Program (TAP): The U.S. Department of Defense’s official website for service members returning home from active duty
Parenting and Family Education Resources
- Michigan State University Extension, Parent Education Programming: Offers parent education programming and resources
- Michigan Department of Education Parent Resources
- Michigan Alliance for Families: Information, support and education for children with special education needs
- Parenting 24/7: Advice on parenting and family life
- Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights: Information about children with disabilities as well as links to other areas, including bullying
Tax Assistance
- AARP Tax-Aid Program: Free tax preparation assistance services (1-888-227-7669)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): 1-800-829-1040
- IRS Free File: Offered in a variety of languages
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
- Michigan Free Tax Help
- Michigan State University Tax Clinic: Free legal-aid clinic that works with low-income taxpayers having controversy with the IRS
- Michigan 2-1-1