Happy New Year!
Many people start each new year with a resolution. They vow to eat healthier, exercise more, spend more time with family and friends, travel … it’s a long list. Some people set a financial goal—to save more, spend less, or pay off a car loan or credit card bill.
For those of you in the financial category, we’ve compiled a list of federal, state, and community resources that might ease some financial stress and keep more money in your wallet. Click on any of the links to learn more.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides a card that acts like a debit card at participating grocery stores. People and families with low incomes can use it to buy healthy food and even garden seeds and plants to grow food at home.
Electric Assistance Program (EAP) – New Hampshire’s Electric Assistance Program discounts eligible customers’ monthly electric bills, making them more affordable and avoiding the risk of service cut-off for nonpayment. Discounts range from 8% to 76%, depending on your gross household income, household size, and electricity usage.
Fuel Assistance and Weatherization Assistance Programs – N.H.’s five Community Action Agencies distribute federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to help households with low incomes with their heating costs. Benefits can also help pay for an emergency fuel delivery or avoid disconnecting a utility.
Weatherizing your manufactured home can help reduce heating costs. |
The New Hampshire Community Loan Fund’s Welcome Home Loans – Welcome Home Loans are fixed-rate, long-term, mortgage loans to people who have, or want, the security of living in a manufactured home in a resident-owned community or on their own land. They can be used to buy, repair, or refinance a home. Prequalification is recommended before applying for a loan.
Section 504 Home Repair Program – The federal Section 504 Home Repair Program provides low-interest-rate loans in rural areas to homeowners with very low incomes to repair, improve, or modernize their homes, as well as grants to elderly homeowners in that income group to remove health and safety hazards.
New Hampshire Housing – N.H. Housing offers a variety of programs that assist homeowners and homebuyers, including home loans, emergency repair loans, refinancing, tax credits, and education. The agency also provides counseling for homeowners experiencing foreclosure or default.
Community Action Partnership of New Hampshire - Each Community Action Agency provides programs and resources tailored to its community’s unique needs. Many core programs, including emergency rent assistance and Head Start, are offered statewide. Other programs, such as transportation and Meals on Wheels, vary by region.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) – The Granite United Way’s VITA program offers free tax preparation to households with low to moderate incomes. VITA can also help families and individuals access important tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, which has lifted more than 16,000 New Hampshire residents out of poverty over the last three years.
The ROC-NH team hopes this resource guide is a helpful tool for ROC members experiencing challenges during this holiday season, and for those wanting to save money. We are grateful for the funding and planning that help make these resources available.
Elise McManus is a ROC-NH Organizational Trainer.
ROC-NH™ is a program of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, Inc. and a ROC USA® Certified Technical Assistance Provider. ROC-NH is a registered service mark of ROC USA, LLC.
