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Grant Types and General Information

In keeping with its mission, Modest Needs offers the following three

types of grants:

Grant Type 1. Self-Sufficiency Grants

Modest Needs makes Self-Sufficiency Grants by remitting payment to a

creditor / for an expense on behalf of an otherwise self-sufficient

individual or family for a relatively small, emergency expense which

the individual or family could not have anticipated or prepared for.

In making a Self-Sufficiency Grant, our goal is to prevent an

otherwise self-sufficient individual or family from entering the

cycle of poverty as a result of the financial burden posed by a

relatively small emergency expense.

Proper Use of a Self-Sufficiency Grant

You should request a Self-Sufficiency Grant from Modest Needs if:

You have encountered a short-term emergency expense that must be

paid if you are to remain self-sufficient, but that you do not have

the means to afford without assistance.

For example, a person who lives in an area that does not have access

to public transportation and needs help to repair the car that keeps

him or her working working would be an excellent candidate for

a 'Self-Sufficiency Grant'; or

You need help to afford a single, regularly-scheduled expense (your

rent, for example) because of a short-term, emergency situation that

has temporarily reduced your income.

For example, a person who normally can afford to pay his or her rent

but lost 10 days pay due to an injury would be an excellent

candidiate for a 'Self-Sufficiency' grant.

Who Qualifies for a Self-Sufficiency Grant?

In order to qualify for a Self-Sufficiency Grant from Modest Needs,

your household must meet the following eligibility requirements:

At least one member of your household must be currently employed on

a full-time basis;

Your household's single largest source of income must be income

earned from work;

Your household's total earned income must equal at least the cost of

your monthly rental or mortgage plus $250, but not more than the

cost of your monthly rental or mortgage plus $2500.00;

The expense with which you need assistance can be paid on your

behalf, directly to a vendor; and

The expense with which you need assistance can be paid in full for

no more than Modest Needs' maximum grant of $1000.00

Please Note:

Self-Sufficiency Grants cannot be used to remit payment for regular

expenses that an applicant can no longer afford due to a long-term

reduction in income.

For example, an applicant that has suffered a long-term reduction in

income and, as a result, can no longer afford to remit payment for

his or her monthly housing cost, car payment, or utilities would not

be a good candidate for a Self-Sufficiency Grant from Modest Needs.

Grant Type 2: Back-to-Work Grants

Modest Needs makes Back-to-Work Grants by remitting payment for a

small fee or expense that will allow a temporarily unemployed

individual to return to productive, full-time employment.

In making a Back-to-Work Grant, our goal is to provide a willing but

temporarily unemployed individual with the means to return to work.

Proper Use of a Back-to-Work Grant

You should apply for a Back-to-Work Grant if:

You are currently unemployed and need help to afford a small, work-

related expense that will immediately return you to full-time

employment

For example, an unemployed nurse who has a job offer in hand but

cannot afford the cost of renewing his or her license would be an

excellent candidate for a Back-to-Work grant.

Who Qualifies for a Back-to-Work Grant?

In order to qualify for a Back-to-Work Grant from Modest Needs, you

(the applicant) must meet the following eligibility requirements:

You must currently be unemployed;

You must have, in hand, a bona-fide full-time job offer;

The salary you stand to earn in connection with this job must

increase your household income to at least your monthly rental or

mortgage cost plus $250. (If your household income is already at

this level due to income earned by another member of the household,

you do not qualify for a Back to Work Grant. You should apply

instead for a Self-Sufficiency Grant.)

The work-related expense with which you need assistance can be paid

on your behalf, directly to a vendor; and

The work-related expense with which you need assistance can be paid

in full for no more than Modest Needs' maximum grant of $1000.00

Please Note:

Back-to-Work Grants cannot be used to remit payment for an expense

that might or might not have the effect of returning an individual

to work.

For example, an unemployed individual who is requesting assistance

to afford a monthly car payment so that he or she can look for work

would not be a good candidate for a Back-to-Work grant from Modest

Needs.

Grant Type 3: Independent Living Grants

Modest Needs makes Independent Living Grants by remitting payment to

a creditor / for an expense on behalf of persons who are permanently

unable to work but who nevertheless are living independently on the

limited income to which they are entitled - their retirement income,

or their permanent disability income, for example.

In making an Independent Living Grant, our goal is to empower

financially responsible persons who cannot work to continue to live

independently on their limited incomes, despite an unexpected

expense which no conventional agency is prepared to address.

Proper Use of an Independent Living Grant

You should apply for an Independent Living Grant if:

You need assistance to afford a small, irregular expense which would

substantially improve the quality of your life, but which you cannot

afford without assistance due to your fixed income.

For example, a permanently disabled person who is normally self-

sufficient on his or her disability income but needs help to afford

a piece of accessibility equipment not covered by Medicare would be

an excellent candidate for an Independent Living Grant; or

You need help to afford a single, regularly-scheduled expense (your

rent, for example) because of a short-term, emergency situation that

has temporarily hindered your ability to live independently.

For example, a retired person who is normally self-sufficient but

needs help because an unusually large winter heating bill has made

it temporarily impossible for that person to pay the rent would be

an excellent candidate for an Independent Living Grant.

Who Qualifies for an Independent Living Grant?

In order to qualify for an Independent Living Grant from Modest

Needs, you (the applicant) must meet the following eligibility

requirements:

You must be permanently unable to work due to disability or

retirement;

Your household's single largest source of income must be either the

disability income or pension / retirement income to which your

household is entitled.

Your household's total earned income from all sources, including

retirement and/or disability, must equal at least the cost of your

monthly rental or mortgage plus $250, but not more than the cost of

your monthly rental or mortgage plus $2500.00;

The expense with which you need assistance can be paid on your

behalf, directly to a vendor; and

The expense with which you need assistance can be paid in full for

no more than Modest Needs' maximum grant of $1000.00

Please Note:

Independent Living Grants cannot be used to remit payment for

regular expenses that are no longer feasible due to a permanent

reduction in income.

For example, a person who has become disabled and can no longer

afford his or her monthly housing cost on the permanent but reduced

income to which he or she is now entitled would not be a good

candidate for an Independent Living Grant.

If you have questions about our grant types or eligibility criteria,

we encourage you to contact us before completing an application.

We'll respond to your question as quickly as we can.

Otherwise, please return to our applications & instructions page to

continue your application.