NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUNDS

Below is a listing of additional emergency grants available to writers in acute financial crisis. Please contact the organizations directly for more details. Self-published authors or those published by vanity presses are generally not eligible.

A Room of Her Own
(505) 867-5373
A Room of Her Own supports women who have a commitment to their art and who are also making a substantial effort to be self-sufficient. Fellowships of $50,000 are awarded to bridge the often fatal gap between a woman's economic reality and her artistic creation. One fellowship is awarded biennially. The successful applicant must have a well articulated creative project concept and a clear plan for how it may accomplished. The next grant cycle will be in 2009. www.aroomofherownfoundation.org/giftfreedom_application.php

Actor's Fund Financial Assistance Programs
(800) 221-7303
Several programs available with specific eligibility requirements available to applicants with five years' experience working in entertainment who have earned a minimum of $6,500 per year in the industry. See web site for details: www.actorsfund.org

Aid for AIDS
Los Angeles based organization provides a number of programs and services for children and adults living with HIV/AIDS. There are several financial aid programs offer rent, grocery, medical and/or general living assistance. See website for details. www.aidforaids.net

American Poets Fund- Emergency Funds
The Academy of American Poets
584 Broadway Suite 1208
New York, NY 10012
The fund assists poets of demonstrated ability who are in a state of urgent financial need. Grants cannot be used to promote or otherwise enhance literary talent or reputation, and applications are not accepted. Academy Chancellors, Fellows, and prize winners must bring the circumstances of qualifying poets to the attention of the American Poets Fund committee by sending a letter of nomination, including specifics about the nominee's current financial situation, to the Executive Director of the Academy. For more information, please visit www.speculativeliterature.org/Writing/medical.php

Artist Trust
Non-profit membership organization dedicated to supporting artists of all disciplines based in the Washington state area. Grant programs are available for both beginning and established artists. Website also provides links to information services offering advice and non-financial assistance to artists. www.artisttrust.org

Author's League Fund
Fund offers interest-free loans of between $2,000 and $3,000 to writers with severe medical/health related problems and other serious misfortunes. No membership necessary. Application and details available on website. www.authorsleaguefund.org

Carnegie Fund for Authors
Emergency assistance to needy writers who have commercially published at least one book of reasonable length which has received reader acceptance. Mail to: Carnegie Fund for Authors, 1 Old Country Rd., Carle Place, NY 11514. No website.

Change, Inc.
Grants of up to $1,000 available to artists for medical, living and other expenses. Mail to: PO Box 705 Cooper Station, New York, NY 10276 or call (212) 226-0581 for an application. No website.

Grants of up to $1,000 available to artists for medical, living and other expenses. Mail to: PO Box 705 Cooper Station, New York, NY 10276 or call (212) 226-0581 for an application. No website.

Directors Guild Foundation
(818) 461-0916 (Southern California)
(914) 747-2979 (New York)
The DGF provides no interest, confidential loans to Guild members in good standing who are in need of emergency financial assistance. Details and application online: www.dga.org/index2.php3?chg=

The Haven Foundation
Provides grants of up to $25,000 per year (renewable for up to five years) to freelance writers and artists experiencing career-threatening illness, accident, natural disaster or other emergency or personal catastrophe. Application and details available on the website: www.thehavenfdn.org.

Hellman/Hammett Grants
(212) 290-4700
Human Rights Watch administers the Hellman/Hammett grant program for writers who have been victims of political persecution or are in financial need. Hellman/Hammett grants typically range from $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000. In addition to providing much needed financial assistance, the Hellman/Hammett grants focus attention on repression of free speech and censorship by publicizing the persecution that the grant recipients endured. See web site for details: www.hrw.org/about/info/helham.html

Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation (LVF)
Fund provides one-time grants to individuals working in the fine arts and in the literary arts, including playwriting. Grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 are awarded on the criteria of merit and need; the foundation is especially concerned with those who have no other source of funding. Send email to request current guidelines (email is preferable and quick).

Mayer Foundation
Has grants of up to $5,000 available to individuals who find themselves in severe economic turmoil due to natural or civil disasters. Students may also seek scholarships to aid in the completion of a graduate or undergraduate degree. Funds are not limited to artists. See website for details. www.mayerfoundation.org

Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund
(888) 994-3863
Provides aid for veterans of the theatrical community (exhibition, distribution, and production) who are encountering an illness, injury, or life-changing event. Services and qualifications vary by program. All assistance is intended to provide support during a recovery or adjustment period. Complete list of programs and qualifications online: www.wrpioneers.org/assistance_programs.aspx

PEN Writer's Fund
Grants of up to $2,000 available to published writers in acute financial crisis. No membership necessary. Application and details available on website. www.pen.org

Poets In Need
Provides emergency assistance to poets who have an established presence in the literary community as innovators in the field and have a substantive body of published work. www.poetsinneed.org

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Emergency Medical and Legal Fund
SFWA, Inc.
PO Box 877
Chestertown, MD 21620
Medical fund offers interest-free loans to members facing unexpected medical expenses. Also makes loans available to authors who must take a writing-related dispute to court. Details and application online: www.sfwa.org/org/funds.htm

REGIONAL EMERGENCY FUNDS

Art House Emergency Assistance
(512) 453-5312
Arthouse Emergency Relief Fund was established to provide financial assistance to Texas artists who have experienced an unforeseen health or property disaster which prevents their normal production of art. Applicants must be full time artists of any genre. For more information: www.arthousetexas.org/index.php?_page=load_page&_id=ARTIST_SERVICES

Clayton Memorial Medical Fund
Medical Fund
c/o OSFCI
P.O. Box 5703
Portland, Oregon 97228
The fund helps professional science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery writers living in the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska deal with the financial burden of medical expenses. For more information, please visit: www.osfci.org/clayton

Max's Kansas City Project
Fund offers emergency grants of up to $1,000 to professionals in the creative arts who live in New York state. Application and details available on website www.maxskansascity.org/funding.htm.

Opportunity Grants
(406) 444-6430
Eligible individuals must have been Montana residents for at least one year. Due to limited resources, organizations that have received $2,000 or more from the Montana Arts Council Public Value Partnership grants in the current fiscal year for which you are applying are ineligible for Opportunity grants. For more information visit: www.art.mt.gov/artists/artists_opportunity.asp

Ramsey Action Programs
(651)645-6445
Emergency grants and loans are available to persons who do not qualify for other forms of assistance. Loans are available for emergency rent or mortgage assistance and self-sufficiency (employment related). Short term loans are available for childcare and to college students, depending on funding available. For more info visit: www.ramseyactionprograms.org

Ruth Talaber Emergency Fund (IL)
(312) 781-0040
Emergency fund established to provide aid to Illinois artists who find themselves in need of immediate monies to cover an expense due to loss from fire, theft, a health emergency, or other catastrophic, career-threatening event. For more info go to: www.caconline.org/default.asp?page=services

Springboard Artist Loan Fund
(651) 292-4381
Springboard's Artist Loan Fund provides low-interest loans from $1000 to $5000, at a rate of 1% above the prime rate, simple interest, to artists in the Twin Cities area. Loan terms are from 12 to 36 months. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; deadlines are the 1st of the month in January, March, May, July, September, and November. For more information visit: www.springboardforthearts.org/services/ALF.asp

Springboard Emergency Relief Fund
(651) 292-4381
Springboard's Emergency Relief Fund exists to help meet the emergency needs of artists in need of immediate monies to cover an expense due to loss from fire, theft, health emergency, or other catastrophic, career-threatening event. Started by artists, the purpose of the Emergency Relief Fund is to expedite recovery from a specific economic crisis so that the artist applicant may continue their work. Artists may access up to $500.00 to meet or defray unexpected emergency expenses. Payment is made directly to the creditor, not the artist. For more info visit: www.springboardforthearts.org/Services/ERF.asp

Stephen Petty Memorial Fund (GA)
(404)588-9890
The fund is a confidential community resource for all greater Atlanta's performing arts industry workers living with terminal, life-threatening or debilitating illness or injury, and who are in need of supplemental financial assistance to improve quality of life as they deal with medical conditions. For more info visit: www.atlantaperforms.biz/home/acpa-resources/stephen-petty-memorial-fund.html

Washington Women in Need
(425) 451-8838
Community supported non-profit organization that provides education and health care funding for women in need in Washington state. Washington Women In Need provides grants in four program areas: Education at accredited institutions in Washington; Mental Health Counseling with licensed mental health professionals; Health Care Insurance Premiums for current health coverage; Physical/Dental/Vision/Hearing exams and treatment. See web site for details: www.wawomeninneed.org

CRISIS ADVICE AND ADVOCACY

Those seeking immediate, non-financial emergency aid may find the following websites helpful. They have resources for those who are uninsured, need housing assistance, or are without sufficient financial means. Legal, medical, housing, and general living services are all available, in most cases, for free. All organizations should be contacted directly as they are not affiliated with ASJA.

Bureau of Primary Health Care
Information about health centers around the country that offer care regardless of ability to pay or lack of insurance. Centers are catered to the needs of general communities, migrants, the homeless, or public housing. They provide primary care including, but not limited to, laboratory tests, X-rays, immunizations, treatment by obstetricians or gynecologists, and emergency and after-hours care. Patients also have access to support services such as preventive health education, transportation, translation/interpretation, and assistance programs like Woman Infant, Children Services and Food Stamps. In some cases centers provide dental, mental health and substance abuse care. Contacts and addresses for centers and other details are all available through website. www.bphc.hrsa.gov

Legal Aid Society of New York
Organization providing legal aid to the underprivileged in New York City. Civil, criminal and juvenile interests represented. Several offices located throughout the city. See website for details. www.legal-aid.org

American Red Cross
Contact local branch to find out the availability of health/medical, youth, and food pantry and hot lunch programs, senior services, Lifeline emergency response services, transportation to hospitals, school clubs and community learning programs, as well as homeless shelters and transitional housing services among others. Different branches have different programs and services available depending on community needs. See website for details and contact information. www.redcross.org

Salvation Army
Branches across the country and world provide family and youth counseling, daycare, senior citizen centers, Brown Bag Programs, adult rehabilitation programs, youth community and learning programs, resources for families affected by HIV/AIDS, access to low-income housing and emergency financial assistance among other things. Get in touch with your local branch with specific questions and needs. Contact information and other details are available through the website. www.salvationarmy.org

Safe Horizon
Offers assistance to victims of violence living in the New York City area. With six centers around the five boroughs and a twenty-four hour hotline, victims may receive counsel and guidance at all times of the day. See website for more details. www.safehorizon.org

Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau
California based organization provides a number of non-financial services aimed at supporting victims of violent crimes including referrals to assistance programs, referrals to support groups, assistance with compiling impact statements for parole or sentencing hearings, victim/survivor preparation for speaking at parole hearings, accompaniment to court proceedings and parole hearings, and general advocacy and information assistance. See website for more details. www.doristate.com

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts is the leading provider of pro bono legal services, mediation services, educational programs and publications, and advocacy to the arts community in the New York area. Through public advocacy, VLA frequently acts on issues vitally important to the arts community in New York and beyond. See website for complete details. www.vlany.org

HEALTH INSURANCE
Below is a listing of organizations offering health-care access to writers and artists. These resources are not administered directly through PEN, and those interested should contact the organizations directly for specific details.

American Association of Retired People Health Care Options
Offers healthcare packages for AARP members depending on age. Membership is limited to persons over the age of fifty. Costs of plans vary depending on applicant's state of residency. See website for details. www.aarphealthcare.com

American Society of Journalists and Authors
Membership benefits include access to a selection of affordable plans offered by several providers. To be eligible for membership, applicants need to have published at least two non-fiction books or six full-length, by-lined articles on a freelance basis. See website for details. www.asja.org/benefits/health.php

National Association for the Self-Employed
Membership organization that providing access to health insurance for the self-employed. See website for details. www.nase.org/nase_benefits/membership_levels.asp

Writer's Guild of America
Health insurance available for members. To become a member, applicants must meet extensive eligibility requirements found on the website. www.wga.org

Author's Guild
Health insurance through several providers available to members. Eligibility is restricted to published or contracted writers and well established literary agents. There are different levels of membership depending on applicant's credentials. See website for details. www.authorsguild.org

Actor's Fund
Through its Health Insurance Resource Center, this organization has been connecting entertainment workers to healthcare plans since 1998. See website for details. www.actorsfund.org

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Offers eligible members health insurance through TEIGIT. To become a full member, applicants must have at least one children's book published. See website for details. www.scbwi.org

National Writers Association Health insurance available through Med Choice One, LLC.
Dental through AmeriPlan or Direct Dental Plans of America, Inc. Must meet membership requirements and pay yearly dues to qualify. See website for details. www.nationalwriters.com

National Writer's Union
Health, Dental and vision plans available to applicants who have been members of the NWU for over ninety days. Must meet membership requirements. See website for details. www.nwu.org

Freelancer's Union
Health insurance plans available to members living in the New York area. Membership is free and open to the general public. See website for details. www.freelancersunion.org

PEN American Center
Offers affordable health insurance to members through TEIGIT. Authors or translators must have published two books of a literary character to be a member; editors and agents need to have completed five professional years in the literary world. Insurance is not available to the Associate Members. www.pen.org