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. For additional information on grants for writers, go to www.fundsforwriters.com.

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.

Actor's Fund Financial Assistance Programs

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 website 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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

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)