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KERA's One Crisis Away project focuses on North Texans living on the financial edge.

One Crisis Away: Where To Find Help

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There are a lot of options for people who need financial assistance in North Texas.

There are a lot of non-profit organizations in Texas devoted to financial assistance and low income programs designed to give people a leg up. As KERA continues to explore life on the financial edge through our new series One Crisis Away, we’ll compile a list of places where people can go to find help.

Here are a few resources we’ve mentioned in our coverage so far; we’ll update this page as we get deeper into the series.

Health Insurance Marketplace

Search for health insurance policies under the Affordable Care Act. You can apply for coverage or shop for plans before you decide to apply. If you enroll by Feb. 15, your coverage will begin March 1. Visit the website to learn what your options are.

You Caring

YouCaring is a free fundraising website created for individuals wanting to raise funds for medical expenses, memorials and funerals, education and tuition assistance and adoption fundraising, among other things. Learn how to make a page here.

Shared Housing Center, Inc.

The Shared Housing Center offers housing options and supportive services that foster independence, empowerment, and self-worth. Their Homeshare Program helps to match up people who have more housing than they need with people and/or families in need of a place to live.

AARP

AARP is a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping families and individuals with an emphasis on healthcare, employment security and retirement planning. State-level chapters like AARP Texas focus on the needs specific to people over the age of 50 in each state.

Rockwall County Helping Hands

The Rockwall County Helping Hands assistance and referral program provides residents in financial crisis with assistance for critical needs. Financial help is available for utility bills and housing payments. Staffers also operate a food pantry, thrift store and health clinic. Get connected.

Community Council of Greater Dallas

The Community Council of Greater Dallas was founded in 1940 and is an umbrella organization focused on community service. The Community Council’s research and action plans resulted in the incubation and birth of social services including:· Dallas Family Court, the Dallas Area Agency on Aging, Head Start of Greater Dallas and Community Dental Care, to name a few. For a list of services, click here.

2-1-1

2-1-1 Texas gives you access to the most appropriate sources of help and information. Anywhere in Texas, anyone can call 2-1-1 for free information and referrals to health and human service agencies, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, disaster relief resources, and volunteer opportunities. Click here for frequently asked questions about 2-1-1.

Community Enrichment Center

This Tarrant County faith-based nonprofit offers help for seniors, families, and jobseekers. You can find out more about the org's trove of programs - everything from literacy classes to a food pantry- at the CEC's web site

Courtney Collins has been working as a broadcast journalist since graduating from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 2004. Before coming to KERA in 2011, Courtney worked as a reporter for NPR member station WAMU in Washington D.C. While there she covered daily news and reported for the station’s weekly news magazine, Metro Connection.