The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) offers a wide variety of resources and human services supports, including food assistance, housing, legal services, translation, tax assistance, social security assistance, immigration and citizenship support, and more.
The Allyson Whitney Foundation primarily provides young adult cancer patients (ages 16-36) diagnosed with a rare cancer with ‘Life Interrupted Grants™ to ease their financial burden. The grants cover a range of needs, including: current and residual medical bills, rent, utilities, car and health insurance premiums, IVF start up treatments (egg retrieval and sperm banking), integrative therapies, travel expenses, and medical hair pieces.
To be eligible, applications need to be requested by an oncology social worker, doctor’s office, or patient navigator. All applications will be verified by an AWF representative & grant committee for time of treatment and rarity (Note: most young adult cancers are considered rare). Funding is limited and only one applicant from a facility can be granted an award in one grant round year. Awardees must be prepared to submit new bills to show financial need when requested. Grants will be paid either directly to the patient or their family or directly for rent or medical bills.
The B+ Foundation Family Assistance Program provides funds to qualified families to help with expenses attributable to a child’s cancer diagnosis. Common expenses include prescription medications not covered by insurance, travel costs for treatments, mortgage or rent payments.
To be eligible, families must have a child diagnosed with cancer before the age of 21 who is receiving treatment at a hospital in the United States and need assistance with expenses directly related to the child’s cancer diagnosis. Applications must be completed with the assistance of a social worker. The Family Assistance Program pays creditors directly.
The Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan offers comprehensive resources and services for people affected by blood cancer. Programs provide educational resources, professionally facilitated emotional support, financial assistance for medical and non-medical expenses, social support, and a holiday toys program for pediatric patients and children of adult patients.
Michigan residents who have been diagnosed with a blood cancer or blood related disorder are eligible for BCFM services. There are no income or age requirements to enroll.
The Sprout Love Financial Assistance Fund is an initiative of the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor that aims to support the financial needs of people impacted by cancer. Assistance is provided for basic financial needs, including mortgage/rent, utilities, car payments, auto insurance, and groceries.
Applicants can request financial assistance up to $2,000 per year, per houshold. Eligible applicants must be in active cancer treatment, reside in the Cancer Support Community service area, and have a household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Application materials can be found online and emailed to sproutlove@cancersupportannarbor.org.
The Housing Resource Center (HRC) is a one stop shop to help people with their housing needs. Trained housing specialists are available to identify programs and resources to address housing needs, such as community resources that provide housing assistance, affordable housing options, and information on subsidized housing and other long-term housing options.
The HRC serves residents of Oakland County but can direct residents of other Michigan counties to resources in their area. Housing Assessment and Resource Agency contacts for communities across Michigan are available.
The Detroit Area Agency on Aging is a nonprofit agency that serves older persons, adults with disabilities, and caregivers living in Detroit, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Highland Park, and Grosse Point. DAAA provides information and resources related to Meals on Wheels, caregiving assistance, housing resources, transportation resources, support groups for family caregivers, utility payment assistance resources, and guidance in finding additional resources for seniors and people living with disabilities.
Initial calls typically last 15-20 minutes. Callers may be asked to provide information related to demographics, income, assets, and the level of care needed in order to determine what resources they may qualify for.
Home Repair Services provides critical repairs, inspections, accessibility modification, education, and financial counseling for homeowners in Kent County, Michigan.
Home maintenance check-ups, housing counseling and education, and home maintenance workshops are available for all Kent County homeowners. Home repairs and accessibility modifications are available for residents with low- to moderate incomes. Accessiblity modifications are offered for residents with limited mobility.
Jill’s Wish provides grants of up to $1500 to cover non-medical living expenses for patients with newly-diagnosed or terminal breast cancer. Grant funds can be used to cover costs related to housing, utilities, and car payments.
To be eligible for a Jill’s Wish grant, applicants must be at least 18 years old; live in Michigan, Louisville, KY, Southern IN, Central Kentucky, or Cincinnati, OH; have received a breast cancer diagnosis within the previous 12 months or been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Local Financial Assistance (LFA) program provides $500 to cover the costs of non-medical expenses (e.g., transportation, housing, utilities) for blood cancer patients and their caregivers.
To be eligible for the Local Financial Assistance Program, applicants must: be a United States citizen or permanent resident and live in the U.S. or a U.S. territory; have a household income below 600% of the Federal Poverty Level, accounting for the Cost of Living Index; have a blood cancer diagnosis confirmed by a doctor, and; be in active treatment, scheduled to begin treatment, or be actively monitored by their doctor. Caregivers may also be eligible for funding. NOTE: The availability of support through the Local Financial Assistance Program is subject to funding availability.
The LLS Patient Aid Program provides financial assistance to blood cancer patients in the form of a one-time $100 stipend to offset non-medical expenses such as transportation, food, housing utilities, etc.
To be eligible for the Patient Aid Program, applicants must: live in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, have a confirmed diagnosis of blood cancer and be in active treatment, scheduled to begin treatment, or in follow-up care; not have received a Patient Aid Program award in the past. There are no income criteria for the Patient Aid Program. The patient’s Social Security number or other verification of identity, blood cancer diagnosis, and physician name and location are required to complete the application.
The LLS Urgent Need Program provides eligible patients with assistance for non-medical expenses, including rent, mortgage, lodging, utilities, child care, elder care, food, transportation, car repair, car insurance, phone service, and acute dental work related to treatment. Eligible patients can receive a grant of $500 once in a 12-month period. At the end of the 12-month period, healthcare professionals can reapply on behalf of patients.
To be eligible, applicants to the Urgent Need Program must have a household income below 600% of the Federal Poverty Level, adjusted for the Cost of Living Index; be a US citizen or permanent resident; have a blood cancer diagnosis; demonstrate acute financial need. Program availability is subject to the availability of funds to support the program.
Meredith’s Miracles is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to young adults with colon cancer. Financial assistance may help survivors pay for daily living expenses, including rent or mortgage, utilities, phone or car payments, and car insurance.
Interested individuals must be currently receiving treatment for colorectal cancer, have a demonstrated financial need, and be an adult aged 40 or under. Applications can be completed online at the Meredith’s Miracles website.
The State Emergency Relief (SER) Program provides immediate help to Michigan residents facing acute financial hardship or financial emergencies that threaten health and safety. Through a combination of direct financial assistance and contracts with a network of nonprofit organizations, SER helps low-income households meet emergency needs including heat and utilities, home repairs, relocation assistance, home ownership services, and burial services.
Michigan residents can apply for State Emergency Relief through MI Bridges.
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) operates a centralized Housing Assessment and Resource Agency (HARA) in every community. Each HARA Has a Housing Resource Specialist who works with individual to determine housing need and eligibility and then connect them to services as appropriate.
Additional information about Michigan’s Campaign to End Homelessness is available on their website.
Formerly SAGE Metro Detroit, MiGen provides a supportive community and a variety of services for LGBTQ+ folks ages 45+. MiGen programs include support groups, behavioral health referrals, community navigation services, food delivery, and affirming housing assistance.
Interested individuals can fill out a client application form and see upcoming events.
Mission4Maureen provides financial assistance for everyday living expenses to families who are burdened by the cost of brain cancer treatment.
Financial assistance is subject to available funds. Please visit mission4maureen.org for more information.
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) provides financial assistance for non-medical costs related to ovarian cancer treatment and clinical trial participation. Financial assistance may be used towards non-medical expenses, including transportation, rent/housing/lodging, food/groceries, utilities, childcare, and home cleaning services.
Eligible individuals must have a diagnosis of ovarian cancer and currently be in active treatment or maintenance therapy, live in the United States or US territories, and have an income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.
The New Day Foundation provides financial support for everyday living expenses for families facing cancer. Financial assistance can be applied to costs related to housing, food, utilities, transportation, and other expenses.
To qualify, applicants must: have a household consisting of a parent and at least one dependent, have an immediate family member in active treatment for cancer, live in Michigan, and demonstrate financial hardship and identify specific expenses for which they need assistance. New Day Foundation financial assistance applications must be submitted by a social worker or financial navigator at a hospital or cancer center. If you do not know your social worker, or your social worker is not familiar with New Day, please call for guidance.
Project Purple provides financial aid to patients in treatment for pancreatic cancer, assisting with both medical and everyday living expenses such as rent or mortgage assistance, utilities, and medical bills.
To apply for financial aid, a patient must live in the United States and be in current treatment for pancreatic cancer, experiencing post-treatment complications, or in remission and facing consistent medical care for status maintenance. Applications must be accompanied by a letter from an oncologist summarizing the pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment status as well as patient information including a photo ID, tax returns, and copies of current bills that the applicant is requesting help with. All payments are made to the lenders directly (not to the patient).
The Ruth Ellis Center is a nonprofit organization that provides trauma-informed services for LGBTQ+ youth. The Ruth Ellis Center offers a variety of support programs, including permanent supportive housing and safety-net programs, primary and behavioral healthcare, HIV prevention, and family support programs.
Young people aged 13-30 are eligible to participate in Ruth Ellis Center programs. Interested individuals can visit the Drop-In Center on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00-8:00 pm or Thursdays 11:00 am-2:00 pm, or can contact the Ruth Ellis Center by phone or email.
Shades of Pink Foundation is committed to easing the financial burden of a breast cancer diagnosis for patients in the Detroit metropolitan area. Breast cancer patients can apply for assistance with costs related to mortgage/rent payments; current property taxes; utilities; car payments, repairs, and insurance; health insurance premiums (including COBRA), and childcare costs.
To qualify for assistance, you must reside in Southeast Michigan (Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties), be in active treatment, and submit an application through your health care provider (social worker, patient advocate, oncologist, nurse, etc.).
Sisters Network is a national organization dedicated to supporting African American breast cancer survivors. The Karen E. Jackson Breast Cancer Assistance Program provides up to $350 in financial assistance to breast cancer survivors in active treatment to help pay for housing and utilities as well as mammogram/ultrasound support for uninsured women.
Applicants must currently be in active treatment to be eligible for financial assistance. Applications are open two times per year (Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter) and may be downloaded from the Sisters Network website.
The Susan G. Komen Financial Assistance Program offers $400 grants for breast cancer patients to support daily living expenses, including rent, utilities, food, transportation, childcare, or medical needs.
Applicants must be currently in treatment for breast cancer or living with metastatic breast cancer, live in the United States, and have an income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Individuals can apply once every 12 months using the MyKomen patient portal.
The Blue Fund provides short-term financial assistance to newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients in Michigan. Eligible patients can receive up to $1,000 a month for 1-3 months to help pay for utilities, mortage or rent, car payments and insurance, health insurance premiums, and prescription copays.
Eligible applicants must be Michigan residents within the first year of their original prostate cancer diagnosis and undergoing initial treatment. The Blue Fund considers the financial needs of applicants on a case-by-base basis. Applications are due by the 17th of each month.
The Pink Fund provides up to $3000 in financial assistance to breast cancer patients in active treatment. Funds are used for direct bill payments (e.g., utility bills, mortgage or rent, car or car insurance, health insurance premiums).
Assistance is available to applicants who are in active treatment for a breast cancer diagnosis and who have incomes at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Additionally, patients or their spouse/partner must have been working at the time of diagnosis and be able to show a loss of income due to breast cancer diagnosis or treatment (e.g., reduced hours, leave of absence, etc.).
Wayne Metro supports low- and moderate-income residents throughout Wayne County, providing programs related to quality housing, food supports, utility assistance, tax preparation, financial education, and more.
Wayne Metro offers a Universal Application to identify services that clients qualify for, in addition to individual program applications.