United Way creates financial help guide

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 | 4:44 p.m.

For more information dial 211 or see www.uwsn.org.

Agencies like the United Way of Southern Nevada are witnessing a spike in those requesting financial assistance this year.

To meet the need, the nonprofit group and the United Labor Agency of Nevada have assembled a comprehensive guide to services — "Help for Tough Times." It includes instructions and information on how to obtain unemployment benefits, health care, legal aid, food and shelter.

"We wanted to be proactive," Dan Goulet, United Way of Southern Nevada's chief executive, Dan Goulet said. "We can reach out to people before they get too behind in payments or debt. We don't want them to wait three or four months when everything is so far over their head that they can't get out."

"We put it together this year because of the downturn in the economy," United Way of Southern Nevada CEO Dan Goulet said. "What we have realized in talking to service providers in the community, is they're seeing a tremendous increase in demand for help."

Many of those seeking help for the first time them are grappling with unemployment and difficult home financing. They often do not know where to find aid, Goulet said.

"We tried to make it simple for them," he said. "Where do I turn for food or go take my kid for a hot meal?"

The guide, available in English and Spanish, has already been distributed to 2,000 people. United Way also hosted a recent resource information session which drew another 2,000 people. Goulet said many agencies have already seen a 100 percent increase in demand.

"We wanted to be proactive," he said. "We can reach out to people before they get too behind in payments or debt. We don't want them to wait three or four months when everything is so far over their head that they can't get out."

United Way started putting the book together roughly a month ago, working with the 211 information referral line. Officials scoured the logs to find the types of information people were searching for.

The guide also features a description of what each agency does and has worksheets to supply the information each agency requires. This can eliminate later hassles, Goulet said.

"People wait in line two hours to find out they don't have the paperwork they need," he said.

Help is additionally available by dialing 211, where operators can assist people.