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If you need HELP...

The purpose of MAM’s Emergency Assistance is to provide temporary basic needs support to families and individuals with needs who find they have no other place to turn or are unaware of alternatives. The primary objective is to prevent homelessness. Trained volunteers evaluate a client’s needs and authorize services within MAM’s financial capability and/or recommend other charitable agencies. The emphasis is on helping with the immediate problem, leading to self-sufficiency and long-term improvement in the client’s life. Our goal is to assist Houston families so they can be stable and healthy, with the means to meet their basic needs and improve their economic security.

MAM programming is divided into three areas (see chart below). If you are looking for help, click on the appropriate link for more information. For a schedule of all our services, please visit the Client Services Calendar.

FAMILY & EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS*

  

SELF-SUFFICIENCY
PROGRAMS & CLASSES

  

PROGRAMS FOR
CHILDREN IN SCHOOL

Family & Emergency Assistance business hours: Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Appointments and information:
713-574-7533
Spanish: 713-574-7536

Click here for more info and a list of items to bring with you.

Services include:

  • RENT & UTILITY ASSISTANCE*
    Helps to pay rent and essential utilities for families in danger of eviction or utility cut-off.

Clients seeking assistance with rent, or a water or gas bill, need an appointment to be seen. Call 713-574-7533 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Tuesday or Thursday to set up an appointment. Assistance is not available for electricity.

  • MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
    Addresses urgent physical illness, mental illness, access to health care for uninsured patients, and preventive health. MAM pays for clinic visits and prescription medication for uninsured patients with immediate physical illness and no ability to pay. MAM also provides health screenings and immunizations throughout the year through collaboration with partner agencies. The goal is to prevent workplace absenteeism resulting in lost wages and school absenses due to illness.

  • CLOTHING
    Vouchers to MAM Resale Store for up to $25 worth of adult clothing and $15 worth of children’s clothing. Also new work-related clothing and footwear (scrubs, steel-toed boots, nursing shoes, etc) may be purchased through local participating retailers

  • FOOD
    Those who are hungry receive lunch bags and referrals to partner neighborhood food pantries who agree to help MAM clients. MAM staff provides food stamp (SNAP) application assistance

  • TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE
    Provides gasoline vouchers or Metro-money to facilitate travel to work, job interviews or medical appointments. MAM also partners in “Cycle2Success” which makes bicycles available to those who need regular transportation to work.

MAM can also offer a variety of in-kind donations that can help to stretch a family budget such as toiletries, household cleaning products, disposable diapers, etc.

 

  • English as a Second Language (ESL) courses empower non-native speakers to go to work and participate in their children’s education. In 2010, MAM added evening classes and increased the number of instuctional levels to six, from Foundations for Beginners to Advanced Conversation. Classes are offered on site and at two churches in the MAM service area. (click here for more information)

  • Free GED classes are offered three sessions a year, fall, spring and summer, and meet three mornings a week. Gaining a high school diploma allows clients to improve their employability and take steps toward financial stability.

  • Free Citizenship Classes teach students how to properly navigate the naturalization process. Registration for this spring's classes will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2013.
  • Employment Services program - assists clients in overcoming obstacles to obtaining and keeping meaningful jobs. We stand willing to assist anyone who can demonstrate legal work status in the US. We teach basic computer literacy, provide one-on-one coaching on job-finding and job-maintenance skills, and  offer a higher level multi-week Certification Program to those who meet certain guidelines. (click here for more information)

  • Case management - Eligible clients are assigned individual case managers who focus on preventing homelessness through an intensive intervention program and development of a comprehensive self-sufficiency plan.

  • Partners in Programming & Special Services - MAM offers special services and programs when earmarked funds are available from donations or grants. MAM hosts 15+ partner organizations on site to provide needed services as they are needed during the year. For more information contact Allison Gil by email at agil@maministries.org or by phone at 713-574-7536.
    Services Include:
    • Legal Assistance
    • Counseling
    • Help applying for CHIP & Medicaid
    • Help applying for SNAP (Food Stamps)
    • Immunizations
    • Health & Vision Screenings
    • Tax Preparation

Click here for more info and a schedule of current services.

 

  

  • The Back to School program provides school-appropriate clothing and school supplies for low income students identified by Spring Branch, Cy-Fair and Aldine Independent School District counselors

  • MAM’s I Can See program provides eye exams and eyeglasses to students referred by Spring Branch ISD and Aldine ISD.

  • Christmas Share is an opportunity to help MAM client families celebrate the holidays with toys for children and other gifts. In 2012, this program provided toys and blankets for 637 children.

Click to view larger image*Emergency assistance from MAM is limited to those who live in our zip code area (77008, 77009, 77018, 77022, 77024, 77037, 77039, 77040, 77041, 77043, 77055, 77076, 77079, 77080, 77088, 77091, 77092). Self-Sufficiency Programs & Classes are available to those needing help, regardless of address.

Clients can prove their residency with a bill no older than 30 days or a piece of mail postmarked within the last 30 days with the client’s name and address.

If you do not live in this area and are in need of help, please click here to view a list of assistance organizations.