Free Clothing for All

NOW OPEN The Bethel Community Church Clothes Free For All Center Visit us Tuesdays, 10am - 2pm Choose from a variety of quality new and gently worn clothing for the whole family. Take whatever you like ... Whatever you need ... It's FREE! Bethel Community Church 1601 South 6th Street West -- Just one block west of Russell - Missoula, Montana Phone 721-2780 Website www.bethelbaptistmt.com

Applying online for disability benefits offers several advantages

Why should I apply online? Applying online for disability benefits offers several advantages: You can start your disability claim immediately. There is no need to wait for an appointment; You can apply from the convenience of your own home or on any computer; and You avoid trips to a Social Security office, saving you time and money. Who can use the online application? You can use the online application to apply for benefits if you: are age 18 or older; are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record; have worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to qualify; and have a medical condition that has prevented you from working or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or end in death.

Not only will the "Reaching Home" plan create more affordable housing, it will help people make rent once they find a home.

http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/news/local/10-Year-Plan-to-End-Homelessness-Presented-179500541.html

Missoula Foreclosure Defense

OM Foreclosure Defense group Meets Sundays @ 2pm Upstairs @ the Union Hall 208 E. Main St Missoula http://occupymissoula.wordpress.com/om-working-groups/om-foreclosure-defense-group/

Other Resources - a list from the Missoula Food Bank
Other Resources - a list from the Missoula Food Bank

Every guest at our 3rd Street Store receives a copy of our Community Resource Guide, connecting them to the wealth of resources available in Missoula County. Download a copy here -- http://www.missoulafoodbank.org/images/stories/pdf_documents/Resource_Guide_Updates_3-2010.pdf, and feel free to reproduce and distribute it at will. A plain text version is available at http://www.montana211.org/search.php

This is, by no means, an exhaustive list, and is always growing and changing. If you would like to see your organization included, or any information changed, email our Program Services Assistant and we will be happy to update our list.

There are a few great places to start your search for help:

First Call for Help offers assistance in navigating the resources available in the state. Call 549-5555 or 211 10am-5pm, M-F or visit www.montana211.org
Bridge to Benefits prescreening tools to determine which programs you qualify for. Answer a short questionnaire at www.b2bmt.org

These categories are covered below:

Crisis Hotlines
Emergency Shelter and Public Housing
Food and Nutrition (Food Banks and Soup Kitchens)
Health Care
Job Training, Employment Assistance and Continuing Education
Legal and Civil Rights
Other Services



Crisis Hotlines:

Western Montana Mental Health Center

Emergency 24-hour line 1-800-820-0083 or 532-9710

Suicide/Crisis Hotline

1-800-273-TALK

YWCA 24-Hour Crisis LINE

406-542-1944 or 1-800-483-7858

Missoula Police Department

911(or 24-hour non-emergency line 406-552-6300)

Missoula Sheriff’s Dept

911 (or non-emergency line 406-258-4810)

^^^Back to Top^^^



Emergency Shelter and Public Housing:

Poverello Center

728-1809. 535 Ryman Street. Temporary housing for homeless adults, free clothing and food pantry, laundry and showers. Daily hot meals and sack lunches to go served. Call for hours. www.thepoverellocenter.org

Salcido Center Drop- In Center
308 W. Pine Street. Sun-Friday 7:30am-6:30pm; Sat: 7:30am-5:30pm Drop-in resource center. Internet access, resource library and classes and skills training. www.thepoverellocenter.org/salcido

Salvation Army
549-0710. 339 W. Broadway. Provides short-term emergency financial assistance. Clothing and food pantry.www.salvationarmynw.org

YWCA Shelter
543-6691. Office 1130 W. Broadway. Counseling, skill building, and transitional housing for women and families. www.ywcaofmissoula.org

Missoula Housing Authority
549-4113.1235 34th Street. Public housing, Section 8 rental assistance and related housing services. www.missoulahousing.org

Human Resource Council
728-3710.1801 S. Higgins. Section 8 rental assistance, LIEAP utilities assistance program. www.hrcxi.org


Emergency Food and Nutrition:

For a list of other food banks throughout the region, check below:

Missoula Food Bank
549-0543. 219 S. 3rd W. Food distribution: 10am-1pm Monday-Friday; Evening distribution 5-7pm Monday and Tuesday. Monthly senior commodity delivery program. missoulafoodbank.org


Christian Life Center
542-0353. 3801 Russell. Food distribution: 2nd and 3rd Mondays 4-5pm (except holidays). www.clc-missoula.org


Clark Fork City Church
721-7804. 2811 Latimer Street. Food distribution: Saturdays 10am - Noon. www.cfccmt.org/Ministries/CityFood


Missoula 3:16
549-4673. 506 B Toole Avenue. Continental Breakfast: Monday-Saturday 7-9am; Soup and sandwich lunches Monday-Saturday at Noon. www.missoula316.org


Food Stamps program
SNAP/Office of Public Assistance
A division of the Montana Department of Health and Human Services 329-1200. Application Assistance Hotline: 1-800-332-2272. 2677 Palmer, Suite 100. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP program - formerly known as Food Stamps). SNAP application assistance also offered at Missoula Food Bank during distribution hours. dphhs.mt.gov


Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels
728-7682. Meals for homebound elderly and disabled. www.missoulaagingservices.org


WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
258-4740. 301 W. Alder. Nutrition and supplemental food program for low-income pregnant and nursing women, and children under age 5. www.co.missoula.mt.us


EFNEP (Expanded Food & Nutrition Educ. Program)
258-4207. Nutrition, meal planning and cooking instruction for low-income families.


Garden City Harvest
523-3663. Lease garden plots to grow your own vegetables.www.gardencityharvest.org


Humane Society of Western Montana
549-4796. Pet Food Pantry, call for availability www.myhswm.org


Health Care:

Partnership Health Center
258-4789. 323 W. Alder. Primary care services to those with no or inadequate health coverage. www.co.missoula.mt.us/phc


Healthy Montana Kids Plan
Call 1-877-KidsNow Free or low-cost health coverage for children and teenagers up to age 19. dphhs.mt.gov


Health Department
523-4750. 301 W. Alder. Neighborhood nursing, well-child clinic, WIC, health screening, immunizations. www.co.missoula.mt.us/health


1st Way Pregnancy Support
549-0406. 1515 Fairview, Suite 250. Referral, pregnancy testing, support services for pregnant women. Diapers, maternity clothes. www.1stway.org


Planned Parenthood
728-5490. 219 E. Main. Services include female and male annual exams, pregnancy testing, birth control info/supplies. www.plannedparenthood.org


Missoula Indian Center
829-9515 or 24-hour crisis line 721-2700. Fort Msla. Rd, Bldg. #33. Outpatient health svcs. Provides health, nutrition, diabetes info and chemical dependency counseling. www.missoulaindiancenter.org


Adult Mental Health Services
532-9700. 1335 Wyoming. Case management and day treatment for adults with mental illness. www.wmmhc.org

Turning Point
532-9800. 1325 Wyoming. Alcohol and substance abuse treatment.www.wmmhc.org


Children’s Case Management
532-9770. Mental health services for children. wmmhc.net



Employment and Continuing Education:


Missoula Job Service
728-7060. 539 S. 3rd St. W. Job placement, training, employment counseling and resource center. wsd.dli.mt.gov/local/missoula


Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services
329-5400. 2675 Palmer, Suite A. Provides job training, placement, financial help for disabled workers. dphhs.mt.gov


Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center
542-4015 / 549-8765. 310 S. Curtis. Offers day and evening education classes for adults. thelifelonglearningcenter.com


Literacy Volunteers of America
542-4015. 310 S. Curtis. Offers reading tutoring.


UM Continuing Education
243-2900. www.umt.edu/ce


Legal Aid and Advocacy - Civil and Human Rights:


Montana Legal Services
543-8343 / 543-8344. 304 N. Higgins. Legal help to low-income people regarding landlord-tenant, disability, and other legal issues. For UM Students: 243-6213. www.mtlsa.org


Human Rights Bureau, MT
1-800-542-0807. erd.dli.mt.gov/humanright/hrhome.asp


Montana Fair Housing
542-2611. Investigates allegations of housing discrimination. www.montanafairhousing.org


MontPIRG (MT Public Interest Research Group)
243-2907. Resource for landlord-tenant issues. www.montpirg.org


Senior Help Line/Resource Center
728-7588 or 1-800-551-3191. Info about housing, transportation, health care and legal issues. www.missoulaagingservices.org/helpline


Crime Victim Advocate
258-4630. County attorney’s office. Helps with temporary order of protection, advocacy for crime victims. co.missoula.mt.us/opgweb/Grants/CVA


Child and Elder Abuse Help Line
Call 24-hours 1-800-332-6100 / 406-444-9810.


Other Services:


Child Care Resources
728-6446. 127 E. Main, Suite 314. Child care assistance. www.childcareresources.org
Parenting Place
728-5437. 1644 S. 8th W. Parenting programs and support. www.parentingplace.net


WORD (Women’s Opportunity & Resource Devt.)
543-3550. 2525 Palmer St., Suite #1. Renter education. Teen parent program. School-based Family Resource Cntrs. Homeownership education/assistance (HomeWORD). wordinc.org


Social Security Office
1-800-772-1213. 542-1580. 700 SW Higgins, Suite 5. www.socialsecurity.gov


Veterans’ Center
721-4918. 500 N. Higgins Avenue, Suite 202. Counseling/support for military veterans.


Refugee Assistance Corp.
721-5052. 715 Kensington #16. Support and referral for Hmong and Russian refugees.


Consumer Credit Counseling
543-1188. Debt management counseling. www.cccsmt.org


Summit Independent Living
728-1630. Advocacy for people with disabilities. www.summitilc.org


Community Dispute Resolution Center
543-1157. Mediation services.


Missoula Urban Demonstration Project
721-7513. 629 Phillips St. Promotes sustainable living through education and community projects; tool library. mudproject.ning.com

Family Promise: Missoula churches prepare to host homeless families

Missoula churches prepare to host homeless families
By KIM BRIGGEMAN of the Missoulian


Things are rolling faster for Family Promise of Missoula, and Michael Hoffman was happy on Friday to give them a shove.

Ignoring a broken wrist encased in an Irish green cast, the St. Joseph Elementary eighth-grader helped tote from a corner in the school entryway piles of goods donated by the students of St. Joseph and Loyola Sacred Heart High School.

Boxes of everyday essentials – toiletries, blankets, canned foods and the like – went out the door and into the waiting car of Dean Thompson.

“Things like these are nice treats for families and certainly things that they’re going to need as they move toward independence,” said Thompson, the newly appointed director of the program that has assembled local congregations to provide emergency housing and support, on a rotating basis, to homeless families.

The supplies have been piling up at St. Joe’s and Loyola for a month after Hoffman hit on the idea of gathering them as a service project.

“There was an opening for a scholarship, and I thought it was a great idea to give back to your community,” Hoffman said.

*****

With the encouragement of his mother, Mary, who operates a hair salon in town, Hoffman wrote a letter to Beaches Beauty Supply, successfully soliciting toiletry items.

“I sent out a few emails to all the families that are part of Missoula Catholic Schools, and it’s just been growing since then,” he said. “It didn’t take much work, but I think it was a good outcome.”

In a way, Hoffman’s project is a microcosm of the expansive Family Promise program.

A non-governmental enterprise, Missoula’s is the fourth to be established in Montana, behind Billings, Bozeman and, most recently, Helena. Its starting date has been pushed back month-by-month as organizers gather resources to get to a point they’re almost at.

The target now, handed down this week from the national Family Promise headquarters, is May 13. That’s when Missoula churches will take turns hosting and feeding houseless families in weeklong rotations. By day, the two or three families involved at any one time will be transported to St. Paul Lutheran Church on Brooks Avenue, which has offered its Day Room to the program. From there they’ll leave for school or work, or look for work and housing.

Thompson will take over as director on April 2. He comes to Family Promise with the experience of 10 years as Missoula Food Bank’s community food security liaison and the past nine months as nutrition case manager for Missoula Aging Services’ Wheels on Meals program.

In those roles, and as a case manager at WORD before that, Thompson has worked with the homeless and hungry for years.

“I’ve certainly, unfortunately, witnessed what that means here in Missoula as far as seeing the kids who are affected,” Thompson said. “But there are some great programs here that I think we can work with to link families up with social services to help their kids, to be supported in their efforts to feel part of the community, and to get families back to independence.”

It’s been a long time in the planning – well over two years – but Family Promise of Missoula has a board of directors, a website, enough housing and support congregations to get started, and almost enough money.

“We’ve got two main issues right now, one of them being fundraising,” said Terry Burke, president of the Family Promise board.

The national Family Promise urges local programs to have one-third of their annual budget in hand before they start. That means with a budget of $108,000, Missoula’s needs roughly $35,000.

“We’re at about $25,000 now, but between now and May we’re hoping for a big jump,” said Burke.

The other need is transportation.

“We’re looking for a van of some sort or a commitment from somebody,” Burke said. “We had something lined up but that sort of fell through, so we’re looking very hard for something to transport families between congregations and the day center.”

To help, or to make a tax deductible donation to help purchase beds, supplies and the like, call (406) 351-3318 or mail a check to Family Promise of Missoula, P.O. Box 5882, Missoula, MT 59806.

Many other things are falling into place. With Thompson on board, a three-day training session conducted by Donna Lawson from the national office is set for April 12-14. Lawson will train Thompson and the coordinator and volunteers from the first host site at St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Thompson will then coordinate the training and screening of families. Less than a handful of families will be in the program at any one time and only for a limited time – six months or less.

“Right now we have 10 host churches,” said spokeswoman Sister Mary Jo Quinn. “We should have 12 because each one is set up to host every three months, but there are a couple of churches that have said they’ll do it (twice) if we don’t have 12 the first round.”

Several others have committed as support congregations, to supply food and/or volunteers.

“There are all these wonderful faith organizations in Missoula,” Thompson said. “They have buildings that can house people, they have a set of volunteers who are willing to work with homeless families and to be there to provide connections to the community – perhaps a job, perhaps affordable housing.

“My job with a social work background is to try to help people link up with services that might help to support that.”

The need is certainly there.

“The last statistics we saw had 400 homeless children at least enrolled in Missoula schools,” Quinn said. “We’ll have to find the agencies that will help us find these kids.”

As recently as March 7, a member of Family Promise’s core start-up team received a call from a local agency that had two families with eight children between them and were in critical need of shelter. Other shelters had waiting lists of five weeks or more.

“Sadly we also had to turn them away as we were not yet able to take in families,” Quinn said. “The need is critical for these hidden homeless.”

BenefitsCheckUp: free screening for benefits for those over 55

About BenefitsCheckUp

BenefitsCheckUp is free service of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), a nonprofit service and advocacy organization in Washington, DC.

Many adults over 55 need help paying for prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other basic needs. There are over 2,000 federal, state and private benefits programs available to help. But many people don’t know these programs exist or how they can apply.

BenefitsCheckUp asks a series of questions to help identify benefits that could save you money and cover the costs of everyday expenses.

After answering the questions, you will get a report created just for you that describes the programs you may get help from. You can apply for many of the programs online or you can print an application form.

Here are the types of expenses you may get help with:

Medications
Food
Utilities
Legal
Health care
Housing
In-home services
Taxes
Transportation
Employment Training

About the National Council on Aging

NCOA’s mission is to improve the lives of millions of older adults, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans and the community organizations that serve them.

We bring together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults.

We work with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their communities.

Living on a SNAP budget

Only 65% of Montanans eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are taking advantage of SNAP services. Many people don't want the government intrusion, some are "too proud" and some simply don't understand the program. Here's my latest report on the Montana $NAPshot Challenge - Dennis@KPAX Video - Length: ‎1:35
==

Living on a SNAP budget
02/15/2012 01:47 PM by Dennis Bragg (KPAX News)

MISSOULA- When you can only spend $4 a day on food, and even simple staples like peanut butter or ground beef cost far more than that, planning your meals with nutrition and variety can be a major challenge.

That's what more than 130,000 Montanans are facing every day as they try to make do with a combination of donated food from community pantries and what they can purchase through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Reporter Dennis Bragg is spending this week living entirely on a SNAP budget, and he's finding it takes a lot of inventing in the kitchen to get through a week.

One of the temptations of the SNAP program might be to just rush through the store and buy a bunch of pre-packaged foods. That's not very healthy and it's also not going to stretch your budget very far.

Dennis took some of the produce he bought, an onion, carrots, trusty potatoes and a dwindling package of ground beef to make a hearty stew.

Dennis' little stash of groceries seemed very, very small for a big guy with a pretty fair appetite at the beginning of the week and by the second day, he's already been finding that some of those choices made on Monday can be a real problem later in the week.

For example, Dennis' "gamble" to spend his last dollar on three Cup O' Noodles was about as worthless as feared, providing a lunch that helped for less than an hour. He says he'd have been better off to eat the styrofoam cup.

He'd been warned variety and stretching my supply going in to the challenge.

"The foods that you're used to buying you're probably not going to be able to buy any more. You're going to have to pay attention to if it's a brand name or a store name and notice the difference in price," Montana Food Bank Network Policy Officer Kate Devino explained.

"You're going to have to be comparing a bag of apples to a bag of potato chips unfortunately. And looking at the calories, how many calories in order to get enough food that you're not going to feel hungry and I think it will be a struggle to eat nutritious food," she added.

Dennis aimed for redemption on the second night, using carrots, spuds and hamburger for a stew that not only gave him the most satisfying meal all week, but also one created enough leftovers for later in the week.

However, it also emphasizes the problem for SNAP recipients of finding variety in a limited diet. But that's a problem Dennis will worry about later in the week. He said for now, he's just happy to not be hungry.

Other Resources - a list from the Missoula Food Bank

Other Resources - a list from the Missoula Food Bank

Every guest at our 3rd Street Store receives a copy of our Community Resource Guide, connecting them to the wealth of resources available in Missoula County. Download a copy here -- http://www.missoulafoodbank.org/images/stories/pdf_documents/Resource_Guide_Updates_3-2010.pdf, and feel free to reproduce and distribute it at will. A plain text version is available starting in two paragraphs down, immediately after "There are a few great places to start your search for help."

This is, by no means, an exhaustive list, and is always growing and changing. If you would like to see your organization included, or any information changed, email our Program Services Assistant and we will be happy to update our list.

There are a few great places to start your search for help:

First Call for Help offers assistance in navigating the resources available in the state. Call 549-5555 or 211 10am-5pm, M-F or visit www.montana211.org
Bridge to Benefits prescreening tools to determine which programs you qualify for. Answer a short questionnaire at www.b2bmt.org

These categories are covered below:

Crisis Hotlines
Emergency Shelter and Public Housing
Food and Nutrition (Food Banks and Soup Kitchens)
Health Care
Job Training, Employment Assistance and Continuing Education
Legal and Civil Rights
Other Services



Crisis Hotlines:

Western Montana Mental Health Center
Emergency 24-hour line 1-800-820-0083 or 532-9710

Suicide/Crisis Hotline
1-800-273-TALK

YWCA 24-Hour Crisis LINE
406-542-1944 or 1-800-483-7858

Missoula Police Department
911(or 24-hour non-emergency line 406-552-6300)

Missoula Sheriff’s Dept
911 (or non-emergency line 406-258-4810)


Emergency Shelter and Public Housing:

Poverello Center
728-1809. 535 Ryman Street. Temporary housing for homeless adults, free clothing and food pantry, laundry and showers. Daily hot meals and sack lunches to go served. Call for hours. www.thepoverellocenter.org

Salcido Center Drop- In Center
The Salcido Center which has been operating onsite at the Ryman Street Shelter since August 2010, acts as a drop-in day center for chronically homeless men and women.
Poverello can be contacted at 535 Ryman St. Missoula 59802. Or phone (406)728-1809. Email is poverello@montana.com

Salvation Army
549-0710. 339 W. Broadway. Provides short-term emergency financial assistance. Clothing and food pantry.www.salvationarmynw.org

YWCA Shelter
543-6691. Office 1130 W. Broadway. Counseling, skill building, and transitional housing for women and families. www.ywcaofmissoula.org

Missoula Housing Authority
549-4113.1235 34th Street. Public housing, Section 8 rental assistance and related housing services. www.missoulahousing.org

Human Resource Council
728-3710.1801 S. Higgins. Section 8 rental assistance, LIEAP utilities assistance program. www.hrcxi.org

Emergency Food and Nutrition:

For a list of other food banks throughout the region, check below:

Missoula Food Bank
549-0543. 219 S. 3rd W. Food distribution: 10am-1pm Monday-Friday; Evening distribution 5-7pm Monday and Tuesday. Monthly senior commodity delivery program. missoulafoodbank.org


Christian Life Center
542-0353. 3801 Russell. Food distribution: 2nd and 3rd Mondays 4-5pm (except holidays). www.clc-missoula.org


Clark Fork City Church
721-7804. 2811 Latimor Street. Food distribution: Saturdays 10am - Noon. www.cfccmt.org/Ministries/CityFood


Missoula 3:16
549-4673. 506 B Toole Avenue. Continental Breakfast: Monday-Saturday 7-9am; Soup and sandwich lunches Monday-Saturday at Noon. www.missoula316.org

Food Stamps program
SNAP/Office of Public Assistance
A division of the Montana Department of Health and Human Services 329-1200. Application Assistance Hotline: 1-800-332-2272. 2677 Palmer, Suite 100. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP program - formerly known as Food Stamps). SNAP application assistance also offered at Missoula Food Bank during distribution hours. dphhs.mt.gov


Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels
728-7682. Meals for homebound elderly and disabled. www.missoulaagingservices.org


WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
258-4740. 301 W. Alder. Nutrition and supplemental food program for low-income pregnant and nursing women, and children under age 5. www.co.missoula.mt.us


EFNEP (Expanded Food & Nutrition Educ. Program)
258-4207. Nutrition, meal planning and cooking instruction for low-income families.


Garden City Harvest
523-3663. Lease garden plots to grow your own vegetables.www.gardencityharvest.org
Call to exchange seasonal work for vegetables.


Humane Society of Western Montana
549-4796. Pet Food Pantry, call for availability www.myhswm.org


AniMeals
AniMeals No-Kill Adoption Center and Animal Food Bank
www.animeals.com - 1700 Rankin Street Missoula, MT 59808-1630
(406) 721-4710


Health Care:

Partnership Health Center
258-4789. 323 W. Alder. Primary care services to those with no or inadequate health coverage. www.co.missoula.mt.us/phc


Healthy Montana Kids Plan
Call 1-877-KidsNow Free or low-cost health coverage for children and teenagers up to age 19. dphhs.mt.gov


Health Department
523-4750. 301 W. Alder. Neighborhood nursing, well-child clinic, WIC, health screening, immunizations. www.co.missoula.mt.us/health


1st Way Pregnancy Support
549-0406. 1515 Fairview, Suite 250. Referral, pregnancytesting, support services for pregnant women. Diapers, maternity clothes. www.1stway.org


Planned Parenthood
728-5490. 219 E. Main. Services include female and male annual exams, pregnancy testing, birth control info/supplies. www.plannedparenthood.org


Missoula Indian Center -- UPDATE -- New location of the center is 830 W. Central Ave.
Read more on the new center at: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_5a5a42b0-ba5c-11e0-aa46-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1qHvtZzKn
Phone 829-9515 or 24-hour crisis line 721-2700. < Former location: Fort Missoula Rd, Bldg. #33.>
Outpatient health svcs. Provides health, nutrition, diabetes info and chemical dependency counseling. www.missoulaindiancenter.org


Adult Mental Health Services
532-9700. 1335 Wyoming. Case management and day treatment for adults with mental illness. www.wmmhc.org


Turning Point
532-9800. 1325 Wyoming. Alcohol and substance abuse treatment.www.wmmhc.org


Children’s Case Management
532-9770. Mental health services for children. wmmhc.net



Employment and Continuing Education:

Missoula Job Service
728-7060. 539 S. 3rd St. W. Job placement, training, employment counseling and resource center. wsd.dli.mt.gov/local/missoula


Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services
329-5400. 2675 Palmer, Suite A. Provides job training, placement, financial help for disabled workers. dphhs.mt.gov


Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center
542-4015 / 549-8765. 310 S. Curtis. Offers day and evening education classes for adults. thelifelonglearningcenter.com


Literacy Volunteers of America
542-4015. 310 S. Curtis. Offers reading tutoring.


UM Continuing Education
243-2900. www.umt.edu/ce


Legal Aid and Advocacy - Civil and Human Rights:


Montana Legal Services
543-8343 / 543-8344. 304 N. Higgins. Legal help to low-income people regarding landlord-tenant, disability, and other legal issues. For UM Students: 243-6213. www.mtlsa.org


Human Rights Bureau, MT
1-800-542-0807. erd.dli.mt.gov/humanright/hrhome.asp


Montana Fair Housing
542-2611. Investigates allegations of housing discrimination. www.montanafairhousing.org


MontPIRG (MT Public Interest Research Group)
243-2907. Resource for landlord-tenant issues. www.montpirg.org


Senior Help Line/Resource Center
728-7588 or 1-800-551-3191. Info about housing, transportation, health care and legal issues. www.missoulaagingservices.org/helpline


Crime Victim Advocate
258-4630. County attorney’s office. Helps with temporary order of protection, advocacy for crime victims. co.missoula.mt.us/opgweb/Grants/CVA


Child and Elder Abuse Help Line
Call 24-hours 1-800-332-6100 / 406-444-9810.


Other Services:

Child Care Resources
728-6446. 127 E. Main, Suite 314. Child care assistance. www.childcareresources.org

Parenting Place
728-5437. 1644 S. 8th W. Parenting programs and support. www.parentingplace.net

WORD (Women’s Opportunity & Resource Development)
543-3550. 2525 Palmer St., Suite #1. Renter education. Teen parent program. School-based Family Resource Centers. Homeownership education/assistance (HomeWORD). www.wordinc.org


Social Security Office
1-800-772-1213. 542-1580. 700 SW Higgins, Suite 5. www.socialsecurity.gov


Missoula US Veterans Center(406) 721-4918
500 N Higgins Ave, #202, Missoula, MT 59802 mtvetsvoice.com
Counseling/support for military veterans.


Refugee Assistance Corp.
721-5052. 715 Kensington #16. Support and referral for Hmong and Russian refugees.


Consumer Credit Counseling
543-1188. Debt management counseling. www.cccsmt.org


Summit Independent Living
728-1630. Advocacy and information for people with disabilities. www.summitilc.org


Community Dispute Resolution Center
543-1157. Mediation services.


Missoula Urban Demonstration Project
721-7513. 629 Phillips St. Promotes sustainable living through education and community projects; tool library. mudproject.ning.com

Project pairs Missoula's homeless and house-insecure with services

Project Homeless Connect takes place on Thursday, January 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 300 E. Main St., across from the Missoula Public Library.
At the free event, attendees will have access to medical and dental care, reading glasses, a warm meal, clothing, haircuts, housing assistance, legal advice and more.

Finding help with debt

http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2012/01/13/resolutions-2012-finding-help-with-debt

How to Defend Your Home

Practical starting-points and strong ways to follow through