IMPORTANT RESOURCES
In addition to COPE Ministries modest offerings which we hope to improve upon with your support, we suggest those facing economic challenges or who may be temporarily financially disabled to consider or contact the following depending on need: [Special Note: Many who need assistance are illiterate (51% of homeless population) and/or do not have computer access. This is why COPE Ministries plans to offer tutoring on reading, language arts, and comprehension. We also hope to provide a small computer lab and will assist those in need with making sure all needs are reasonably met. As we develop and expand church services, we appreciate your patience and support. In addition, many job providers will not hire the homeless because they believe the risk outweighs the benefit and/or have concerns about stability. So, often they suggest the homeless get housing first and then apply for work. The housing situation denies for the same reason in not offering housing without having a job or stable income. So, no stable income then usually no housing and then with no housing finding stable income is a challenge. Some employers won't hire you if you don't have your own car even if you have housing. So, that's why COPE Ministries and others like us need the support so we can address the need.]
AFFORDABLE HOUSING/RENT ASSISTANCE:
https://www.hud.gov/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8
IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY SHELTER:
https://www.marysplaceseattle.org/
LOW COST AND/OR FREE MEDICAL CARE:
https://www.freeclinics.com/
https://www.nafcclinics.org/find-clinic (more options than first link, may want to check both)
FREE DENTAL CARE:
https://www.ugm.org/what-we-do/stabilization/dental-services/
GET YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT:
(Note: If you did not earn your high school diploma in WA State before reaching age 19, you will have to prepare for the exam and/or pay ($120) to take the exam or pay more to attend an accredited school or college to now earn (or prepare you for the test) that which will help with employment. Some resources for doing so are below:)
https://intl.seattlecentral.edu/high-school-completion-plus.php
https://www.shoreline.edu/testingcenter/ged.aspx
FREE ONLINE LIBRARY PROVIDED BY THE SMITHSONIAN:
https://archive.org/
FREE AND/OR LOW COST HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDED BY MIT,
HARVARD, AND MORE:
https://www.edx.org/
CHILD CARE FINANCIAL AID:
https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/get-help-paying-for-child-care
CLASSROOM/SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
http://www.donorschoose.org
FREE AND/OR LOW COST BASIC EDUCATION RESOURCE:
https://pigly.com/calculators/for-kids/
APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI):
https://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/
RESOURCES TO APPLY FOR JOBS ONLINE:
https://www.usajobs.gov/ and
http://www.indeed.com and
http://www.monster.com
FREE CLOTHES, CARS, AND EVEN MORE IN WASHINGTON STATE +
NATIONAL RESOURCES:
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/get_free_stuff.html
FREE FOOD OR FINANCIAL AID FOR FOOD:
https://www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-food and/or
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility
WELFARE:
https://www.usa.gov/benefits
MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS:
Toys for Tots is awesome! Why? "Toys for Tots is a Top-Rated Charity Over 97% of your donation goes directly to our mission of providing toys, books, and other gifts to less fortunate children. The 3% spent on support principally covers fundraising expenses — not one donated dollar goes to salaries or any other manpower costs." Source: www.toysfortots.org
Free Educational Sites for Individuals and Educators
https://www.calculators.org/games/
Jobs
Nationwide: https://www.usa.gov/find-a-job
Washington State: https://www.careers.wa.gov/
PETA may suggest people just give up and choose death because desperate, seemingly hopeless, and immediate suffering is too much to expect of nonhuman animals, let alone humans, who would be better off having never existed according to PETA and euthanized if sheltered by PETA 81% of the time. But, COPE Ministries does not support death camps for people and finds death camps that claim to save the lives of animals abhorrent. So, that means those vulnerable to abuse and exploitation as a result of current conditions need help. And, we're happy to assist while understanding sometimes a helping hand is a devil in disguise which results in victims of such being reluctant to again seek assistance though truly in need of compassion and support. So, COPE Ministries seeks to help address that by being honest, transparent, open to public criticism as well as compliment, and realistic regarding the actual nature of the issues and variables involved in actually alleviating suffering to improve everyone's quality of life without euthanizing those who manage to retain the will to live even when facing extreme adversity.
Also, if you found any of this page offensive, then you are elitist. I guarantee if you were homeless and literate that you'd have met a number of people who are illiterate and/or do not have internet access. Regardless, COPE Ministries is committed to helping people learn how to read who can't or haven't learned yet as well as assisting those without internet access with getting their needs met by providing some internet access and resources like those above. If you were homeless and were looking for resources to get your needs met, you'd find this page very helpful and possibly even funny. The naked truth can tickle the funny bone. And, in context with the deprogramming guides can help everyone develop #TaoFu skills to combat temptations to vice by exercising honest reason and virtue. If the world were one giant potluck party you might show up late and find the dish you were interested in has already been served and look for something similar without trying out what's actually available. But, it wouldn't be the world's fault or any of the other attendees that there was a limited availability of what you wanted and it was gone before you arrived. And, if you are lucky, I, Rev. Minister Angela Smith, knew you were coming and saved some for you. Does that help put it into perspective? And, how many read this far and thought "This is stupid. I know this. I just need Universal Basic Income or to not be kept in a desperate hellscape where my only choice is to volunteer to be exploited or impliedly so volunteer by committing a crime so I can get my basic needs met where I can't otherwise find gainful employment. Have you tried to survive without being exploited by a bunch of assholes who exploited your ancestors and then continued to do so through debt peonage systems and now say shit like this page is the solution? Right, well, if you have then you understand why this is bullshit and difficult to accept because I have the right to be angry and really don't give a shit if anger and wrath make me less appealing to potential exploiters which is how I see everyone who experiences more economic freedom than I experience, particularly where they are idiotic and only afffluent as a result of some form of nepotism. I find it outrageous and do not recognize that Leopold and Loeb deserve the finer things while people as honest and virtuous as myself are left to choose between available exploitative "modern masters" where we can actually find work in areas we live where we can't afford to relocate as a result of our situation. So, while this guide is helpful, it is also not making me feel better about reality and I don't care because I don't need to impress anyone."? To this I simply say, I understand your anger and temptation to wrath, but, would prefer you see that as the devil setting you up to fail and if you resort to criminal misconduct out of anger and are tempted to wrath, you've given in to the "dark side" and are negative #TaoFu. So, being patient and diligent can be really difficult, but, mindfully practicing both will help keep you safe and free. But, if you demand instant gratification resorting to criminal misconduct, you assume the risk of losing safety and freedom and as a liberation theologist, I can't support that. You dig?
COPE Ministries will add to this list and you can e-mail rev@cope.church to suggest additional resources. This page was in part inspired by honorary proselytizer Lee Camp. Return to homepage.