Car title loans are short-term loans that require borrowers to pledge their vehicles as collateral for payment, usually at high-interest rates and with stringent repayment requirements.
Various charities assist families in paying off title loans, breaking free of debt cycles, and improving credit ratings.
2. United Way
If you want to help the less fortunate in your community, the United Way can be a practical starting point. They offer various programs and services for those in need, such as financial stability partnerships and free credit counseling services. Furthermore, this organization works to increase financial literacy among its constituents as well as encourage individuals to save money for their futures by encouraging individuals to save up and invest wisely.
Some other benefits provided by this organization include offering free income tax help services for families, a food bank, and job training services. They may also assist with housing and utility costs as well as offer professional work attire accessible for interviews.
The organization specializes in mental health as well, offering various programs designed to aid recovery – such as suicide prevention training for teens and other adults, as well as presentations about depression and stress management for local students.
Whoever wishes to donate can do so online or by phone, accepting money, supplies, and surplus goods as donations. They also offer volunteer opportunities.
Although an international organization, United Way maintains its local presence to bring change to communities worldwide. They aim to bring people from diverse backgrounds together to address problems that affect all. Local branches can assist with paying mortgage, utilities, and insurance premiums, offering education resources, free Head Start classes for children, or even offering transportation costs to help people go to work on time. Unlike some charities that charge fees to access their services – fundraising expenses at United Way total less than 2% of funds donated!
3. Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a worldwide charitable organization offering both spiritual and practical aid, with headquarters located in London, England. Operating with a military-like structure allows it to work globally and locally, with approximately 1.7 million worldwide members, including soldiers, officers, and adherents (known as “Salvationists”). It was founded to bring salvation to the poor by meeting their physical and spiritual needs; today, its presence can be found in over 130 countries through charity shops and shelters for homeless individuals, as well as providing disaster relief and humanitarian aid services.
The Salvation Army also works tirelessly to promote systemic change by advocating against poverty, inequality, and injustice. They use lobbying, research, and collaboration with other organizations to foster an equitable society, while their social work consists of three areas: social reform, meeting emergency needs of the poor and needy, and caring for sick and elderly adults.
Salvation Army campaigns and programs like its Red Kettle campaign and Angel Tree program provide resources that allow families in need to celebrate the holidays, as well as rent/housing assistance to prevent evictions among low-income households. Furthermore, it refers families to local non-profits or government programs such as Section 8 Housing Vouchers for further help.
The Salvation Army is an iconic international nonprofit known for its Christian values while remaining relevant to contemporary culture and religious attitudes. In 2001, The Western Territory of The Salvation Army began providing domestic partnership benefits to employees involved in same-sex relationships, sparking fierce criticism from evangelical Christians such as James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Subsequently, however, this decision was reversed. Many are familiar with its iconic red kettles.
4. Salvation Army of Kansas City
The Salvation Army of Kansas City was established in 1889 as both a church and non-profit organization that provides social services to those in need. While best known for their Christmas bell ringing and thrift store services, their centers offer financial aid along with free food, school supplies, and more – it truly serves the greater Kansas City area! An international movement dedicated to Christianity that preaches Jesus Christ while meeting human needs without discrimination or bias.
The Kansas and Western Missouri Salvation Army offers many services for low-income families in crisis. Their Pathway of Hope program, for instance, helps families break the cycle of generational poverty as it provides temporary housing and emergency food supplies as needed. Furthermore, long-term intensive case management for repeat emergency assistance applicants is also provided.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, run by The Salvation Army of Kansas and Western Missouri, helps veterans and their families locate, secure, and maintain permanent, stable housing. In addition, emergency aid and disaster relief are provided whenever a need exists in Kansas or western Missouri.
Other programs may also be provided depending on what is available, including back-to-school supplies for children, vouchers for motel/hotel rooms, clothing and shoe donations to charity shops for Christmas holiday assistance, and funds to cover heating/utility bills. Specialized aid may also be given to the homeless, victims of domestic violence, and those affected by natural disasters – typically through partnerships between organizations and communities.
5. American Red Cross
American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides selfless assistance to those in need. Historically, they’ve assisted families after disasters like house fires as well as hosting blood drives and other charitable events throughout the US and receive most of their funding from donors directly; their headquarters can be found in Washington, DC, where Clara Barton founded them back in 1881 as the US movement to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Red Cross offers financial assistance to individuals unable to meet immediate needs such as funeral costs, transportation costs, or shelter. Money may come in grants or loans, and Red Cross staff will determine what assistance is necessary based on an individual’s circumstances and their family’s. Furthermore, Red Cross staff supports military service members and their families and conducts health and safety training for adults, such as CPR/first aid classes.
Red Cross officials and documents indicate that, although their organization provides standardized services to respond to emergencies and disasters, decisions regarding individual cases depend on local needs as determined by donations received in response to particular disasters.
GAO conducted an in-depth review of Red Cross disaster relief practices in three categories – response, recovery, and preparation – to understand its role better and prepare for future catastrophes. They studied relevant policies and statutes; interviewed Red Cross officials and FEMA personnel; analyzed disaster relief expenditure data as well as the quality of services delivered; interviewed representatives of federal agencies with oversight roles over the Red Cross, as well as six state attorney general offices, selected as examples of different approaches toward charity oversight; interviewed nonprofit watchdog groups as well.
