Practical Solutions: housing, financial aid, legal assistance

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

The Gathering Place is glad to offer our participants one free legal consultation for concerns that come up related to your cancer diagnosis. These may include writing a living will, estate planning, or power of attorney. Contact Eileen Coan to set this up.

Legal Aid is a national organization that can be of great help as well. Their local affiliate in Cleveland, 1223 West Sixth St., Cleveland, OH 44113, 216-687-1900, http://lasclev.org/

National Legal Organizations

• Cancer Legal Resource Center , 866‑843‑2572, cancerlegalresourcecenter.org
• LawHelp.org, lawhelp.org
• National Cancer Legal Services Network, nclsn.org
• National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership, medical-legalpartnership.org
• Patient Advocate Foundation, 800‑532‑5274, patientadvocate.org

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

There are not nearly the financial resources available to match the needs in our area, which is an ongoing frustration for those needing help and for those trying to find help. We are lucky to have some resources in our area:

Cleaning For a Reason , 877-337-3348, www.cleaningforareason.org

HEAP: Home Energy Assistance - heating, gas, electric, utilities, 800-282-0880

The Ohio Benefit Bank: makes it simpler to complete applications for programs like food assistance, child care assistance, health coverage, and much more online. http://ohiobenefits.org/about.html

Chemotherapy : All pharmaceutical companies have some form of compassionate care, where you can apply to receive their drug at reduced or no cost. You apply for each drug to the manufacturer and you apply every year. Here is a link to a list of all the contact information for the major oncology drug companies:

All Cancers

Christians Overcoming Cancer, PO Box 307133, Gahanna, OH, 43230, 614-985-3750, http://christiansovercomingcancer.com/

Breast Cancer Financial Aid

Cancer Cares (Avon), 800-813-4673, Financial assistance for women

JD Breast Cancer Foundation, 216-791-9447, www.jdbcfoundation.org/

Karen P Nakon , 440-933-7621, www.nakonfoundation.com

United Breast Cancer Foundation, individual grants, Click here for application

WooWho Annual Grants, 440-376-7458, www.woowhofoundation.com

The Pink Fund, 877-234-7465, www.thepinkfund.org

Other Cancers

Blue Note Fund for Colon Cancer, 877-422-2030, www.ccalliance.org

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, (216) 264-5680, http://www.lls.org/northern-ohio

Mission4Maureen, 440-840-6497, Brain tumors, http://mission4maureen.org/

Oral Cancer Foundation, 949-723-4400, http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/

Young Adults

Rise Above It, Young Adults, PO BOX 40054, Bay Village, 44014, www.raibenefit.org

Young Adult Cancer Survivors, 89 South Street, Suite LL02,Boston, MA 02111,617-938-3484, http://www.thesamfund.org/

First Descents: life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults (age 18-39) impacted by cancer, 303.945.2490, http://firstdescents.org/

College Scholarships

There is a national organization called Affordable Colleges Online, that has created a link specific to college students who have cancer or are survivors of childhood cancer. Click Here for their links.

The Audrey B. Mastroianni College Scholarship, through the United Breast Cancer, to help students who have suffered a loss of a parent or guardian due to breast cancer click here for application

Jeremy Cares: college scholarships for survivors of childhood cancer and their siblings www.jeremycares.org  440 933 9146, PO Box 84, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012

MaryEllen Locher Foundation (United States, Breast Cancer)
The MaryEllen Locher Foundation scholarships (formerly Children of Breast Cancer Scholarships) are awarded to students who lost a parent to breast cancer and to children of breast cancer survivors. The scholarship amount is at least $1,000. The deadline is January 15. For more information or to make a tax deductible donation, write to Children of Breast Cancer Scholarship Fund, PO Box 4032, Chattanooga, TN 37405.

The Barbara Palo Foster Memorial Scholarship (United States, Nursing)
The Barbara Palo Foster Memorial Scholarship provides a $2,500 scholarship to college students who have lost a parent to cancer or whose parent is currently fighting cancer. Applicants must be age 35 or younger at the time of application and be currently attending or accepted to a 2-year or 4-year college, university or training program (including graduate and professional schools). Applicants must be seeking a college degree in nursing. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in patient education, medically underserved communities and/or women's health issues. Recipients are required to complete 25 hours of community service. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need, medical hardship, dedication to community service, commitment to educational and professional goals, and a demonstration of how the applicant has used their cancer experience to impact the lives of other young adults affected by cancer. The deadline is in May 1. Send email toscholarship@ulmanfund.org to request an application. This scholarship is one of several cancer scholarships offered by the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (United States)
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awards fivescholarships of up to $10,000 per year to graduating high school seniors and current college students who are 25 years old or younger and who have lost a parent to breast cancer. Candidates who are already in college must have a college GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates must plan to atten a state college or university in the state where they reside. Candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents. The application deadline is in mid-November. (The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation also funds doctoral dissertation awards, postdoctoral fellowships and grants for cancer research.) For more information, write to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Attn: Grants Dept. -- College Scholarship, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite #250, Dallas, TX 75244, call 1-972-855-1616, or send email to ccombs@komen.org.

LIFE Lessons Essay Contest for Students
The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education is sponsoring a scholarship for college-bound high school seniors and current college students, ages 17-24, who have suffered the death of a parent or guardian. Candidates must submit a written essay of up to 500 words or a short three-minute video essay discussing how the death of their parent or guardian affected their life financially and emotionally. Students must explain how the lack of adequate life insurance coverage (or no coverage at all) impacted their family's financial situation. There will be two grand prize winner recipients receiving each $10,000 scholarship funds. LIFE will provide 59 scholarships totaling $110,000. Typically, applications are solicited during the February to March time frame and scholarship recipient are notified in the early part of July. For additional information, visit the web site at www.life-line.org/scholarship or send email to scholarship@lifehappens.org.

Pink Ribbon Scholarship (United States, Breast Cancer)
Pink Ribbon Scholarships are awarded annually to a graduating high school senior whose mother or father is a breast cancer survivor or died from breast cancer. The application deadline is February 1. The scholarships are funded through pink ribbon awareness products sold on the pinkribbon.com web site.

PinkRose Foundation (United States, Breast Cancer)
The PinkRose Foundation Inc. provides $1,000 scholarships for college students who have lost a parent or legal guardian to breast cancer. The scholarships help the children embark on personal growth and start to overcome the grief caused by breast cancer. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and under the age of 25. US citizenship or permanent residency is required, as is a high school diploma or equivalent. The deadline is August 31. Scholarship applications can be obtained fromwww.pinkrose.org/scholarship.html. For more information, write to The PinkRose Foundation Inc., PO Box 4025, Dedham, MA 02027, call 1-781-710-6268, or send email to info@pinkrose.org.

Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship (United States)
The Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship provides a $2,500 scholarship to college students who have lost a parent to cancer or whose parent is currently fighting cancer. The parent or guardian must have been diagnosed while the applicant was between the ages of 15 and 35. Applicants must be age 35 or younger at the time of application and be currently attending or accepted to a 2-year or 4-year college, university or vocational program (including graduate and professional schools). Recipients are required to complete 25 hours of community service. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need, medical hardship, dedication to community service, commitment to educational and professional goals, and a demonstration of how the applicant has used their cancer experience to impact the lives of other young adults affected by cancer. The applicant must have been diagnosed with cancer since reaching age 15. The deadline is in May 1. Send email toscholarship@ulmanfund.org to request an application. This scholarship is one of several cancer scholarships offered by the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

Vacations and Camps

Dream Foundation, 805-564-2131, Adult make-a-wish, http://www.dreamfoundation.org/

Karen Wellington Foundation, 7410 W Firelands Dr., Hudson, provides a spa/vacation for women with breast cancer  KWFcleveland@gmail.com

The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation, treating families to WOW! Experiences^®, giving children who will lose their Mom or Dad to cancer a timeout to create indispensable memories as a family… while they can.404.537.5253,https://jajf.org/

Rebecca's Gift provides healing family vacations after the death of a child, PO Box 450722,Westlake, OH 44145, (877) 677-6611 http://rebeccasgift.org/

Camp Good Days - for children with cancer, children who have a parent or sibling with cancer and/or children who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer, and programs for women and men who have or have had cancer. -several locations in New York, http://www.campgooddays.org/

HOUSING ASSISTANCE

While there is no special housing specifically for those with cancer, there is an option for staying close to the main hospitals during treatment.

Hope Lodge, 11432 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2364, 216-844-HOPE (4673). All guests staying at Hope Lodge must be over the age of 18. All patients are required to have a caregiver throughout their stay at Hope Lodge. All patients must be in active cancer treatment.

The hospitals also have agreements with several local hotels for discounted rates. Ask the social worker at your hospital for their list of options.

TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE

While there is no special transportation specifically for those with cancer, there are several options in the Cleveland area for anyone with special needs.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) offers Paratransit,a door-to-door service for a fee. Call 216.566.5124 or see their website http://paratransit.gcrta.org/ Their services require that you apply for a membership card and there is a fee for each ride.

Provide a Ride is another local agency that offers door to door service. for a small fee. Call 216 475-1001 or check their website for eligibilty. http://providearide.com/

Senior Transportation Connect is available Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm for Cleveland seniors 60 and over, with limited transportation options. STC will provide two one-way trips per week to those eligible. Medically-related trips are a priority and must be in Cuyahoga County. The fare is $1 per one way trip. Drivers are not permitted to make change or accept tips. Call 216.664.2833

Many communities have a senior transportation program through their office of aging. This can be used for doctor appointments and, in some cases, to come to The Gathering Place programs.

Miracle Flights - for children dealing with serious illness to get to treatment in other cities.5740 S. Eastern Ave Suite 240,Las Vegas, NV 89119, 702-261-0494,www.miracleflights.org