Millions of dollars in benefits go unclaimed every year. Now, through a joint effort between the State of Arkansas and Arkansas Interfaith Conference, a new program called the Benefit Bank of Arkansas is making it easier for working families to get these benefits.
Kathy Parum is a single mother of three kids, including four-year-old Michelle. She also has a baby due in August. Right now, she and her kids live at Our House, a shelter for the working homeless. Aside from living there, Kathy also works as a cook at the shelter's daycare. Even with a job, she says providing for her family on her own is tough.
"We're holding down jobs and we're trying to provide for our kids. I'm a single mother. This program helps," says Kathy.
Because Kathy's a single mother of three kids and one on the way, she qualifies for benefits including medical care, food stamps, hot lunches for her kids at school, help with her heating bills, and even housing assistance.
"I think it's awesome, the housing assistance. Everybody loves their own place to live," says Kathy.
With $280 million in benefits to dole out, the hard part is for people like Kathy to cut through the red tape and get her hands on the benefits. That's where this program comes into play. The Benefit Bank of Arkansas will actually help working families apply.
Governor Mike Beebe says right now $280 million is not helping Arkansans and this program will change that.
Kathy says she's thankful for being able to stay at Our House, but she has bigger plans for her family. Right now, she's in the process of applying at Pulaski Tech to go to culinary school.
The majority of the $280 million is federal funds but through the Benefit Bank of Arkansas these benefits will be made available to working families in Arkansas.
To apply for these benefits you can go to Our House, LaCasa Center, or the Arkansas Rice Depot. You can also call the Benefit Bank of Arkansas at: 1-877-375-0790.
