[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-302318-105":53,"doc-detail-302318-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","making-ends-meet-2-financial-assistance-programs-overview","Making Ends Meet - 2 - Financial Assistance Programs Overview","","Making Ends Meet outlines the economic pressures that threaten Wisconsin families’ financial security, linking housing, healthcare, utilities, food, childcare, and energy costs to income challenges. It explains eligibility concepts such as the poverty line and multiple thresholds, describes who is at higher risk, and summarizes how state and federal assistance programs can stabilize monthly budgets. The chapter also emphasizes barriers to participation and offers guidance on available resources, including tax credits and benefit programs, plus supplementary printable materials.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":51,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/making-ends-meet-2-financial-assistance-programs-overview/302318/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/making-ends-meet-2-financial-assistance-programs-overview/302318.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Quinn Holloway","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-23","2026-09-19",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":76},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What does the chapter say is the cause of not being able to afford basic needs?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"Housing affordability challenges are treated as an income issue, similar to problems paying for food, utilities, childcare, and healthcare.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How does the chapter describe eligibility for assistance programs?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"It explains that many programs use the poverty line or related thresholds such as 135%, 150%, 185%, 200%, and up to 300% depending on the service.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What programs or benefits does the chapter mention for improving financial stability?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"It highlights assistance such as FoodShare, tax credits, subsidized childcare, public health insurance, and energy assistance, and notes that these can help offset gaps in monthly costs.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},302318,1790190209,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":50,"category_name":51,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":76,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":20,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":139,"read_time":47},2336474466712,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","Making Ends Meet  \nRecently, a number of trends have emerged that put increasing strains on economic security in Wisconsin. Low-wage jobs, limited educational opportunities, the high cost of childcare, and the rising costs of housing, energy and healthcare all create substantial challenges for families struggling to make ends meet.  \nIf you are having difficulty paying your rent or your mortgage, there’s a chance you’re having trouble with your other monthly expenses as well. Over the course of a lifetime, millions of Wisconsin residents and Americans across the country will find themselves in a similar situation.  \nIt is important to recognize that the inability to pay for housing—just like the inability to pay for food, utilities, child care, healthcare, and more—is an income issue. By saving money on any one  \n\n| Section Overview |\n| --- |\n| Background on Assistance Programs\u003Cbr>Who is at risk?\u003Cbr>Receiving Benefits\u003Cbr>Using ACCESS\u003Cbr>Family economic security Nutrition assistance programs\u003Cbr>Nutrition education\u003Cbr>Emergency food\u003Cbr>Programs targeting children\u003Cbr>Taxes and Tax Credits\u003Cbr>Tax credits\u003Cbr>Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)\u003Cbr>Refunds or taxes due\u003Cbr>Savings Bonds\u003Cbr>Free Application for Federal Student Aid |\n\nof these categories, a person is able to shift money around to help offset the other costs in their lives.  \nThankfully, a range of assistance programs– from tax credits to subsidized childcare to public health insurance to energy assistance– can help fill the gap. Participating in these programs can allow anyone the ability to be more financially secure.  \nUnfortunately, funding constraints, lack of awareness, and logistical barriers often limit participation. This chapter will help to highlight some of the state and federal programs that are available to help you meet your needs each and every month.  \nThe end of the chapter contains supplementary materials: definitions, handouts, worksheets, and activities that can be individually photocopied or printed to distribute separately from the rest of the WHPE curriculum.  \nOverview and Goals  \nFinancial troubles are not pleasant, but you are not alone. Others are in situation and many have been in your situation in the past.  \nThere are many programs available to help individuals who are struggling to make ends meet. Understanding what is available in terms of assistance can be of tremendous help in getting you on your feet.  \nThe goals of this chapter are:  \n1. To show you some of the resources that may be available if you income has dropped.  \n2. To highlight some of the benefit and assistance programs currently available to low-income individuals.  \n3. To explain how money can be saved through tax credits and the tax filing process.  \nTake-away messages:  \n1. There is help out there for people who have economic hardship.  \n2. Thousands of WI families use forms of public support. Don’t feel embarrassed if it can help you.  \n3. Programs can have complicated details. Be patient and take time to learn your options.  \nBackground on Assistance Programs  \nIf your income has dropped, you may be eligible for a number of programs that target individuals and families of low-income. Many of these assistance programs base eligibility on the poverty line, which is intended to reflect the minimum income a household needs to achieve an adequate standard of living. The poverty line varies according to number of household members and their ages and increases each year to account for inflation. Households are considered poor if their gross pre-tax income is below the  \npoverty line. In 2009, the poverty line for a household of four was $22,050 .  \nWhile this measurement is far from perfect, it is also used to set the limits for many of the programs in which people can receive benefits. If your income does not fall exactly below the poverty line, you may still qualify for assistance. A number of programs base their eligibility at 135%, 150%, 185%, 200%, and even up to 300%","cbCaipjmkemnNGLZ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipjmkemnNGLZ","pdf",267158,"English","# Section Overview\n## Background on Assistance Programs\n## Receiving Benefits\n## Using ACCESS\n## Family economic security\n## Nutrition assistance programs\n## Nutrition education\n## Emergency food\n## Programs targeting children\n## Taxes and Tax Credits\n## Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)\n## Free Application for Federal Student Aid","[{\"question\":\"What does the chapter say is the cause of not being able to afford basic needs?\",\"answer\":\"Housing affordability challenges are treated as an income issue, similar to problems paying for food, utilities, childcare, and healthcare.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the chapter describe eligibility for assistance programs?\",\"answer\":\"It explains that many programs use the poverty line or related thresholds such as 135%, 150%, 185%, 200%, and up to 300% depending on the service.\"},{\"question\":\"What programs or benefits does the chapter mention for improving financial stability?\",\"answer\":\"It highlights assistance such as FoodShare, tax credits, subsidized childcare, public health insurance, and energy assistance, and notes that these can help offset gaps in monthly costs.\"}]","Making Ends Meet - 2 - Financial Assistance Programs Overview | PDF",1789791854]