Family Program Office
Money Matters
Personal Financial Counselor
The Military & Family Life Consultant (MFLC) Program Personal Financial Counselor can help you and your family manage your finances, resolve financial problems, and reach long-term goals such as getting an education, buying a home and planning for retirement. Services are free and confidential.
Augusta - Harry Krampf CFP® by phone at 207-478-1615 or by email at PFC.ME.NG@zeiders.com
Bangor - Calvin Lipscomb CFP® Bangor ME 571-469-1659 ME-PFC2@zeiders.com
Brunswick - Meg Curry CFP® Brunswick ME 207-274-3987 ME-PFC1@zeiders.com
Financial Assistance for Military Families
The Maine National Guard Family Program offers emergency financial assistance to all branches of service. Family Program has two funds that help Service Members in times of financial emergencies. The Foundation Fund is for all non-deployed Service Members.
Financial Assistance Information [PDF]
Foundation Fund
The Maine National Guard Foundation (Fund) is organized exclusively for charitable purposes to provide needed financial assistance to members of the Maine National Guard and to those residents of the State who are members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States and their families. The Fund may also financially assist active component members and their families when the active component relief system does not respond in a timely or adequate manner during the times of special or unexpected need.
This grass root account is funded by contributions through Combined Federal Campaign and donations of the Community. This is a grant or loan program for Maine National Guard families who are faced with an emergency situation that requires financial help. Additionally, these funds can be used for other reserve component military families who are mobilized and reside in Maine. Each request has to be processed through the service member's chain of command or rear detachment.
Through the generous donations of the community, the Maine National Guard Foundation Fund was established to assist service members with EMERGENCY needs after all other resources have been exhausted.
Foundation Fund Documentation
- Foundation Fund Application [PDF]
- Foundation Fund Fillable Application
- Foundation Fund Application Word Document
- Foundation Fund SOP [PDF]
Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Fund
The Maine National Guard Moral Fund is established to assist unit commanders (directorates as appropriate) with Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities for the unit members and families. An application is processed through command channels to the Family Partnership Program Fund Council.
Maine Military Relief Fund Documentation
External Financial Resources
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England Veterans Fund
The funds have been raised to benefit stateside veterans who require assistance with employment and training needs, with priority given to combat veterans. This fund is accessible through Goodwill Industries of Northern New England. Contact Elizabeth Cradock at 207.774.6323.
USA Cares
USA Cares exists to help bear the burdens of service by providing post-9/11 military families with financial and advocacy support in their time of need. Assistance is focused on three main areas: 1. Removing the financial barriers that prevent veterans from receiving treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury. This program is saving the lives of veterans and restoring families 2. Removing the financial barriers that prevent veterans from securing employment 3. Providing emergency financial assistance to veterans and active duty service members who sustain a significant reduction in pay because of their service.
http://www.usacares.org/
State of Maine Town Emergency Relief Funds
Check with your town office to file a request for your town's emergency relief fund.
Army Emergency Relief Fund
For Soldiers currently deployed, active duty families, and retirees.
http://www.aerhq.org/dnn563/FinancialAssistance.aspx
Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund
For DoD Civilians. On average, FEEA now makes over 1,000 no-interest loans each year that help civilian federal and postal employees get back on their feet in times of unexpected financial hardship. http://www.feea.org/programs/emergency-assistance
VFW Unmet Needs Fund
VFW Unmet Needs was created in 2004 through a corporate partnership to assist military service members and their families who run into unexpected financial difficulties as a result of deployment or other hardships directly related to military service. VFW Unmet Needs assists with basic life needs such as: mortgage and rent, home and auto repairs, insurance, utilities, food and clothing. VFW Unmet Needs helps meet unanticipated financial demands on our service members' families that can't be remedied through existing means and provides our service members with the security of knowing that their families have additional support here at home. The financial assistance is in the form of up to $2,500 in grants that do not need to be repaid. All grants are paid directly to the "creditor" (such as the electric company), and not to the individual. Each case is reviewed individually and acceptance determined by a committee. Eligible service members can download and complete a grant application. http://www.vfw.org/Assistance/National-Military-Services/
EANGUS We Care for America Foundation
The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) has established the We Care For America (WCFA)Foundation Inc. One part of the WCFA Foundation Inc. is the National Guard Soldier and Airmen Emergency Relief Fund. It is intended for Members of the National Guard, and applicants to the fund must be members of EANGUS for at least one year for eligibility in this program. http://www.eangus.org/?page=WeCareForAmerica
Operation Homefront
For military families that are coping with deployment or injury recovery, Operation Homefront assists military families during difficult financial times by providing food assistance, auto and home repair, vision care, travel and transportation, moving assistance, essential home items, and financial assistance. http://www.operationhomefront.net/howwehelp
Industry Resources:
Consumer Federation of America’s Vantage Credit Score Website http://www.creditscorequiz.org
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) website http://www.finra.org/
Live Credit Smart, Experian credit education http://www.livecreditsmart.com
My Fico, About Credit Scores http://www.myfico.com/crediteducation/creditscores.aspx
Save and Invest Unbiased financial tools and information for military families and all investors from the FINRA Foundation http://www.saveandinvest.org/
Money Under 30, Understanding “Your Number” http://www.moneyunder30.com/what‐is‐a‐credit‐score
Bankrate, Credit Scores Explained http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20010223a.asp
Government Resources:
U.S. General Services Administration, Federal Citizen Information Center and Fair Isaac Corporation (2008) http://publications.usa.gov/USAPubs.php?PubID=3379
Federal Trade Commission’s, Facts for Consumers (2011) http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre34.shtm
Free Personal Financial Counseling Resources in Maine
JFSAP MFLC PFC (Statewide) 207-274-3987
Military One Source (Statewide) 1-800 342 9647
Free or Sliding Fee Personal Financial Counseling Resources
Money Management International (consumer credit counseling services):
Bangor
175 Exchange St. Ste 200, Bangor Maine
Phone: 866.232.9080
Auburn
250 S Center St, Auburn, Maine
Phone: 207.755.0033
South Portland
111 Westcott Rd, South Portland, Maine
Phone: 207.772.6633
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