“Through the financial help from AMMES I’ve been given the invaluable gift of time. Now that I’m not constantly experiencing fear and anxiety about being able to maintain a roof over my head, keep the lights on, or have any food to eat, I have some time to put any energy I do have towards healing. Thank you Erica, AMMES, and all its generous donors. Your gifts have enabled me to begin changing my mental outlook from despair to one of hope.” R in Colorado
Last March, the American Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society (AMMES), a national non-profit, began fundraising for an ambitious, one-of-a-kind, project. We wanted to help severely ill patients who find themselves unable to pay their bills. The predicament of these patients has been known for a long time. Dr. Bell was reputed to have remarked that many of the people living in cars were CFS patients. The harsh reality is that for patients who have lost their income and have no other means of support, losing housing, being unable to pay for food, clothing, and medical expenses is a perpetual threat. It creates a situation in which patients become increasingly ill from the strain of trying to survive financially while struggling with a devastating illness.
Over the past six months, AMMES has given away over $25,000 to help these patients. The fund has paid for rent, clothing, food, utility bills, medical bills, phone bills, home care, and other basic necessities. The fund purchased a bed for a patient who had been sleeping on a couch, a co-pay for a wheelchair, and shoes for a patient who had only flip-flops after an abusive ex had destroyed all her clothing. By far the most common request is for rent. Several applicants have been on the verge of eviction. Nobody in this country should have to face living in a car, or on the street, or in a homeless shelter, let alone someone with a serious disease.
Who we help
Most of the people who apply for the program are severely ill, live alone, and have no financial support from family and friends. Some receive disability and food stamps, but rent and other necessities are seldom covered. In all cases, the applicants have been ill for many years, sometimes decades, with very little recognition.
When I asked one patient if she had experienced problems getting help, she replied “You are the first organization to help me, and you are the first to believe me.” This woman had been ill for over two decades. Her story has been repeated by everyone who has applied for the fund – years of getting little to no support, years of disbelief and hopelessness. This is the highly vulnerable population that AMMES’ financial crisis fund serves.
How it works
Applying for the financial crisis fund is fairly straightforward. Applicants fill out an application form with basic information, proof of financial necessity (this can be any form of government assistance, or an application for assistance or disability, even if it is denied), diagnosis of CFS, or something close to it, and documentation of what the grant is supposed to be for, so we know how much money to send. Once the application is received, the turnaround is one day.
Most people who have received funds have been astonished at the speed with which they receive support. As one patient explained, “Often, it would take days and sometimes a couple of weeks to complete all the paperwork and be told whether I qualified for assistance or not. During this time, I had no energy or time left to do anything else. Afterwards, I was so exhausted, all I could do was sleep. Many required that I provide proof of full-time work, which I could not do. All of the above did not understand the severity of the condition, or the devastating impact it was having in my life.”
AMMES does not make people jump through hoops. On the contrary, we get the funds to patients as soon as possible. We also we help patients fill out the application form if necessary. Some patients have significant cognitive problems, and may leave out important information. At times a single phone call is all that is necessary to verify information that is incomplete or ambiguous.
Find out more about the financial crisis fund here: https://ammes.org/ammes-financial-crisis-fund/
What AMMES needs
We want to help more people! Please make donations to our financial crisis fund! To keep it going for next year, we need $25,000. This will enable us to double the number of people we can help. We have not yet had to turn anyone away, and we hope that with enough contributions, we can help everyone who comes our way in 2019.
Something we also have great need of is a case worker. The crisis fund is good for emergencies, but what happens to these patients in the long-run? After this month’s rent is paid, what then? Someone with experience as a social worker or case worker could help patients meet long-term financial requirements. A case worker could also guide patients through the process of applying for government assistance. This can be a daunting task for people with cognitive problems and very little energy.
Please help! You can donate to AMMES here: https://ammes.org/donate/
AMMES is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax deductible.
As being especially honored to be an AMMES Advocate, who recommended to our indomitable Erica that an Emergency Fund was needed, I’m most grateful she stepped up to initiate such an essentially important feature of AMMES.org. As always, she does a yeoman’s job! I do donate, as is feasible, and can only hope that others too will realize how important is the support of our fellow CFS/ME challenged Folks. Unlike other Charities,100% of the Donations go to those who are in need! PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN – as we’re SAVING LIVES! TIA