Are you a writer facing an unexpected catastrophe such as the loss of a job, loss of health insurance, no house to live in, or no money for food? Here are Places Awarding Emergency Grants for Writers Author’s League Fund           www.authorsleaguefund.org The Author’s League Fund offers interest-free loans of between $2,000 and $3,000 to writers with severe medical/health related problems and other serious misfortunes. No membership necessary. Application and details available on website.

  Change, Inc.

Grants of up to $1,000 available to artists for medical, living and other expenses. Mail to: PO Box 705 Cooper Station, New York, NY 10276 or call (212) 226-0581 for an application.

 Mayer Foundation     www.mayerfoundation.org

The Mayer Foundation has grants of up to $5,000 available to individuals who find themselves in severe economic turmoil due to natural or civil disasters. Grants are awarded to cover rent, mortgage, medical bills, utilities, and other day to day living expenses. See website for details.

 PEN Writer’s Fund    www.pen.org

Grants of up to $2,000 available to published writers in acute financial crisis. No membership necessary to apply for emergency assistance. Application and details available on website.

Poets In Need            www.poetsinneed.org          

Provides emergency assistance to poets who have an established presence in the literary community as innovators in the field and have a substantive body of published work.

National Association for the Self-Employed            www.nase.org/nase_benefits/membership_levels.asp

Membership organization that providing access to health insurance for the self-employed. See website for details.

 Writer’s Guild of America     www.wga.org

Health insurance available for members. To become a member, applicants must meet extensive eligibility requirements found on the website.

American Society of Journalists and Authors          www.asja.org

Membership benefits include access to a selection of affordable plans offered by several providers. To be eligible for membership, applicants need to have published at least two non-fiction books or six full-length, by-lined articles on a freelance basis. See website for details. (www.asja.org/benefits/health.php)