THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND
Primary source of support for industry workers nationally.
Emergency financial assistance program provides temporary financial assistance to industry workers with documented financial need due to unforeseen circumstances, application required.
Contact an office nearest to you:
Eastern Region - eastern@entertainmentcommunity.org - (917) 281-5919
Central Region - central@entertainmentcommunity.org - (312) 372-0989
Western Region - western@entertainmentcommunity.org - (323) 330-2455
Additional services:
- Workshops and general resources on dealing with a work stoppage
- Free and confidential social service programs address a wide array of challenges faced by people in performing arts and entertainment. Professional social workers offer support, counseling, and practical help. If you would like to speak with a social worker, click on application or contact an office nearest to you.
- Calendar of workshops - mindfulness, financial wellness, job search, apartment hunting and more
- Support groups - for many different issues ranging from anxiety issues to grief
- Additional online resources
FIRST ENTERTAINMENT CREDIT UNION
First Entertainment Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution headquartered in Hollywood that provides resources and support to those within the entertainment industry. The Credit Union has several programs available to help their members navigate the strike with as little impact as possible to their personal finances, including a program to skip payments if you hold certain loans with them as well as emergency relief loans. Please visit their website for full details. If you’re not yet a First Entertainment member, you can get additional information and easily join here, then take advantage of the resources they are providing.
NEED HELP PAYING BILLS
List of organizations and grants available to those struggling financially.
MODEST NEEDS
Offers grants designed to promote the self-sufficiency of individuals and families who, because they are working and live just above the poverty level, are ineligible for most types of conventional social assistance but who, all the same, are living one or two lost paychecks away from the kind of financial catastrophe that eventually leads to homelessness.
JEWISH FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION
If someone is out of work due to the strikes, they can apply for a 0% interest loan up to $3,000. Remind friends and family that because we are a non-profit, and not a bank, our loans come with zero interest and zero fees, so you only repay the amount borrowed. This means you can focus on what truly matters - getting these negotiations sorted out and getting back to work.
0% interest loans to cover:
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Basic living expenses, including rent, food, and utilities.
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Childcare expenses.
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Other emergency expenses.
Please click here to learn more. All borrowers must be residents of Los Angeles, Ventura, or Santa Barbara counties, cannot have a current loan with JFLA, and must have a guarantor on the loan. regardless of religion, gender, or race.
LABOR COMMUNITY SERVICES
Los Angeles union members can apply for an assistance program that can help union members with bill pay, rent assistance, and more. To apply, please fill out the LCS Assistance Intake Form.
THE MOTION PICTURE TELEVISION FUND (MPTF)
Industry non-profit that may provide direct emergency financial assistance depending on circumstances. Other resources may include help navigating government benefits, finding health insurance options and more.
For those under 65, please call the intake line at (323) 634-3888.
For those 65 or over, please call (323) 634-3866
Additional services include help navigating government benefits, finding alternative health insurance options, palliative care, veterans benefit assistance, social connectivity, caregiving resources, and more. MPTF’s highly trained social workers are available to help you deal with many of life’s challenges, managing stress, improving work-life balance, coping with life transitions, disability, or illness, aging challenges, caring for a loved one or loss of a loved one. They also work regularly with a large variety of community agencies and other relief organizations, and resources tailored to the needs of members of the entertainment industry.
NYC MAYOR’S OFFICE OF MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT (MOME)
Resources for Creative Sector Workers: with recorded zoom webinars and links.
UNION PLUS
Provides members impacted with mortgage assistance, insurance plans (auto, renters, homeowners, Medicare), scholarships and other financial assistance.
WILL ROGERS PIONEERS FOUNDATION
Provides financial aid and supportive counseling to individuals who work in theatrical exhibition, distribution and vendors exclusive to either sector, for a minimum of five recent years, who are encountering an illness, accident or injury.
A team of social workers confidentially assesses the needs and financial difficulties of motion picture industry members and provides aid to support health and well-being when income and assets are limited. The program currently has six types of assistance to help those in need: Social Service Consultations, the Salah Hassanein Medical Grant, Medical Equipment Aid, Vocational Rehabilitation, the Bernie Myerson Emergency Grant (temporary financial aid for housing, utilities, food, burial or cremation costs), and the Tom Sherak Pioneer Grant (monthly stipend for frail or disabled low-income senior veterans)). Financial aid is not available to treat alcohol or substance abuse. To request an application for financial aid call (888) 994-3863, ext. 2390, or email us.
BEHIND THE SCENES
For entertainment technology professionals who are seriously ill or injured. They are unable to provide financial assistance due to strikes.
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The Basic Needs Grant- For entertainment technology professionals who are seriously ill or injured and are seeking assistance with basic living expenses (such as rent or mortgage, property taxes, utilities, insurance and transportation) or for medical expenses (including health insurance, doctor and hospital bills, medication, physical therapy, home health care, and medical equipment. This grant is also appropriate if the eligible person has an immediate, dependent family member who is seriously ill or injured.
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The Counseling Grant -For entertainment technology professionals who would like to initiate or support ongoing counseling or participate in an in-patient or out-patient chemical dependency recovery program. Grants are issued directly to the recipient’s self-selected provider, which must be a licensed social worker, psychotherapist, psychiatrist, mental health facility, emergency medical facility, or chemical dependency recovery facility.
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The Funeral Assistance Grant - For immediate family members of an entertainment technology professional who has passed away and assistance with funeral costs is needed.
Qualifications:
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Have earned your living for at least five years in the entertainment technology industry. This means that your major source of income is from your work in this industry, which includes being directly involved with a production-related craft:
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Behind the scenes in any type of performance venue, or
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Behind the camera, or
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On the road, or
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Work for companies who are directly involved in supplying entertainment technology products and services such as dealers, manufacturers, production or rental companies, consultants, and design firms.
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You do not need to be currently working in the industry as long as your time out of the industry is less than the total time you worked in the industry, unless you are retired or on permanent disability.