The Emergency Financial Assistance program at BSH is intended to assist families dealing with an unexpected financial hardship. To be considered for assistance, you must complete a financial assistance application, provide the requested documentation below to support your hardship, and engage with Bluffton Self Help by using the programs and services offered that can benefit your family in creating your plan forward. After receiving your completed application and case documentation, we will likely have questions or require additional documentation as part of the process. During the application period, please check your emails regularly, including junk mail, and be sure that you take our phone calls and return our voicemails in a timely manner.
It can take 3 – 5 days after submitting your case for review for a determination to be made. We are diligent in our work and our process takes time.
Who qualifies:
Residents of Bluffton, Mainland Hilton Head Island, and Jasper County experiencing a unexpected hardship.
Restrictions:
- A household is not eligible for financial assistance if any member of the household has received financial assistance from BSH within the last 365 days.
- Must be a resident in current dwelling for at least 90 days.
- The applicant must only owe the current month on the bill they are seeking assistance with.
- BSH does not pay late fees or reconnection fees.
Required Documentation – ALL Applications:
- State issued photo ID/DL or passport (if state issued ID is not available)
- Proof of hardship (what has prevented you from paying this recurring, necessary bill? A hardship is usually an unexpected bill or unexpected loss of income.)
- Proof of income (current paystub or SSI/D award letter). Proof of income is required of ALL adults living in the household before a case can be considered.
- Proof of a plan going forward. How will you pay for next month’s bill(s)?
Eligible Expenses and Additional Required Documents Based on Type of Assistance Requested:
- Rent/Mortgage Additional documents required: for rental requests applicants must provide current lease and ledger showing 3 months of payment history and current balance. For mortgage, applicants must provide current month’s statement showing only current month’s bill is due.
- Water/Electric/Gas Bills Additional documents required: most recent water or electric bill.
