DIRECT ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Service Descriptions

DEPARTMENT: Anishnabek Community and Family Services

ADDRESS:           
2864 Ashmun (Multiple ACFS Offices)
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
PHONE:               632-5250 or 1-800-726-0093

SERVICES:    
A list of the Direct Assistance services is on the ACFS page with links detailing the services. The ACFS Directory provides a list of the ACFS offices’ addresses, and phone numbers. 

General Assistance offers temporary financial assistance to individual and household tribal members.  Employable adults are provided with employment services.  Eligibility criteria include Sault  tribal membership, residency in the seven county service area and income guidelines.

Native Employment Works will assist tribal members obtain and retain employment through identification of barriers to employment while providing limited supportive services to reduce or eliminate barriers to employment. 

Emergency Assistance is available to those members who are faced with an emergency situation that is of no fault of their own.  Ongoing and routine costs that are not of an emergency nature will not be provided, such as insurance’s, old bills, utilities.

Employee Emergency Assistance is offered to Sault Tribe employees who are in need of assistance for emergencies related to fire, death, accident and serious medical that requires out of town travel.  This program requires three months of uninterrupted employment prior to assistance; there are no income guidelines.

Elder Heating Assistance is funded by the tribe to assist elders 60+ who are not eligible for the federally funded LIHEAP energy program.  Eligibility includes Sault tribal membership, residency in the seven county service area and income guidelines.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program offers four distinct types of services and eligibility includes tribal membership, residency in the seven county service area and income guidelines:
* Heating Assistance in which eligible tribal members are provided with a credit on their account with their primary heat provider;
* Crisis Energy Assistance in which members are assisted with dis-connect notices for metered services and fills for deliverable fuels (target households receive priority);
* Cooling assistance provides assistance for electrical dis-connect notices as a result of increased cost to cool the home and
* Weatherization Assistance provides low cost residential weatherization materials that will reduce to the loss of heat from the home. 

Sanitation Services are designed to assist tribal members that are in need of services pertaining to water and/or waste systems including; *home improvement projects that are receiving new plumbing and/or an addition to the home, newly built or purchased homes, and **homes with existing systems that have failed or are failing.  Eligibility criteria include: Sault tribe membership, residency in the seven county service area and homeownership with a recorder deed of property.

Home Improvement offers home repair in a manner that is consistent with housing regulations (section 8).   In addition, a home may be replaced if found to be beyond repair at a reasonable expense. Eligibility criteria include Sault tribal membership, residency in the seven county service area, condition of home and homeownership. 

Funeral Assistance

All enrolled members of the Sault St Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians are eligible for funeral assistance from the Sault Tribe Funeral Fund.  Each eligible applicant shall be eligible for up to $3,000.00 for funeral expenses only.  The funeral fund will process requests for Burial, Cremation, Burial Lot, and Head Stone.  All applications will require the following: a certified death certificate, itemized fee statement from the funeral home handling the arrangements, and if the funeral was paid by an individual, a receipt of payment made to funeral home prior to Funeral Fund application.

Child Care Funding

The Child Care Development Fund provides payments for child care, up to 100%, of the day care charges.  Payments are made directly to the child care providers once a month. Child care providers may be licensed through the State of Michigan or the Sault Tribe.  Relative providers may be certified through the Department of Human Services to be eligible for payments.

This program also coordinates training and support services for child care providers.

CRITERIA:-Sault Tribe children living in the seven county service area of Chippewa, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft, Delta, Alger or Marquette.
-Income eligible according to sliding fee scale based on gross monthly income.
-Applied for services through Department of Human Services.
-Employed more than 15 hours per week or attending an educational program.
-Child care is pro-rated according to income.

Child Care Licensing

Licensed day care providers are needed to provide day care to Sault Tribe children. Being a tribally licensed home or center allows for many benefits to the child care provider.  All Tribal licensed day care are eligible for the same child care payments that are provided to day cares licensed by the State of Michigan.  Plus, the Child Care Development Fund is able to purchase equipment and supplies to make the child care provider in compliance with Tribal and Federal Regulations.  Training and support services are made available in accordance with current training standards and requirements. 

To ensure the safety of children, potential providers will undergo a criminal history and child protective service background clearance. Upon the satisfactory clearance, each provider must agree to participate in the Michigan Food Program and verify health and safety compliance in their home.  A home may be considered for a license for 6 to 12 children.
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CRITERIA: Homes for Child Day Care Licensing with the Child Care Development Fund must reside on Sault Tribe Reservation or Land in Trust and comply with Federal Tribal guidelines.

USDA Food Program

DEPARTMENT: Anishnabek Community and Family Services

PROGRAM:          USDA Food Program

ADDRESS:            3601 Mackinaw Trail                     (Multiple ACFS Offices)
                               Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

PHONE:               635-6076 or 1-888-448-87-83

SERVICES:    
USDA use several formulas to determine eligibility so please apply and let us see if we can help you. One Stop shopping with 81 items available on a monthly basis, including Fresh Produce, Frozen Beef, Frozen Chicken, The Best Cheese in Town, and Bonus Items that have included Bison, Bison Stew and Ham. Every item in our warehouse is available at each distribution site. There is no penalty for refusing any item you don’t want.
Delivery Locations: Sault Ste Marie, St.Ignace, Manistique, Rapid River, Munising, Newberry Detour, Hessel, Cederville, and Cheybogan.
Counties Served (15): Alger, Chippewa, Luce, Delta, Mackinac, Marquette, Schoolcraft, Antrim, Benzie, Emmet, Manistee, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse, Cheboygan, Leelenau.