HOWL Emergency Life Project

The Howl Emergency Life Project (HELP) was created to provide emergency financial assistance and social service support to artists who have participated in the annual Howl Festival or who make their careers in New York City’s East Village and Lower East Side arts community and whose work challenges the traditional boundaries of dance, theatre, music, multimedia and the spoken word.

Services include counseling and referrals for personal, family or work-related problems. Linkage to community resources for such needs as medical care, legal services, public benefits or elder care. Workshops are offered on a variety of topics and include: finding affordable housing, financial education as well as health insurance options.

Financial assistance is available for rent, utilities, mental health and medical care as well as other basic living expenses. Grants are approved on a case-by-case basis based on need.

Eligibility

Eligibility for the financial assistance program requires an application, documentation of professional earnings and an interview. In general, eligibility for financial assistance is based on:

• Regular Participation as an artist in the Howl Festival, or
• A career as an artist within New York City’s East Village or Lower East Side arts community
• A minimum of five years of arts-related work with earnings of at least $3,000 for three out of the last five years
• Financial need.

Contact

For additional information and an application, please contact:

The Actors Fund Intake Unit
212.221.7300 ext. 119 or 800.221.7303 ext.119
intakeny@actorsfund.org

For emergencies at night or on weekends please call:
212.621.7780