The Howl Emergency Life Project (HELP) provides emergency financial assistance and social service support to artists who have participated in the annual Howl Festival.
If you have been a part of the annual Howl Festival or have made your career in New York City’s East Village and Lower East Side arts community with work that challenges the traditional boundaries of dance, theater, music, multimedia and the spoken word, you may qualify for HELP.
HELP services include:
- Counseling and referrals for personal, family or work-related problems
- Referrals to community resources for medical care, legal services, public benefits or elder care
- Workshops on a variety of topics like finding affordable housing, financial education, and health insurance options
- Financial assistance is available for rent, utilities, mental health, medical care and other basic living expenses
- Grants are approved on a case-by-case basis, based on need
*Photo by Dan Farrell/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images.
Am I eligible?
For the financial assistance program, we will ask for an application, documentation of professional earnings and a meeting with a social worker. 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
Get in touch:
No matter where you live in the U.S., we’re here to help. Get in touch with your nearest regional office at:
Eastern Region
212.221.7300, ext. 119
eastern@entertainmentcommunity.org
Central Region
312.372.0989
central@entertainmentcommunity.org
Western Region
323.933.9244, ext. 455
western@entertainmentcommunity.org