Financial Help with Moving Expenses for Ex-Felons

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Moving is something that happens frequently in today’s world. While generations ago people tended to stay put and live around their family, today they are spread out around the country and move often. Sometimes they are oceans apart, living in different countries than their family. Moving can be costly, depending on how much someone has to move, and where they are moving to. You may be able to get financial help with moving expenses for ex-felons.

The first step to take if you are moving is to determine how much you need help with. Moving expenses can include the cost of renting a moving truck, hiring people to help you with loading and unloading your things, and could include the cost of moving into a new place to live. It’s important to know how much you need to move, so that as you set out looking for financial help with moving expenses, you will know what to ask for.

Sit down and make a plan of what you need to do in order to move. Be sure to include a list of what you need to do in order for it to happen. Include things like getting supplies, packing, selling items you no longer want, finding transportation for your stuff, getting things on and off the truck, packing, and more. It’s always a good idea to start by having a plan in place.

Ways to Save on Moving Expenses

If you are looking to reduce the costs associated with moving there are some ways you can do that. By reducing the costs you will lessen the burden on you, as well as on whatever organization it is that will be providing financial help with moving expenses. For ex-felons, they may even be able to get help from a transitional living program. Keeping the amount needed down is going to make it easier to get financial help for the moving expenses.

Some ways to keep moving expenses down include:

• Go through the items that you have to see what you no longer need. Most of us have plenty of things in our home that we are not using and no longer need. Get rid of things that no longer serve you, so that you have less you need to move.
• When you determine what you no longer want to keep, take the items that have value and sell them. This will help raise the funds to cover the costs of moving. You can either hold a garage or yard sale, or list the items for sale online, such as in the Facebook Marketplace or on Nextdoor.
• Avoid purchasing boxes to pack your things in. Buying moving boxes can be costly and it can be avoided. Post online to ask if people have any moving boxes they no longer need. You can also stop by any grocery store and speak with someone who works in stocking the shelves and ask them for boxes. If they do not have any on hand at that moment to give to you, they will usually offer to hold some off to the side that you can pick up later that day. This will save you the money of purchasing boxes.
• Save money on buying packing materials by using things that you already have or that you can obtain from neighbors and family members. Take newspapers to wrap fragile items, for example, and reuse packing materials from things you have received in the mail or through deliveries.
• Get quotes from multiple sources when it comes to anything you have to pay for. This includes if you have to rent a truck, a moving company, or hire helpers. Get multiple quotes so you can compare and find the most affordable rate. Taking the first rate you receive may leave you paying the highest price for your move.
• Ask friends and family to help you move. There are plenty of people who will help you move for free if you let them know you need assistance. Put the word out there that you are moving and need help and ask if anyone would assist you with it. You may be surprised to find out that someone may offer to help with packing, loading, unloading, or even with the use of a truck for your items.
• You can save money with unloading and loading your items by getting volunteers to help. Many people need to earn community service hours, and they can earn them by volunteering their time to help with your move. This will help reduce the cost of your move.

Financial Help with Moving Expenses for Ex-Felons

Once you have tried to reduce the amount of money you need to move and have even tried to get it all for free by having people volunteer their time, you may still need some financial help to make it happen. This is especially true if you are moving out of the state or making a bigger move than people can volunteer their time to help with.

The first thing to do is check with your state’s transitional living program if you have recently been released from being incarcerated. They may have a program in place to help you with financial help for moving, or they may be able to refer you to a place that can help. Additionally, check with your local churches. Most churches have programs that help people in the community with a wide variety of issues. You may be able to get financial help through a church to move, even if it is by them finding a family in the church that will personally sponsor it.

Other programs to reach out to for help include local non-profit organizations that focus on helping people with their financial needs. These include the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, and 211. The places may have access to helpful programs that can give financial assistance, or they can give you a referral to a place that can help with your situation.