BenePhilly Program Prevents Health Crisis
We recently received the beautiful letter of thanks below from a Philadelphia couple who received one-on-one counseling from Project HOME Benefits Specialist Michael Kane at the BenePhilly Center located at our 1515 Fairmount Avenue residence. Click here to learn more about the BenePhilly Center at 1515 Fairmount.
Dear Mr. Kane,
Words cannot express our deep appreciation to you for all the help you provided to my husband and me. My life was totally changed when I became laid off from a company I loved being a part of for 14 years. I really expected to have this job until another opportunity would become available, then I would move on. It was not to be, and my position was eliminated. My job had provided me with great insurance and benefits. My last day was July 2, 2014 and my last day of insurance and other benefits stopped July 31, 2014. I was terrified after being laid off, but I thought we would be alright once we received insurance though the Affordable Care Act. We were terrified even more once we found out due to my husband’s serious health status we would have to pay a large deductible of $1,200.00 for each hospital stay. It would have been out of pocket charges we did not have. My husband has a history of being admitted to hospitals for complications from diabetes.
One of my greatest fears was how my husband would continue to get the medical care he needs with diabetes, amputation complications, supplies and medication. Even though I have severe medical issues as well I was more concerned about my husband. My unemployment was held up for almost 2 months and I was also worrying about paying rent. I was wondering how we were going to survive because we had bills to pay and a son to get through college. We were intimidated by the enormous amount of paper work to apply for Social Security and Medical Assistance. A pass colleague told me about BenePhilly and I was given the choice of which office site to go to, we chose Project HOME because of its excellent reputation of helping the less fortunate. I was assigned to Michael Kane and it was the best thing that could have ever happened to us. He immediately addressed each of our issues. He did the paper work for Medical Assistance and to our surprise we also qualified for SNAP. The process was so much easier and when we went to the County Assistance Office it took less time than it would have had not you did the paper work online.
Mr. Kane you referred us to Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) for assistance to get help with applying for Social Security. We received an appointment with HAP and the visit was very successful. We had a great experience with the attorney there and we let him know we were referred to them from BenePhilly through you. I am sending a copy of this letter to your supervisor as I also called the BenePhilly phone line to find out how to recognize you for the great job you are doing at Project HOME. When a person is already low they need to be treated with dignity and respect to face whatever challenges they have to deal with. The road ahead looks very long towards getting your life back together. Not only have we been treated well but we have observed the respect the residents at Project HOME receive when applying for services. Again mere words cannot express our deep appreciation. Mr. Kane we thank you for how you value my husband and me along with the clients/consumers we observed you serving, sitting in the waiting area. You take time and listen to people making sure you provide the right services needed. You should be recognized for such outstanding work. I have been telling as many programs and people about BenePhilly that I can.
This program is one of the best things that have come to Philadelphia in a long time.
Thank you,
Eunice and Richard
Philadelphia, PA
