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About Low Income Relief

About Low Income Relief

Low Income Relief connects individuals and families in crisis with vital resources for housing, food, financial aid, and more. Our free service is rooted in our own journey from poverty to stability.

We understand what it’s like to be one paycheck away from losing everything, and we’ve experienced firsthand the powerful relief of finding the right resources at the right time. We’ve lived that story, and it’s our goal to help others who are facing the same hardships.

Nicole’s Story

I’ll never forget the moment that I was about to become homeless. The fear, the uncertainty, and sense of despair were overwhelming. That feeling of helplessness ignited a fire, a relentless determination to bring hope and relief to others who are facing similar struggles.

In 2007, my life turned upside down when my husband was medically discharged from the US Army. While he learned to live with his new disabilities, we struggled to find our financial footing. Weeks of couch-surfing became months, and eventually we ran out of places to stay. We had two weeks to find a place or we would have to face life on the streets with our 18-month-old son.

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our family when my husband entered his Army training

The sheer terror of that moment sparked a desperate search for help. It was during those frantic searches that I discovered a network of low income resources that could help. Things like Section 8 housing, rapid re-housing programs and more. I hadn’t known those things existed before. They weren’t that easy to find.

Within those two weeks, we were able to secure a home in a brand new low income housing complex in a neighboring city. We didn’t have money for move-in costs, but local organizations like HopeLink, the Salvation Army and others stepped in to cover those expenses. The local St. Vincent de Paul chapter helped furnish our new home. The Issaquah Food Bank filled our kitchen with nourishing, life-giving necessities. Instead of ending up on the streets, we ended up in a beautiful home of our own.

Low Income Relief began in the Rosecrest Apartments Talus Issaquah WA
the low income housing that gave us a fresh start

Shortly after finding this stability, my husband and I were able to secure better-paying jobs… but without that initial support, our story could have been very different. This experience ignited my passion to help guide others facing difficult times. I have dedicated my life to helping people connect with the resources that can lift them up, and that’s how Low Income Relief came to be.

Mission & Impact

Our Mission: To empower those facing financial hardship with the knowledge and resources to navigate crisis and achieve stability.

  • Empowering over 2 million people annually to discover low-income assistance programs, covering local and national resources.
  • Our team’s decades of experience in research, social work, and community outreach ensure the accuracy and relevance of our content.
  • Low Income Relief was established in June 2013 and has been continuously updated and expanded by the same owner ever since, demonstrating our long-standing commitment to the low income community.
  • We have a dedicated community of over 150,000 YouTube subscribers and countless success stories from those we’ve helped.

Discover the life-changing impact of our work through heartfelt testimonials and success stories from those we’ve helped. See what our users have to say.

Team Expertise

My own experience inspired the creation of Low Income Relief. Today, I’m proud to work alongside a team driven by both personal passion and a relentless commitment to providing quality information that truly helps.

Behind the resources you find on Low Income Relief is a dedicated team of social workers, researchers, journalists, social service experts and those and those who deeply understand the challenges of poverty from their own lived experiences. Every member of our team is bound by our Content Promise to deliver high-quality, accurate, informative content.

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Nicole Thelin

Founder & CEO, Low Income Relief

Nicole, a nationally recognized expert on low-income assistance programs, uses her first-hand experience overcoming poverty, two decades of journalism expertise, and nearly a decade of focused research to provide clear, actionable information to those in need. Her work has been featured in USA Today, Livestrong.com, eHow.com, The Daily Herald, The Chronicle, and more.

Nicole’s commitment to providing clear and compassionate information extends to the entire Low Income Relief team. She personally reviews all content, ensuring our mission of support translates into every resource we offer.

Marie McCollum for Low Income Relief

Marie McCollum, MSW

Research Writer

Marie McCollum, MSW brings a wealth of experience in social services and nonprofit leadership to her contributions to Low Income Relief. As the Director of Programs at Decatur Education Foundation, she oversees initiatives directly addressing the needs of those in crisis. Her expertise in resource development and community collaboration ensures our content reflects real-world solutions.

Catherine Hall

Catherine Hall, LMSW

Research Writer

Catherine Hall, LMSW is a therapist specializing in issues commonly faced by those in crisis, including depression, anxiety, and addiction. Her clinical experience and training in psychoanalysis provide a nuanced understanding of the challenges individuals seeking support may encounter. As a contributor to Low Income Relief, she shares insights on navigating mental health resources and finding support during difficult times.

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Rachel Grayless

Research Writer

Rachel Grayless brings over 27 years of experience navigating government systems to her work on Low Income Relief. Her background in law enforcement and veterans affairs gives her a deep understanding of complex programs and the challenges individuals face while seeking support. Rachel excels at translating this knowledge into clear, easy-to-follow guides.

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Catherine Marucci

Community Moderator

With a background in psychology and social work, Cat brings empathy and a deep understanding of human behavior to her role as community moderator for Low Income Relief. Her 10+ years of experience in community management ensure a welcoming, inclusive, and informative space for everyone seeking support.

Michael Cristino

Michael Cristino

Digital Operations Coordinator

Michael’s technical expertise and dedication to user experience streamline the operations of Low Income Relief. With a background in computer science and his meticulous approach, he ensures everything from website updates to social media runs smoothly, freeing up time to better serve our audience.

Hazel Lagapa

Hazel Lagapa

Fact-Checker

Hazel’s medical background and meticulous attention to detail make her an invaluable asset in ensuring the accuracy of information on Low Income Relief. Her proven commitment to thoroughness and fact verification ensures the resources we provide are reliable and up-to-date. She regularly reviews our older content to make sure the links are functional and the details reflect the current program year.

The content on Low Income Relief is made possible by our current team and the valuable contributions of many dedicated individuals over the past 10 years. We’re grateful to everyone who shares their skills in service of our mission.

Credibility & Ethics

Our content is researched and written by individuals with firsthand professional, volunteer or personal experiences with poverty. At Low Income Relief, we believe everyone deserves access to trustworthy information during times of crisis.

We are committed to providing the following:

  • Accurate & Up-to-Date Resources: Our team meticulously verifies information, prioritizes reputable sources like .gov websites, non-profit organizations and peer-reviewed research, and regularly updates our older content.
  • Human-Centered Content: We prioritize clarity and empathy, making complex information easy to understand and act upon.
  • Transparency: We disclose any affiliate relationships and clearly cite our sources.

You can learn more about our content standards in our Content Promise and Privacy Policy.

Join Our Community

Stay connected and get the latest resources by joining our community. Pick the platform that is most convenient for you:

We understand that facing financial hardship can feel overwhelming. Remember, you are not alone. We’re here to help you navigate this difficult time and find the resources you need to rebuild.

Leon

Friday 19th of January 2024

I just watched Nicole Thelin's video titled: How to Do GoFundMe (& Actually Get Donations) -- very good! In there she talks about hiring a professional who can write the campaign. So the question is, does she offer such a service or can she recommend someone who can do a rewrite with a campaign already in motion? Thanks.

Catherine Marucci

Friday 19th of January 2024

Hi Leon. Our GoFundMe articles offers some advice on hiring. https://lowincomerelief.com/how-to-make-money-on-gofundme-23-tips/

Cristi McInerney

Tuesday 8th of August 2023

It’s awesome knowing there’s people like your team out there to help. I was almost brought to tears when I found the website because In my own experience organizations disappointed me a lot when I needed them the most so it was a little uplifting to come across this. Gave me a sign to keep my hopes and faith up when I want to give up

Julie Linck

Wednesday 5th of April 2023

I am interested in understanding the national landscape of the RMP. I appreciate the timely information you all provide. I am interested in advocating for an Arkansas RMP, and I am hopeful you all can help. I know the states that have passed legislation (South Dakota and Missouri being the most recent as best I can tell). Have any other states tried and failed? If so, which ones? Have any states passed legislation affirmatively prohibiting the RMP?

Kimberly

Wednesday 9th of November 2022

Hi! I am a teacher in Georgia. I have a student who attend our school who is not able to take the bus as she is not in our district. She is a special education student, and her mom brings her and picks her up everyday. Unfortunately, their car needs a new transmission that they can't afford. Mom has been taking Lyft to and from school as much as possible, but that is getting too expensive for her. Education is very important to this mom, and we admire her efforts to get her children to school. I would like to get her help for her car. Could you please guide me in the best way to help her either get her car fixed or a new car? Thank you so much for your help!

Nicole Thelin

Wednesday 9th of November 2022

Hey Kimberly! I'm so glad that mom has the support of excellent teachers like you! Please check out this list of free car repair services and this list of free car programs. Hopefully one of those organizations will be able to help!

Catherine Marucci

Thursday 6th of October 2022

That sounds frustrating! Here are some alternatives: https://lowincomerelief.com/housing/