All-volunteer, Self-help
11-Point Membership Benefit Program
CHA members have built an 11-point membership benefit program to meet some of our immediate survival needs with the support of students, doctors, lawyers and small business owners, while we organize together for long-term change.
The benefits shown below and other membership benefits are available by request. Call CHA and speak to an organizer if you need help, or to learn about ways you can participate and help build the benefit program.
Members Helping Members
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Mutual Benefit
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Self-help
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Members Helping Members *** Mutual Benefit *** Self-help ***
Emergency Food
Non-perishable food items are available for CHA members upon request of an emergency food benefit to aid with immediate needs. Members can also enroll in a year-round budget savings program, which includes weekly fresh grocery distributions.
Clothing
Clothing of all sizes and seasonal needs is available at your local Benefit Office (call CHA for hours).
Information and Referral
CHA members can utilize CHA’s Information & Referral Benefit for public and private programs listed as aiding low-income workers.
Non-Emergency Dental Care
Volunteer dentists and other dental professionals volunteer their services through CHA’s non-emergency dental benefit. Other volunteers donate transportation and other needed follow-up determined by the professional. Volunteer dental professionals also provide group presentations on health topics of interest to the members.
Preventive Medical Care
Volunteer doctors and other medical professionals donate their services in their private medical offices to see members for free-of-charge medical check-ups as part of CHA’s preventive medical benefit. Licensed medical professionals present medical education and information sessions on medical topics like diabetes and how to avoid workplace injuries.
Legal Advice
“Know Your Law” sessions conducted by volunteer attorneys present information about legal topics of interest to low-income workers as requested by CHA members. Legal advice is provided to a requesting member privately in legal advice sessions with a volunteer attorney accompanied by a volunteer lay advocate to assist with the next steps of the attorney’s advice.
Utility Bill Advocacy
When a CHA member’s income does not meet their expenses, a CHA volunteer advocate can work with a member to re-establish service, arrange a payment plan with a utility company or apply for other aid in order to prevent a utility shutoff.
Budget-saving Benefit Plan II
This extended benefit addresses the discrepancy between a member’s income and necessary expenses. CHA volunteers work with participating members to develop a self-help budget plan supplemented by in-kind services and resources that reduce other expenditures while working to solve longer-term problems.
