Emergency Financial Assistance Services

Contact Nancy Cohen, Case Manager, (651) 329-1092.

With the help of grant funding from the St. Paul Jewish Federation and the Otto Bremer Trust, JFS Emergency Financial Assistance is now available to our neighbors who live or work in the West 7th area of St. Paul. In response to the economic challenges caused by COVID and other recent events, JFS has expanded the criteria required to be considered for emergency financial assistance.

To qualify for up to $1,000 in assistance, you must meet one of these criteria:

Be a current JFS client
Be a member of the greater St. Paul Jewish community
Work or live in the West 7th Street neighborhood

Assistance must be able to stabilize a situation. The assistance checks are made payable directly to the vendor.

Eighth Degree Loan Program

This program provides up to $1,000 interest free to JFS clients who have an emergency need and qualify for this assistance. Qualifications include being a current JFS client, living in the greater St. Paul area and/or being a member of the St. Paul Jewish community. Payment terms are over a two-year period.

Jewish Free Loan Program

Loans up to $7,500 can be approved with co-signers meeting creditworthiness requirements. Payment terms are zero interest, paid over two or three years. Eligibility requirements include being Jewish and/or working for a local Jewish agency.