Call 2-1-1

For information and referrals for health and human services, including housing, legal help, utility assistance, health care and disability services, call 2-1-1 from anywhere in Washington state.

Help for hard times

The United Way of Snohomish County provides information and resources for people dealing with unemployment at www.uwsc.orglget help.php.

Help for homeowners

The President’s Making Home Affordable Plan offers assistance help some homeowners lower their mortgage payments, stay in their homes, and avoid foreclosure. To learn more and find out if your family is eligible for help visit www.financialstability.gov/makinghomeaffordable. For more information about resources available to help struggling homeowners, visit www.hopenow.com or call 888-995-HOPE.

Help for small businesses

The Small Business Administration is working to increase credit for small businesses and provide tax incentives and financing opportunities to help them create jobs. For more information visit www.sba.gov/recovery/index.html.

Help for seniors, disabled veterans and SSI beneficiaries

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides a one-time payment of $250 to adult Social Security beneficiaries, veterans disability beneficiaries and to SSI recipients. No action is required to get the payment, which will be sent separately from the person’s regular monthly payment in late May 2009.

Transparency for taxpayers

To see how your economy recovery dollars are being spent, visit www.recovery.gov or www.recovery.wa.gov. Recovery.wa.gov also provides information for organizations hoping to access recovery dollars.

Financial stability

For information on the president’s plan to stabilize our financial system visit www.financialstability.gov.

To contact Rep. Rick Larsen or sign up for his monthly e-mail updates,

please visit www.house.gov/larsen.