We currently
have multiple service, the foodbank for which we do charge a fee
and vaccinations, heart worm medication and flea medication which
are free. The amount a client pays is based on an objective numerical
analysis of a client’s income and expenses. A prospective
client’s low income status is confirmed by having a client
fill out an extensive financial profile demonstrating their level
of income and expenses. At intake, a client verifies their income
by showing an intake staff person their SSD/SSI check stub, or
bank statement with the SSD/SSI deposit on it; a paycheck stub;
an affidavit that they are unemployed and have no other source
of income, etc.
Clients living
at or below poverty level, according to the Federal Poverty Guidelines,
automatically receive a 90% subsidy (the highest subsidy we offer).
While many
people living with a terminal disease are to one degree or another
in financial need, within the constraints of our budget, the level
to which a client will be subsidized is based on their need relative
to others. A client’s subsidy is determined by analyzing
their financial profile and allowing or disallowing certain expenses.
Reasonable costs are allowed for housing, transportation, food,
personal hygiene, etc. (For example if a single person is paying
rent or a mortgage of $1,200, we have a maximum allowance based
on the areas cost of living, of $700, therefore $500 of that expense
would be disallowed, however is a family of 5 lived in the same
apartment or house, the entire sum would be allowed). A client
receives services in one of three (3) ways: (a) at cost to us
(a significant savings), (b) a 90% subsidy, or (c) on a sliding
fee scale somewhere between (a) and (b). In our notification package
a client is be advised as to their subsidy for the food bank and
veterinary services.
The cost to
the client is then determined by the food choices, he or she makes,
multiplied by the food subsidy factor. Before a client comes on
line, they sign and return a copy of the explanation of their
subsidy and cost and pick-up schedule.
From time
to time we serve clients whose income on paper appears relatively
high, but whose medical expenses consume a vast majority of their
income. With this type of client profile, we of course require
verification of extraordinary medical expense in the form of current
and prior medical bills.
The Pet Project
limits its services to low income people living with living with
a severely disabling or terminal disease. The Pet Project provides
equal opportunity for access to services for all low income people
living with chronic and debilitating or life threatening illnesses,
regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual
orientation, veteran status, age, or sex.
