How to Get Help

To get help from LARS, an individual or family must live in the Laurel area in one of four zip codes. 20707 (Laurel City, Prince George’s County), 20708 (Prince  George’s County), 20723 (Howard County) and 20724 (Anne Arundel County). Services are provided to anyone who needs assistance in the Greater Laurel area, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, or disability.

A  person requesting assistance must first come in to see a caseworker. Clients may either ‘drop in’ (Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 9:00-12:30) or schedule  an appointment during intake hours; (Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00-2:00 and  Monday evenings from 5:00 7:30 p.m. We will do our best to accommodate walk-ins. To ensure that you are seen PLEASE CALL AHEAD for an appointment.

A  caseworker will conduct an ”intake” session that last approximately 30-50 minutes with an individual or family to assess needs. A worker will complete an  application for services making sure to include veteran status and zip code.

The  client must present a picture ID (military, driver’s license, employee, etc.) and provide the date of Birth for all household members.

The  client must also produce proof of income (pay stubs or a letter from employer), Social Security card for all household members.  

Proof  of need such as a BGE bill as well as copy of cut off notice, OR court eviction notice, OR copy of prescription and demonstrated inability to pay,

Copy of a lease or a letter from landlord to verify address.

The  worker will assess the client’s needs and if necessary refer the client to  another agency for appropriate resources. The worker may also render a decision  regarding the client’s eligibility for financial assistance from LARS.  (Typically clients must schedule a follow-up appointment with the worker in  order to receive the financial assistance) Checks are always made out directly  to the vendor (landlord, BGE, etc.). Checks are never made out directly to the client.

WHAT DOES LARS HELP WITH?

Food
Electric/Gas (BGE)
Eviction Prevention
Transitional Housing and Support Services
Employment Assistance
Referrals for Drug, Alcohol, Addiction Treatment
Budgeting Planning (when appropriate)

Our  primary goal is to help families to become more self-sufficient.  We do not want  to be a “Band-Aid” for crises, but rather a bridge that helps  families/individuals to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency.

It is  very rare that LARS is not able to service a client in some way. Although we  are not always able to assist them in the way they would like, we do make all attempts to serve our clients to the best of our ability. At a minimum, we  attempt to refer all clients that we are unable to assist to other agencies that  may be able to assist them.