Pointing out that these unprecedented economic times have forced many people to seek help who are unfamiliar with how to obtain government assistance, County Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) is offering a lifeline to those families with the release of his aptly named “Survival Kit: A Little Help From A Friend”.

The 24-page guidebook is broken down by need, including employment services, rent/mortgage assistance and 11 other vital categories. But more than addresses and phone numbers, Cooper’s compendium also specifically details what resources are available from agencies and summarizes what requirements must be met in order to obtain them.

“Whether it’s needing help to pay their mortgage or finding affordable childcare, my district office gets numerous requests every day from first-time callers seeking all sorts of assistance for a wide array of problems brought on by the recession,” says Cooper. “This Survival Kit will allow families to access, in one convenient place, the full breadth and depth of government and private resources available to help them survive these difficult economic times.”

In order to get access to all the resources available in the kit, a person would have to make numerous calls just to get to the right agency, or they would have to conduct an extensive search on-line. This “one-stop shopping solution” cuts through layers of bureaucracy and allows families to identify which resource may best help them in a timely and efficient manner.

But Cooper stresses this tool is meant to enhance—not replace—his office’s diverse and effective constituent services program.

“Combined, my legislative staff and I have almost half a century of experience in navigating through the numerous layers of government and public service agencies out there,” states Cooper. “If somebody can’t get the assistance they need when they contact one of the offices listed in my Survival Kit, they can always call us directly for additional help.”

Cooper’s Survival Kit is available by visiting his district office at 50 Gerard Street, Suite 100, across from the Cineplex Odeon Movie Theater in Huntington Village. Constituents can also request that a copy be mailed to them by calling 854-4500.