Apply for a grant

Illness or injury

To assist associates or immediate family member (limited to spouse/domestic partner or dependents) who have encountered financial hardships for reasons beyond their control (illness or injury) with household expenses or travel expenses to appointments.

Note:
Staples Cause for Caring does not provide funding for medical bills.

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Qualifying expense

• Past due rent or mortgage
• Past due basic utilities
• Travel expenses to attend appointments

Required documentation

• Medical leave documentation or FMLA1 form (if applicable)
• Doctor’s note documenting dates associate was not able to work
• Itemized medical bill statement to prove illness/injury occurred
• Documentation of time off from work due to medical reasons
• Travel receipts to attend appointments

Funeral

Available to assist those who have incurred the loss of an associate or immediate family member (limited to spouse/domestic partner, parent or dependents) if the associate is financially responsible for arrangements. An associate’s spouse/domestic partner may apply for assistance in the event of an associate’s death.

Note:
Staples Cause for Caring does not provide funding for medical bills.

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Qualifying expense

• Essential funeral expenses for deceased family member
• Travel expenses to attend the funeral or to make funeral arrangements
• Past due rent or mortgage
• Past due basic utility bills

Required documentation

• Itemized funeral invoice or estimate
• Proof of the death of relative (death certificate or obituary)
• Transportation receipts showing cost and date of travel to funeral or travel to make arrangements
• Copy of past due bills

Natural disaster

Associate’s primary residence is severely damaged, destroyed or rendered unlivable by a localized natural disaster (fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, ice/wind/snowstorm, mudslide, etc.) or federally/state-declared natural disaster or terrorist attack, or associate is displaced from home and forced to pay for alternative housing.

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Qualifying expense

• Uninsured/underinsured needed repairs to primary residence
• Security deposit to move into a new residence
• Emergency housing (if needed)
• Past due rent or mortgage
• Past due basic utilities
• Food
• Necessary items lost due to event

Required documentation

• Insurance report of damages or current insurance declaration page
• Proof of deductible amount from insurance company
• Insurance decision (e.g., amount awarded by insurance, denial of coverage)
• Itemized contractor quote showing amount needed to make repairs to primary residence
• Fire report from local fire department or other proof of fire
• Statement from community organization assisting associate (e.g., American Red Cross, fire/police department, shelter, etc.)
• Copy of past due bills or travel expenses

Unemployment

Loss of a spouse’s job or associate’s second job due to a layoff or company closure within the past 6 months. Excludes Staples’ employment.

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Qualifying expense

• Past due rent or mortgage
• Past due basic utilities

Required documentation

• Copy of the termination letter with date and reason of termination or paperwork from unemployment office showing date and reason of separation
• Copy of past due bills

Housing assistance

Associates in need of new housing due to:

• Rental unit/home condemned or deemed uninhabitable due to unsafe living conditions.
• Unforeseen sale/foreclosure of a home rented from a private landlord and the associate is forced to find new residence with less than 30 days’ notice (foreclosure of a home owned by the associate does not fit this circumstance).
• Preventing homelessness – extreme situations only where an associate received an official court order and on the verge of eviction with less than 30 days’ notice to vacate.

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Qualifying expense

• Security deposit to move into a new residence
• Past due rent or mortgage (if applicable)

Required documentation

Note: Associates requesting assistance as a result of the sale or foreclosure on their rented residence are required to submit proof of the sale or foreclosure including:

• Complete the New Tenant/Temporary Housing Statement
• Inspection report or other documentation showing how the home is uninhabitable
• Foreclosure notice from the landlord or owner of the rented property
• Documentation showing the property is for sale
• Current lease or proof of address
• Copy of eviction notice
• Copy of court order

Domestic abuse

Associate in unsafe home environment and is need of new housing.

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Qualifying expense

• Security deposit to move into new residence
• Temporary housing if needed

Required documentation

• Police report or restraining order documenting the abuse
• New landlord/temporary housing statement
• Copy of past due bills

Military deployment

Associate, immediate family member or spouse/domestic partner who has encountered financial hardships after being deployed.

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Qualifying expense

• Rent or mortgage
• Other bills where assistance is needed

Required documentation

• Copy of deployment orders
• Copy of basic utility bills
• Copy of rent/mortgage statement