Brief Description:

The Michigan Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund provides grants directly to struggling hospitality workers. Grants cover basic needs like groceries and rent while people recover from illness, injury, and natural disaster, as well as financial support in times of crisis. The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3), administers the Fund and provides support to employees that are going through unexpected challenges.

Description:

What is The Michigan Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund?
The Michigan Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund provides grants directly to struggling hospitality workers. Grants cover basic needs like groceries and rent while people recover from illness, injury, and natural disaster, as well as financial support in times of crisis. The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3), administers the Fund and provides support to employees that are going through unexpected challenges.

Who can apply for The Michigan Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund?

A Hospitality worker who has a primary source of income rooted in hospitality
Applicants must live in Michigan
Applicants must be employed by a Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association member for 90 days at the time of application. The application will require contact information for the business including business phone and email of General Manager or owner. Proof of employment will be required on every application.
Employees must be facing or have faced an extraordinary challenge within 3 months of the application date.
Types of challenges we help with include serious illness of an employee or illness of the employee’s family member, death of an immediate family member, unforeseen car repairs that are prohibiting them working, housing crisis, domestic abuse, or an injury that prevents them working. We are unable to pay for lost hours or unemployment due to COVID-19.

When will funds be available?
Applications are open and evaluated as received. Funds will be approved and distributed as quickly as possible. There is an award ceiling of $1,500 and applicants should apply for the actual amount needed.

Why was The Michigan Hospitality Industry Relief Fund created?
The Relief Fund was created in April of 2020, as a direct result of COVID-19 and the devastating impact it had on hospitality workers in Michigan. Throughout the state of Michigan shutdowns, more than $3.1 million were raised and distributed to those without gainful employment.
The Michigan Hospitality Industry Relief Fund has been expanded to provide support to industry employees who are facing crisis and hardships. Providing for those who serve in their time of need is the very essence of hospitality.

Contact Information:

For questions about this application, please contact Mario Gonzales at mgonzales@mrla.org

APPLY HERE