Masonic Homes Foundation Nonresident Assistance (NRA)
1. Nonresident Assistance (NRA) may be granted in cases where, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, applicants for assistance can be better served outside the Masonic Home or applicants prefer to stay in their own communities. The NRA Program provides monetary stipends to approved applicants who wish to continue living in their own communities. The stipend enables recipients to stay in their homes for as long as possible, with or without care, or to live in a retirement-type setting near family and friends.
2. The NRA Program does NOT require the recipient to assign assets to the Masonic Homes.
The NRA Program serves to help recipients meet expenses by supplementing their monthly income. However, NRA recipients are required to sign an Agreement to Repay. This is a notarized document which states that once recipients no longer receive NRA, they will repay all or a portion of what was expended on their behalf, provided they have the financial means to do so.
Applicants who own a home or mobile home are asked to assign those assets to Masonic Homes to secure the Agreement to Repay. In the event that an individual's estate is sold, the amount expended by the NRA Program on the recipient's behalf is reimbursed to Masonic Homes. The rest is given to the recipient's stated beneficiary.
If the estate amount is less than what was expended, NRA would be reimbursed to the extent possible, with no residual available to any beneficiary.
3. The amount of NRA and the length of time it is provided varies among recipients, according to need. Some receive assistance for life. In determining the necessity and amount of NRA to be granted, consideration will be given to the availability of aid from the Lodge and relatives who can contribute as well as the possibility of securing aid from any other source, public or private.
4. It is not the policy of Masonic Homes of California to render NRA for temporary needs, such assistance being the duty and responsibility of the individual Lodges. NRA does not provide financial assistance to those who reside in a nursing home or qualify to reside therein. It does not pay for around-the-clock home care.
5. The Homes Representative assigned to work with the NRA recipient visits yearly to review the status of each person and modifies such assistance as dictated by changing circumstances.
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Criteria for Nonresident Assistance
To be eligible to apply for Nonresident Assistance, an applicant must be:
1. Age 60 or older.
2. A Master Mason who has been in good standing in a California Lodge continuously for the past five years; or
- The wife of such a Master Mason; or
- The widow of such a Master Mason.
3. Otherwise qualified for admission into the Homes, but not eligible for admission by reason of disease, physical or mental infirmities, including in exceptional circumstances, the adult children of deceased Master Masons.
4. In need of financial assistance.
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To Apply for Masonic Assistance:
1. The Lodge, applicant, or family should contact one of the Homes Representatives to describe the applicant's current living situation.
Northern California: Gene Altaffer
Southern California: Steve Jordan
2. Grand Lodge of California will mail an application to the applicant, a family member or Lodge for completion.
3. Once the completed application is received, a Homes Representative will visit the applicant and prepare a report to submit to the Board of Trustees.
4. The Board of Trustees then votes to approve or deny the application.
5. If the application is approved, a check can be sent to the applicant soon after the Board meeting, if appropriate.
6. A letter outlining the details of the program is sent to the Lodge, a family member and approved applicant as soon as NRA begins.
7. Annual reviews of the recipient's status are conducted by a Homes Representative.