I do contract work since about 10 years now. PARC is the one you should head for. Padraic Toolan is the man of the man there. I meet him several times in the past, very reliable and honest person, he knows the market and has a good reputation as well. DPI is trying to keep up the quality as well.
Any agency run by active pilots is more ore less a pimping to collegues. They have not the time to deal with the problem you may have in time as they fly themselves at the moment you try to contact them. Call PARC, DPI, CCL, EPA, BIUSA, WYNNWITH, CONTRACTAIR, STORM, TITAN, or or or they have somebody on the phone rightaway. You are able to talk with them.... if they are able to help you is another question. As mentioned in a above response: You the Pilot is between the firing lines and business is more important then support an individual with his personal fantasy. Get the job done, take the money and go home and be happy. It is also important to have your border, you do what you can take and, if needed, walk off the apron and go home when you think it is too dangerous to fly that flight. You afford it? then do it. It teaches both a lesson, the contractor with whom you wont get another contract somewhere, the operator who should get the message that enough is enough.
The market is picking up, a lot of companies did not hire in the past and with the traffic growing Airlines need more Pilots, everywhere. That is putting pressure to them and to the agent. Now it is up to the Pilots to wait until the conditions improve to a decent level and flexibility and then you can take a contract. Direct hires are for Expat rare. So if you want to stay home it will be hard to get a attractive contract......
Good luck NG