Mahoning County assistance programs

Rent, prescription, mortgage, utility and food assistance

Two of the primary organizations that provide assistance in Mahoning County and Youngstown Ohio areas include Catholic Charities ((330) 744-3320) and St. Vincent de Paul Societies ((330) 783-1900).

Catholic Charities helps tens of thousands of families with emergency assistance. For example, in 2008 3,837 families received assistance with food and food vouchers, over 8,200 people received help with paying utility bills, 1,006 received free drugs or prescription assistance, and over 700 families received clothing assistance. In addition to these programs, about 650 people received other types of emergency assistance, such as counseling, advocacy and information and referral services.

First Step pregnancy aid and support program
Almost 5,000 people received help from this Catholic Charities program. First Step is an assistance program that links lower and middle income pregnant women and families who have children that range in age from birth to 3 years old with material assistance, including case management services as well as other community resources available to address the family needs.

Housing services
You can also receive help with housing, including foreclosure counseling, rental assistance, case management, home mortgage assistance, free housing counseling, home down-payment assistance, and they can also help with housing search and information.

Children’s and Family Services in Mahoning County

This agency, which can be reached at (330)965-7828, has received a federal government grant that will be used to provide various forms of help, including mortgage, rental, utility bill, and case management assistance to hundreds of local households. The Office of Housing and Community Partnerships also provides financial assistance, cash grants, and technical assistance to units of local government and nonprofit organizations in Ohio for project activities which benefit low- and moderate-income Ohio citizens.

Save money on energy bills

The Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership runs a program known as Home Energy Services. The program starts with an energy audit of your home or residence. The non-profit agency will test your furnace or other heating appliance, and they will also see how much heat escapes your home by reviewing your home's insulation. The check on how efficient your windows and doors are to determine if they're letting heat escape from your home.

They also may be able to perform various energy conserving weatherization services on your home, including installing new floor, attic, and wall insulation. Since this energy bill conserving program began, MYCAP has weatherized over 9,000 homes in Youngstown and Mahoning County. In addition, depending on its current condition, your furnace or other heating appliance may be replaced or tuned up. (330) 747-7921.

Utility and heating bill assistance

In addition to the energy program mentioned above, Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership (phone (330) 747-7921) also runs programs that provide cash and grants for paying utility and heating bills. The different programs include Regular HEAP Program (Home Energy Assistance Program), Percentage of Income Plan (PIP), as well as the Emergency HEAP program. All of these are options for qualified homeowners.

Social services and general help

You can learn about local charities, non-profits, and both federal and Ohio assistance programs from the Help Hotline Crisis Center, Inc. 1-800-427-3606. They are a great resource to learn about Housing Assistance Program, Senior citizen programs and help line. Homeless outreach program, victims assistance program, and who to call for help with bills and debts.

The Salvation Army oversees and runs several programs and services that will help meet basic human needs. and provides social services. Learn about, or get help, with rent, prescriptions, free food, and heating bills. In addition, they also provides social development, educational, and recreational programs for children, youth, and adults in the community. 330-746-8403

Food bank provides groceries and free food

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley (contact 330-792-5522) provides food to hunger individuals as well as directly to relief organizations including church pantries, non-profit agencies, shelters for battered women, distribution centers, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters in Mahoning County Ohio.