Assistance programs Saratoga County.
Find how to get financial assistance in Saratoga County. The United Way, churches, Saratoga County DSS and several other charities offer resources ranging from grants to pay back rent or utility bills to free food from pantries, Christmas toys from Angel Tree, and medical care. Some of the funding is coming from the federal government, and some is coming from private donors or local businesses.
Based on funding, there may also be home buying as well as mortgage assistance in Saratoga County. Or students from low income families can receive free school supplies or parents can receive free emergency heating repair services. There are many other options available in The Saratoga region, including loans, free counseling, and more.
Discount prescription drug cards
If you help paying for medications, the FamilyWize program as well as NaCo distributes discount prescription drug cards across Saratoga County and the local community. The card is free. There is no cost to people to apply or use the discount card.
The prescription discount card can lower the cost of patients medicine by an average of 30% or more. While it may may sound too good to be true, it is in fact the case, and the card is free to all applicants. Over 95% of both local pharmacies as well as those across the nation have agreed to provide lower prescription medication pricing to everyone that brings in a FamilyWize prescription drug discount card or one from NaCo. Click here to learn more on NaCo discount cards. Visit www.FamilyWize.org to also learn more.
Cars and transportation
The Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc (or SCEOC) runs the Wheels for Work program. This is an extensive transportation program, and it provides reliable cars to low to moderate income as well as other struggling Saratoga County residents. The cars are used in order to maintain employment for qualified individuals.
Upon acceptance into the Wheels to Work program, the program participant is provided with $350 toward car insurance, a reliable car, budget and debt counseling, points reduction classes, AAA membership, infant/child car seat, and even driving lessons if needed. (518) 587-3158.
Community services from SCEOC
If you need some short term help for an unexpected emergency or hardship, you may be able to get assistance for bills and expenses that occur during this timeframe from the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council. Get help with housing issues, such as if you are facing a utility or heating disconnection, have a pending eviction, or are encountering landlord/tenant relations. You can even gain access to a food pantry or possibly have free food delivered to you.
Another service that is available is a free weatherization program that may be able to help you lower your energy bills. All of these resources and programs are also administered by the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. Call the non-profit agency at (518) 587-3158 to learn more or to apply for help. More on programs from Saratoga Economic Opportunity Council.
Circles of Mercy
- Partners with other local agencies, and together they offer applicants the following
- Job finding skills, including resume reviews, access to computers, and counseling
- Free income tax preparation and advice
- Basic computer skills and training
- Extensive referrals and advice on other New York and federal government programs, such as how to get mortgage help from banks such as Wells Fargo mortgage hardship programs.
- Free bus passes and other transportation aid
Contact the Circles of Mercy agency at 518-462-0899.
Financial assistance for housing, utility bills, rent, food and other government programs in Saratoga County
Housing help, food, and shelter may be arranged and given out by the federal government. This is one of the programs that has been funded by the federal government. The Emergency Food and Shelter Program was both created and funded by the US Congress. The goal of the program is to assist with meeting the needs of hungry people in the area, people facing evictions and those who are currently homeless in Saratoga County and nationwide.
The program allocates federal government funds and grants to provide food and shelter to qualified applicants. There may be security deposit help, money for paying rent, mortgages or storage costs, as well as other bills. While local agencies run the program, you can call the United Way of the Greater Capital Region at 518.456.2200 to learn where to apply.
Qualified individuals in Saratoga can assistance with rent payments, first month or utility deposits and access to funds to prevent evictions. It will also assist with utility bills and arrearage. The rapid rehousing and homeless prevention program was created from federal government funds. Contact the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York at (518) 587-5188.
Wellpring only helps victims of domestic violence. The programs range from safe shelter to rapid rehousing, rent assistance, loans, clothes, and more. They help clients gain stability from 480 Broadway LL20, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. If victim of violence and need rental help or housing, dial 518-583-0280.
There are also many other general rent assistance programs from charities or the government. There is support for single parents, including mothers. Or people facing illegal eviction can get free legal advice. There are also transitional housing units for moms or kids, housing for youth and more. Find single mother housing.
Saratoga County Department of Social Services ((518) 884-4146) offers many programs including the low income energy bill assistance, food stamps, child care subsidies, health care, and other aid. This is the local DSS program that helps the unemployed, working poor, elderly and disabled among others.
DSS offer public assistance, including SNAP food stamps or applications for free WIC vouchers for infant formula. There may be cash aid, low cost housing, SSI disability and other social services for the low income in Saratoga County.
Heating bill help is also offered by the Saratoga County Department of Social Services. Among them include the federal government Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides the low income, elderly, disabled and others with energy bill assistance. The aid is targeted at families with low incomes, and the program can issue regular and emergency grants and aid to help pay for heating and utility-related costs. They also may be able to provide information on heating oil buying networks.
Captain Youth and Family Services - CAPTAIN's Family Assistance program offers assistance, advice, and advocacy in accessing emergency funds for basic needs of people in the community. They also run the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Project which may be able to offer rent deposit payment assistance, rent arrears assistance, short term and medium term rent payment assistance, utility deposit assistance, utility and heating bill payment assistance, moving and storage expense assistance, and hotel/motel vouchers for people who need housing. Clifton Park NY. (518) 371-1185
Salvation Army, of Saratoga Springs, (phone (518) 584-1640) runs a food pantry, offers holiday meals and gifts, and can refer people to other food programs such as SNAP. Learn more on the government food stamp or SNAP program.
The non-profit administers other services too. Among them include a program known as Family Housing and rent assistance/rapid rehousing may be offered. There are also free Christmas toys, Thanksgiving meals, homeless shelters as well as school supplies (among other resources). The agency is committed to assisting the low income and less fortunate with meeting their basic needs. Or shop at the low cost Salvation Army Family Store. More on Salvation Army in Saratoga assistance.
MACSC covers the Mechanicville area only. Programs range from VITA for doing income taxes to energy bill or rent help, clothing, food, and more. Dial 518-664-8322. They also offer health and wellness support, after school care, referrals, and other services. Address is 6 South Main Street, Mechanicville, NY 12118.
Capital Region Catholic Charities supports Saratoga County residents. A number of churches and organizations administer low income assistance programs. Call them for information on, or to apply for, housing, employment services, emergency utility and rental assistance and more. Other basic needs such as food, clothing, Christmas assistance and shelter may be administered too. Click here Albany area Catholic Charities.
Emergency and long term rental assistance as well as homeless shelters and/or transitional housing is offered in Saratoga County. Several charities, government DSS office and legal firms focus on this. They may offer grants, loans, free legal advice to stop evictions, deposit help and money to pay back rent too. Much more may be offered. More on rent and housing assistance Saratoga County.
Food banks and free assistance programs in Saratoga New York
Mechanicville Area Community Service Center - Helps people access social services and other aid. WIC applications, a free food pantry, food stamp applications, Christmas baskets, Thanksgiving baskets, meals, and Thanksgiving meals are available. Call (518) 664-8322
The Franklin Community Center - This non-profit organization has a free food pantry and groceries that are made available to help meet the emergency needs of low to moderate income families and individuals in the community. The center also distributes gently used clothing to those in need of help. (518) 587-9826
Several other food distribution centers, churches, and charities operate in the Ballston Spa and Saratoga County New York region. The locations distribute a variety of fresh and canned goods to the needy.Everything from soup kitchens to free food banks are available. Continue reading on free food pantries in Saratoga County New York.
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