Financial assistance for bills, housing, food, and other basic needs comes from several categories of organizations — federal and state government programs, local nonprofits, community action agencies, churches, and utility companies. Each category has different eligibility rules, different application processes, and different funding limits. This page explains what each type of help covers and how it is generally accessed, organized by category. A list of state resources is at the bottom.

If you already know your city or county and want a local directory of specific organizations, the local financial help directory lists charities, nonprofits, churches, and government offices by location across every state.

Most assistance programs — including government ones — operate on a first-come, first-served basis and can run out of funding before the end of the year. Applying as soon as a hardship starts gives a much better chance of receiving help than waiting until a shutoff notice or eviction filing arrives. The site's 3-step guide to applying for financial assistance walks through the process in plain terms. Before sharing personal information with any organization, the how to avoid scams page is worth reading first.

Rent and Housing Help

Emergency rental assistance is one of the most actively funded categories of help in the country. Federal and state funds flow through local nonprofits and community agencies and can cover back rent, security deposits, and in some cases moving costs. Details on how emergency rent help is delivered and who qualifies are at emergency rent assistance.

When an eviction notice has already been served, there is still time to act but the window is short. Eviction prevention programs use emergency grant funds, legal aid, and housing counselor intervention to stop an eviction before it reaches a court date. Most programs require the applicant to be able to cover future rent on their own once the immediate crisis is resolved. Details on how to apply are at emergency help for families facing eviction.

HUD's Emergency Housing Choice Voucher program provides access to subsidized private housing and prioritizes people who are homeless, fleeing domestic violence, or coming out of the foster care. It is part of the broader Section 8 program. Demand is high and resources are limited in most areas, but applications can be started through emergency housing voucher applications.

Homeowners behind on a mortgage can get free help from HUD-approved counselors who negotiate directly with lenders on modifications and foreclosure prevention. There are also state specific mortgage assistance programs and lender options. The sooner a homeowner contacts one of these options, the more options remain open. More on the mortgage assistance programs and how to find a counselor is at the NHPB HUD counseling page.

HUD administers other housing assistance programs across the country covering rental vouchers, public housing, fair housing complaints, and homeownership support. It is also the oversight agency for most local housing authorities. The full range of HUD programs and how to access them is at https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans.

Utility and Energy Bills

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the primary federal source of utility bill help. It funds heating and cooling assistance and in some states also covers emergency repairs to heating systems. The program is administered through state agencies and delivered locally by community action agencies and social service offices. A state-by-state breakdown is at LIHEAP programs by state.

For households already facing a shutoff notice, the emergency or crisis version of LIHEAP can process within days. It is designed specifically for imminent disconnection situations and gives priority to seniors and families with young children. How that works is at emergency crisis LIHEAP.

Most state regulators require utility companies to offer some form of financial relief to struggling customers before a disconnect takes place — payment plans, bill credits, or reconnection fee waivers depending on the provider. It is worth contacting the utility company directly as a first step alongside any government program application. A breakdown of programs by provider type is at assistance programs from utility companies.

Water bill assistance is available in many communities through utility company programs, local nonprofit grants, and government agency funds. Payment plans are the most common option but some organizations provide direct help to prevent a shutoff. Details are at help paying water bills.

Food Assistance

Expedited SNAP benefits can be approved within a day or two for households in severe need. A local social service office or nonprofit processes the application, and if the household qualifies, an EBT card can be issued quickly. How the expedited process works and where to apply is at emergency SNAP benefit applications.

Food banks and food pantries distribute free groceries and emergency food boxes to millions of people each year. Most do not require proof of income and many operate on a walk-in basis. In addition to pantry food, some organizations provide grocery boxes specifically for households in an acute crisis. Find a local pantry through the food banks and food pantries directory or look for emergency grocery box programs at government and nonprofit food assistance.

Transportation Help

A small number of nonprofits and businesses donate vehicles to low-income families who need transportation for work. Programs including Free Charity Cars, Goodwill, and Ways to Work are limited and have waiting periods, but they are a real option when a car is the primary barrier to employment. Details are at programs that help low-income households get a free car.

For a vehicle that needs repairs rather than a replacement, some nonprofits and volunteer mechanics provide free or reduced-cost car repairs for low-income workers who need the car immediately for a job or job interview. Details on where to get a free car repair cover those options.

Some local charities provide emergency gas vouchers for people who need to travel for a job interview, medical appointment, or other urgent trip. These are distributed by community action agencies and churches in many areas. Details are at emergency gas vouchers.

When a borrower is facing a one-time hardship with a realistic plan to recover, some lenders will offer a car payment deferral, reduced payment arrangement, or short-term abatement rather than move to repossession. What to ask for and how to approach it is explained at emergency help with a car payment.

Phone Assistance

The federal Lifeline program provides discounted or free phone service to low-income households on qualifying government benefits. It covers both cell phones and home phones and in some cases provides a free device. The program is available in every state though providers and plans vary by area. Details are at telephone assistance programs.

Disability Programs

Financial assistance for people with disabilities is available through most state governments, the Social Security Administration, and local nonprofits. Benefits can include food, health care, emergency financial assistance, and direct cash support depending on the program and state. A full guide to disability assistance programs — including SSDI, SSI, and state-level resources — is at disability financial assistance programs.

Emergency and Crisis Help

Community action agencies are often the best first call when a need is urgent and overlapping — behind on both rent and utilities at the same time, for example. They administer federal funds, provide case management, connect families to job training, and in many counties run Head Start programs and weatherization services. Many also host free tax preparation (VITA — Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) during tax season, which matters for low-income households because credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit can result in refunds that are often the largest single payment a family receives all year. The community action agency directory lists offices by state, and IRS Free File and VITA locations are at https://www.irs.gov/freefile.

The Salvation Army operates locations throughout the country and provides emergency financial help for rent, utilities, food, and other immediate needs. Assistance is generally limited to once per year per household and what is available varies by location. Details on how the Salvation Army's emergency assistance works are at Salvation Army emergency financial assistance.

Churches and faith-based organizations often run small, localized emergency funds that are not listed anywhere officially. They tend to move fast, rely on donations, and sometimes have fewer eligibility requirements than government programs — most useful for an immediate, one-time need like a past-due utility bill or a few days of groceries. A starting point for finding them is at the guide to churches with emergency funds.

In specific situations — domestic violence, extreme weather with no safe shelter, or sudden homelessness — some nonprofits and emergency programs can provide a hotel or motel voucher as a last resort. Details on who qualifies and how to ask are at hotel and motel vouchers for emergencies.

When a federally declared disaster affects a home or household, FEMA's Individuals and Households Program provides financial assistance for housing repairs, temporary shelter, and other disaster-related costs. Applications are at https://www.disasterassistance.gov.

Government Benefits Screening

Benefits.gov is the official federal government portal for finding and applying for government benefit programs. It covers programs across dozens of federal agencies — housing, food, health care, energy, employment, and more — and allows users to screen for eligibility based on their situation before applying. It is a useful starting point for households that are not sure which programs they may qualify for. The screener is at https://www.benefits.gov.

USA.gov maintains a broader directory of federal assistance programs, including some that provide emergency payments or support outside the standard categories. Details are at https://www.usa.gov/benefits.

For the fastest way to get referrals and another option to find out what is available and currently accepting applications in your local area, dial 211 or visit https://www.211.org to reach a local operator. The 211 network covers housing, food, utilities, health care, and crisis programs in every state and operates around the clock in most areas.

Community Forum

People who have navigated these programs firsthand share what worked, what did not, and what local resources they found in the site's moderated community forum. It includes real experiences from across the country, including programs that do not appear on official lists. The forum is free to read, moderated and participate in at community forum on assistance programs.

Find Help by State

The resources below link to state-level pages covering rent, utilities, food, and emergency help — with county directories for each state. Select your state to find programs and local organizations near you.