Start Here: How to Find Rent, Food, and Bill Help Fast

If rent is due, the fridge is empty, or a shutoff notice just arrived, you need answers quickly. This page shows you the fastest way to find real help and how to use the guides on Financial Support Resources.

Every guide on this site lists organizations you can contact directly, such as churches, nonprofits, and government programs, with phone numbers, addresses, and links to their own websites. We don't take applications or hand out money ourselves.

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Get Help Today in 3 Steps

1. Dial 2-1-1. It's free and confidential, and local specialists can tell you which rent, utility, and food programs have money right now. You can also search at 211.org.

2. Open your city guide below. Each one lists churches or nonprofits near you that help with rent, food, and bills, with hours and what to bring.

3. Call before you go. Hours, funding, and service areas change often. Ask what documents to bring and whether you need an appointment.

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Documents to Prepare

Having these ready can save you a second trip:

• Photo ID for adults in your household

• Proof of address, such as a lease or a piece of mail

• Proof of income for everyone in the household (pay stubs, benefits letters, or an unemployment notice)

• The bill, shutoff notice, or eviction notice you need help with

• Your landlord's name and phone number, or your utility account number

• Social Security numbers or cards, if a program asks for them

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Help by Type of Need

• Food today: Your city guide lists pantries and meal programs. You can also enter your ZIP code at Feeding America's food bank finder.

• Food every month (SNAP): Apply through your state's SNAP agency. The USDA's SNAP State Directory links to each state. New York residents can start with our New York SNAP guide.

• Rent and utilities: See our emergency grants guide for LIHEAP, utility hardship funds, and charities that pay toward rent.

• Debt and collections: Our debt relief guide covers free credit counseling, legal aid, and how to avoid scams.

• Other government benefits: USA.gov's benefits page helps you find federal and state programs you may qualify for.

• In crisis: If you're thinking about harming yourself or feel overwhelmed, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Church Guides by City

These guides list churches and church-run ministries that help with rent, food, and bills.

• Arizona: Phoenix

• California: Los Angeles · San Diego · San Francisco · San Jose

• Colorado: Denver

• Connecticut: New Haven

• District of Columbia: Washington, DC

• Florida: Jacksonville · Miami

• Georgia: Atlanta

• Illinois: Chicago

• Indiana: Indianapolis

• Kentucky: Louisville

• Maryland: Baltimore

• Massachusetts: Boston

• Michigan: Detroit

• Nevada: Las Vegas

• New York: New York City · Bronx

• North Carolina: Charlotte

• Ohio: Cincinnati · Columbus

• Oklahoma: Oklahoma City

• Oregon: Portland

• Pennsylvania: Harrisburg · Philadelphia · Pittsburgh

• Tennessee: Memphis · Nashville

• Texas: Austin · Dallas · El Paso · Fort Worth · Houston · San Antonio

• Virginia: Virginia Beach

• Washington: Seattle

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Nonprofit Guides by Metro Area

These guides cover nonprofits, community action agencies, food banks, and legal aid across each metro area.

• Atlanta

• Boston

• Chicago

• Dallas–Fort Worth

• Denver

• Houston

• Los Angeles

• Miami

• New York

• Philadelphia

• Phoenix

• Riverside–San Bernardino

• San Diego

• San Francisco Bay Area

• Seattle

• Washington, DC

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Editorial Standards: How We Research Our Guides

Financial Support Resources is an independent guide. These are the rules every city guide follows:

• What we include: organizations that run a regular rent, utility, food, or free legal aid program, serve the public (not just their own members), and publish contact information.

• How we check: each entry is checked against the organization's own website or a public directory such as 2-1-1 or a city or county resource list, and each guide says when it was last checked. If we can't confirm an organization, we leave it out rather than pad the list.

• No ratings or paid placement: list numbers are for easy reference, not a ranking of quality. We don't use star ratings or reviews, nobody pays to be listed, and sponsorship never changes which organizations appear or in what order.

• Sponsors and affiliate links: any sponsored content or commission link is labeled. See our Affiliate & Partner Policy.

• Corrections: programs change often. If a listing is wrong or out of date, email pete@altruismlab.com with "Correction" in the subject line and we will review and update the guide.

• We are not an aid agency: we don't take applications, collect fees, or decide who qualifies. Apply directly with each organization, and never pay anyone who promises to get you a grant.

• In a crisis: call or text 988 for mental health support, dial 2-1-1 for local help, or call 911 in an emergency.

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Closing Thoughts

The fastest path is usually two calls: 2-1-1 for programs with money right now, and the closest organization in your city guide. Bring your documents, ask about every kind of help they offer, and don't pay anyone who promises to get you a grant.

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Support This Free Guide

If these guides helped you, you can support the work so we can keep city lists updated.

Sponsor a city guide: Advertise With Us.

Optional tip: email pete@altruismlab.com with subject “Support FSR”.

Get new city guides by email: email pete@altruismlab.com with “Subscribe” in the subject line.

Helpful Tools (Labeled)

Nonprofit credit counseling finder (public resource, not a commission link): NFCC.org.

Free legal aid directory: LawHelp.org.

Moving labor quotes (partner category; this is a plain public link today; if we join HireAHelper’s affiliate program, we may earn a commission): HireAHelper. Full rules: Affiliate & Partner Policy.

Organizations that want to support this work: see Advertise With Us.