Top 15 Nonprofits in Atlanta Helping with Rent, Food, and Bills
Updated: 4 days ago
Metro Atlanta's emergency help is organized by county: Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority, Partnership for Community Action in DeKalb, Clayton County Community Services Authority, and suburban ministries like North Fulton Community Charities, MUST Ministries in Cobb, and Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry. The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and Atlanta Legal Aid help tenants facing eviction, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank supplies local pantries. This guide lists 15.
This guide covers the core Atlanta metro: Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, Cherokee, Forsyth, Henry, and Douglas counties. We focused on nonprofits with structured help for rent, utility bills, groceries, and free eviction legal help, spread from Roswell and Cumming down to Forest Park and Jonesboro.
Many agencies serve only certain counties or ZIP codes, so check the service area and call early. Details reflect what each organization publishes as of October 2026.
How We Chose These Nonprofits in Atlanta
We included nonprofits that serve the Atlanta area, run a regular rent, utility, food, or free legal aid program, and publish contact information. Faith-based charities are included when they serve people of any background. Details come from each organization's own website and were last checked in October 2026. The numbers are for easy reference, not a quality score. We don't use star ratings or reviews, and nobody pays to be listed. Funding and eligibility change, so call before you go. Our editorial standards explain how we research, date, and correct these guides.
1. Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Financial Emergency Services
County-based emergency centers across the core metro.
Primary assistance: Rent or mortgage, utilities, food, clothing, school supplies, furniture
Best for: Clayton, Fayette, Cobb, Douglas, and Gwinnett residents in a sudden financial crisis
How to get help: Call 404-486-2888 or apply online at SAHelp.org; centers include 130 Spring St., Jonesboro; 202 Waterman St. SE, Marietta; and 3455 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville
SAHelp matches you to the right local office by ZIP code, and approved rent or utility payments go straight to the landlord or utility.
Trust signals: Publishes five county Financial Emergency Services centers; the City of Atlanta's ATL311 notes Fulton and DeKalb locations were not accepting applications at last update.
2. St. Vincent de Paul Georgia
Catholic volunteers who meet neighbors one-on-one through local parish groups.
Primary assistance: Rent, mortgage, and utility help when funds allow; food; Motel to Home program
Best for: Families across metro Atlanta who need a one-time boost to stay housed
How to get help: Assistance Line 678-892-6163; svdpgeorgia.org
When you call, your ZIP code routes you to the nearest volunteer Conference, which reviews your request. Motel to Home helps families move from extended-stay hotels into stable housing.
Trust signals: Statewide network of parish-based Conferences; help is offered regardless of faith.
3. Partnership for Community Action
The community action agency for DeKalb, Gwinnett, and nearby counties.
Primary assistance: LIHEAP heating and cooling help, water assistance, emergency help with rent, mortgage, utilities, and lodging
Best for: DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, Newton, and Walton County households
How to get help: 404-929-2500; complete the online screening at pcaction.org
Emergency Services are by appointment only, after you pass an online screening. Screenings for the 2027 program year start October 13.
Trust signals: Founded in 1966 by Eva Jewell Greene; part of Georgia's community action network.
4. Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority (FACAA)
The community action agency for the City of Atlanta and Fulton County.
Primary assistance: LIHEAP energy assistance, including crisis help for disconnection notices
Best for: Atlanta and Fulton County residents with a past-due or shutoff power or gas bill
How to get help: LIHEAP appointments 470-437-4621; main office 404-320-0166, 341 Kelly St., Atlanta, GA 30312; facaa.org
If you have a disconnection notice, crisis help is available to the first 10 walk-ins Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. Senior (65+) heating assistance has a start date to be announced; FACAA says to check back December 1, 2026.
Trust signals: One of 20 community action agencies in Georgia; opened in 1991 and reports helping more than one million residents.
5. Clayton County Community Services Authority
A nonprofit community action agency serving the south metro.
Primary assistance: Rent, mortgage, and utility help; food; LIHEAP payments of $350–$500
Best for: Clayton, Henry, and Fayette County households facing eviction, foreclosure, or a utility shutoff
How to get help: 404-363-0575 (press 2 for rent, mortgage, utilities, food, and LIHEAP); 1000 Main St., Forest Park, GA 30297; claytoncountycsa.org
LIHEAP prioritizes seniors 60+, people with disabilities, and homes with a child under 5.
Trust signals: Established in 1966; describes itself as a non-profit community action agency.
6. Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF)
Free legal help for Fulton County tenants facing eviction.
Primary assistance: Eviction defense and advice at the Housing Court Assistance Center
Best for: Fulton County renters who have been served an eviction notice
How to get help: (404) 521-0790; walk in at the Fulton County Courthouse, 185 Central Ave. SW, Room TG-100; avlf.org
Move fast: in Georgia you have just 7 days to respond after you're served. Walk-in hours are Monday to Wednesday 9 a.m.–noon (afternoons 1–4 p.m. at the Justice Resource Center, 7th floor) and Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Trust signals: Courthouse-based help center; its Atlanta Rising prevention pilot referral form is currently paused.
7. Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Free civil legal help across the five core metro counties.
Primary assistance: Housing and eviction cases, public benefits, consumer issues
Best for: Low-income renters in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton
How to get help: Apply at atlantalegalaid.org/apply or call your county office: Fulton 404-524-5811, DeKalb 404-377-0701, Cobb 770-528-2565, Gwinnett 678-376-4545, Clayton 404-669-0233
Seniors 60+ can call Georgia Senior Legal Aid at 404-389-9992.
Trust signals: Serving metro Atlanta since 1924; reports nearly 21,000 cases a year.
8. Atlanta Community Food Bank
The hub for hundreds of pantries across the metro.
Primary assistance: Pantry finder, Community Food Centers, SNAP and Medicaid application help
Best for: Anyone in metro Atlanta who needs groceries this week
How to get help: 404-892-3333; text FINDFOOD (or COMIDA) to 888-976-2232; 3400 North Desert Dr., Atlanta, GA 30344; acfb.org
Use the pantry map or text line to find the closest open pantry.
Trust signals: Serving the region since 1979.
9. North Fulton Community Charities
The go-to safety net for north Fulton.
Primary assistance: Rent, mortgage, and utility help; food pantry
Best for: Residents of ZIP codes 30004, 30005, 30009, 30022, 30024, 30075, 30076, and 30097
How to get help: 770-640-0399; Barbara Duffy Center, 11275 Elkins Rd., Roswell, GA 30076 (Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.); interest form at nfcchelp.org
Start by submitting the interest form for financial help.
Trust signals: Founded in 1983 by eight churches; 501(c)(3) since 1988; posts financial documents.
10. Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries
A Gwinnett ministry with walk-in hours (formerly Norcross Cooperative Ministry).
Primary assistance: Limited rent, utility (electric, gas, water), and prescription help; food
Best for: Norcross, Peachtree Corners, and the Gwinnett parts of Tucker and Doraville
How to get help: 770-263-8268; 500 Pinnacle Ct., Suite 510, Norcross, GA 30071 (Mon, Wed, Fri 10 a.m.–2 p.m.); ourncm.org
Payments go by check straight to the landlord or utility, and you need a lease in your name. Due to funding changes, financial help is currently for new families only, so arrive early.
Trust signals: Publishes clear eligibility and document lists.
11. MUST Ministries
A Cobb and Cherokee nonprofit with food and housing programs.
Primary assistance: Food pantries, tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA), emergency shelter
Best for: Cobb and Cherokee County families
How to get help: 770-427-9862; Marietta Client Services, 1260 Cobb Pkwy N., Marietta, GA 30062 (Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–2 p.m.); mustministries.org
Grocery help is offered in Marietta, Smyrna, and Canton. TBRA fills the gap on rent, utilities, and deposits; ask a case manager about financial help, which is not guaranteed.
Trust signals: Serving since 1971; runs supportive housing for more than 150 people.
12. The Place of Forsyth County
A long-running hub for Forsyth and Dawson families.
Primary assistance: Partial rent, utility, and prescription help; food
Best for: Forsyth County families with children and seniors
How to get help: 770-887-1098; 2550 The Place Circle, Cumming, GA 30040 (Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri 8 a.m.–noon); theplacega.org
Requests are usually processed in 3–5 business days, so reach out before the due date.
Trust signals: Founded in 1975 by four Dominican nuns; posts financials.
13. Sweetwater Mission
A west-Cobb food mission in Austell.
Primary assistance: Walk-in food assistance
Best for: Low-income households in Austell and the west metro
How to get help: 770-819-0662; 6130 Hotel St., Austell, GA 30106 (walk-ins Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–1 p.m.); sweetwatermission.org
Bring proof of residency under 30 days old, photo ID, and documents for each household member.
Trust signals: EIN published on its site.
14. Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry
A Christian food ministry for central Gwinnett.
Primary assistance: Emergency food (no rent or utility help)
Best for: Lawrenceville and Dacula ZIP codes 30043, 30044, 30045, 30046, 30049, and 30019
How to get help: (770) 339-7887; 52 Gwinnett Dr., Suite C, Lawrenceville, GA 30046; lawrencevilleco-op.org
Distribution runs Monday evening plus Wednesday and Friday mornings.
Trust signals: Serving Gwinnett since 1995.
15. Catholic Charities Atlanta
Housing counseling and benefits help from a major service agency.
Primary assistance: HUD-certified housing counseling (including rental counseling), SNAP screening, referrals for rent and utility help
Best for: Renters who need a plan, not just a one-time payment
How to get help: Main line 404-920-7725; housing counseling 770-790-3112; 2305 Parklake Dr., Suite 150, Bldg. 9, Atlanta, GA 30345; catholiccharitiesatlanta.org
Counselors can help with budgeting, rental questions, and lining up benefits.
Trust signals: 75 years of service; publishes its EIN and annual reports.
Other Important Helplines and Resources in Atlanta
211 (United Way of Greater Atlanta): Dial 211 or 404-614-1000, or search 211online.unitedwayatlanta.org for rent, utility, and food programs near you.
Georgia Gateway: Apply for SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF through your county DFCS office at gateway.ga.gov.
Georgia Legal Services Program: A nonprofit law firm; call 1-833-457-7529 or visit glsp.org.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Money stress is heavy. Call or text 988 any time, or visit 988lifeline.org.
Related Guides
Looking for more options? These guides cover nonprofits helping with rent, food, and utility bills in other major metros:
Closing Thoughts
Start with your county: FACAA in Fulton, Partnership for Community Action in DeKalb, Clayton County Community Services Authority, or the suburban ministry that covers your ZIP code. If you have an eviction notice, call the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation or Atlanta Legal Aid right away. The Atlanta Community Food Bank's pantry finder covers the metro.
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