Top 15 Nonprofits in New York Helping with Rent, Food, and Bills in 2027
Rent in the New York metro is brutal, and one surprise (a cut shift, a Con Ed spike, a court date) can wreck a whole month. If that's you right now, you're not failing. There's a real network built for exactly this moment.
This guide covers the five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester, and the North Jersey and Shore counties. We focused on nonprofits with structured programs for rent and eviction, utility shut-offs, emergency food, and free legal help.
Funding opens and pauses fast, so call first and apply early. Details reflect what each organization publishes as of October 2026.
How We Chose These Nonprofits in New York
We included 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including faith-based agencies like Catholic Charities, that serve the metro, run structured aid programs, and publish clear contact info. We ranked them on Impact, Accessibility, Reputation, Transparency, and Equity (serving everyone regardless of faith or background).
Picks are spread across NYC, Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey, with extra weight on rent and utility help. We did not use Google ratings; trust signals come from each organization's published information as of October 2026.
1. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
A century-old network covering Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley.
Primary assistance: Eviction prevention, rent and financial assistance, food pantries, SNAP help, immigration legal services
Best for: Renters behind on rent who need a caseworker, not just a check
How to get help: Toll-free Help Line (888) 744-7900; 488 Madison Ave., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022; catholiccharitiesny.org
Start with the Help Line, which routes you to the nearest agency, or filter the online Find Help tool by service and location. Help is open to people of all faiths.
Trust signals: Serving New Yorkers since 1917; publishes every agency's address and phone online.
2. Met Council
A major Jewish charity serving New Yorkers of every background.
Primary assistance: Crisis intervention for eviction and utility shut-offs, kosher food network, benefits access, affordable housing
Best for: Households on the edge of eviction or a utility turn-off
How to get help: Crisis line 929-292-9261 (Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Fri 8 a.m.–2 p.m.); 1 State Street Plaza, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10004; metcouncil.org
The crisis team handles urgent eviction and shut-off cases, then works on the root cause. Food network: 718-763-5318; benefits access: 212-453-9532.
Trust signals: Reports serving 350,000+ clients a year, of all faiths.
3. Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens
The go-to Catholic agency for New York City's two largest boroughs.
Primary assistance: Homebase homelessness prevention, food pantry network, emergency services, case management
Best for: Brooklyn and Queens renters at risk of entering shelter
How to get help: Call Center 718-722-6001; ccbq.org
Call first; centers are by appointment. Homebase helps people at risk of shelter because of rent arrears, overcrowding, or unsafe housing.
Trust signals: Reports 4.9 million meals distributed through its pantry network and 36,500+ Call Center calls answered; Homebase is funded by the NYC Department of Social Services.
4. The Legal Aid Society
Free civil and criminal legal help in all five boroughs.
Primary assistance: Eviction defense in Housing Court, NYCHA cases, foreclosure help, guidance on HRA One-Shot Deals for back rent
Best for: Tenants with a court date or eviction papers
How to get help: 212-577-3300; legalaidnyc.org
If you have court papers, call right away. Income-eligible tenants may qualify for free representation, and the housing pages explain HRA emergency rent help.
Trust signals: One citywide intake line; housing guidance updated in 2026.
5. Food Bank For New York City
The city's largest hunger-relief group, supplying pantries and soup kitchens in every borough.
Primary assistance: Pantry and soup kitchen network, community kitchen, free SNAP enrollment help, free tax prep
Best for: Anyone who needs groceries this week, or help applying for SNAP
How to get help: 212-566-7855; 355 Food Center Drive, Bronx, NY 10474; foodbanknyc.org
Use the pantry finder for food near you, or ask about SNAP and tax help, which can free up cash for rent.
Trust signals: Working since 1983; reports 1.6 billion pounds of food delivered.
6. Project Hospitality
Staten Island's largest nonprofit for hunger, homelessness, and crisis help.
Primary assistance: Soup kitchen and mobile pantry, 24/7 drop-in center, housing services, SNAP screening, financial counseling
Best for: Staten Islanders who need food or housing help fast
How to get help: Meals (718) 815-0800, 211/205 Canal St., Staten Island, NY 10304; Drop-in (718) 720-0079, 150 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301; projecthospitality.org
The Canal Street kitchen serves lunch Tuesday and Thursday, 12–1 p.m. The drop-in center is open 24/7 for single adults 21+.
Trust signals: Founded in 1982; reports serving 40,000+ residents a year.
7. Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank
Long Island's food bank, with its own pantries in Nassau and Suffolk.
Primary assistance: Food pantries, mobile pantries, veterans and kids programs, pet pantry
Best for: Nassau and Suffolk families who need groceries
How to get help: (631) 582-3663; 10 Davids Drive, Hauppauge, NY; licares.org
It runs its own pantries, including Bethpage, plus mobile pantries on its calendar. Most open weekdays at 9 a.m.
Trust signals: Founded in 1980 by the late Harry Chapin; reports 13.3 million pounds of food distributed.
8. Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County (EOC)
Nassau County's community action agency.
Primary assistance: Rent and mortgage arrears, utility arrears, emergency food, rapid rehousing
Best for: Nassau residents behind on rent or utilities
How to get help: (516) 292-9710; 134 Jackson St., Hempstead, NY 11550; eoc-nassau.org
Its Emergency Food and Shelter Program offers rent, mortgage, and utility help for Nassau residents. Call to ask about current funds.
Trust signals: Runs community action and Head Start sites across Nassau.
9. Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WestCOP)
The community action agency for Westchester and nearby Hudson Valley counties.
Primary assistance: Eviction prevention grants, Con Edison shut-off prevention, community action centers
Best for: Westchester renters with a past-due notice or Con Ed turn-off notice
How to get help: 914-592-5600; Peekskill CAP (914) 739-1454; New Rochelle CAP (914) 636-3050; westcop.org
Apply first at your local DSS office (Mount Vernon, Peekskill, White Plains, or Yonkers); if denied, call WestCOP. Rent help covers one month, and the Con Ed bill must be in your name.
Trust signals: Eviction grants are funded through United Way, per WestCOP's program page.
10. Feeding Westchester
Westchester County's food bank.
Primary assistance: Partner pantry network, mobile food distributions, SNAP outreach
Best for: Westchester families who need groceries
How to get help: 914-923-1100; 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523; feedingwestchester.org
Use the food finder for a nearby pantry or mobile distribution. For rent, pair this with WestCOP.
Trust signals: Incorporated in 1988 as Food-PATCH; EIN published online.
11. SHARES Nation (NJ SHARES)
A statewide New Jersey nonprofit focused on utility and housing grants.
Primary assistance: Gas and electric grants, municipal water and sewer help, past-due rent or mortgage help
Best for: New Jersey households who don't qualify for state aid or still owe after getting it
How to get help: 866-657-4273; apply at apply.sharesnation.org; sharesnation.org
The Energy Assistance Grant offers up to $700 per utility, and NJ SMART offers up to $5,000 for past-due rent, mortgage, or property tax. Call volume is high, so apply online.
Trust signals: 501(c)(3); publishes program limits online.
12. Center for Food Action (CFA)
Bergen County's anti-hunger and homelessness-prevention nonprofit.
Primary assistance: Rental assistance, security deposits, utility shut-off help, emergency food
Best for: Bergen County and eligible Passaic County residents
How to get help: 201-569-1804 ext. 10 for rent or utility help; 192 W. Demarest Ave., Englewood, NJ 07631; cfanj.org
Leave a message on the rent and utility line. Utility help needs a shut-off notice or urgent need and is limited to once every 24 months.
Trust signals: Publishes eligibility rules and required documents.
13. Community FoodBank of New Jersey
New Jersey's largest food bank, based in Union County.
Primary assistance: Pantry finder, SNAP and WIC application help, job training
Best for: North and Central Jersey families who need food
How to get help: (908) 355-3663; 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside, NJ 07205; cfbnj.org
Search the pantry map, or get free help applying for SNAP and WIC. Job training is also offered.
Trust signals: Started in 1975; tax ID published online.
14. Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ)
Coordinates free civil legal aid across New Jersey.
Primary assistance: Eviction defense, free legal advice and referrals, self-help guides
Best for: Low-income New Jersey tenants facing landlord-tenant court
How to get help: LSNJLAW Hotline 888-576-5529 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.); apply at lsnjlawhotline.org; lsnj.org
Free, confidential advice in all languages for income-eligible callers. Call as soon as you get court papers.
Trust signals: Publishes eviction research, including a 2026 report.
15. Fulfill (FoodBank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties)
The food bank for the Jersey Shore part of the metro.
Primary assistance: Pantry and soup kitchen network, mobile pantries, SNAP help, tax refund referrals
Best for: Monmouth and Ocean County families
How to get help: 732-918-2600; 3300 Route 66, Neptune, NJ 07753; fulfillnj.org
Use the pantry locator to find food near you. Staff can also help with SNAP and health coverage.
Trust signals: EIN published; second site in Toms River.
Other Important Helplines and Resources in New York
NYC 311 and HRA: NYC residents can call 311 or apply through ACCESS HRA for emergency help, including One-Shot Deals for back rent or utilities.
2-1-1: Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey residents can dial 2-1-1 for local rent, utility, and food referrals.
County social services: Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester DSS offices handle emergency assistance and HEAP heating benefits.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 any time if money stress turns into a crisis.
Related Guides
Looking for more options in and around New York? These guides cover churches and nonprofits helping with rent, food, and utility bills:
Churches helping with rent, food, and bills in New York City, NY
Churches helping with rent, food, and bills in the Bronx, NY
SNAP benefits in New York: eligibility, income limits, and how to apply
Nonprofits helping with rent, food, and bills in the Los Angeles metro
Nonprofits helping with rent, food, and bills in the Chicago metro
Closing Thoughts
The New York metro's help network is huge, but it rewards people who move early. If rent is the problem, call Catholic Charities, Met Council, CCBQ, EOC, WestCOP, CFA, or SHARES before a notice becomes a court date. Already have papers? Call Legal Aid or LSNJ today.
Let food banks cover groceries while you sort out the bigger bills. Keep your ID, lease, income proof, and notices in one folder, and call more than one place. Asking for help is a power move.
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