The NATIONWIDE organizations listed below can assist you with your basic needs, including: food, clothing, rent, utilities, transportation, back to school needs, medical, dental, and holiday needs.

IF they cannot assist you, they may be able to refer you to someone who can.

Government benefits
Find out what government benefits you may qualify for

Local benefits by state
Select a State from the map to view a list of the selected State's benefit programs.

SSA.gov
To apply for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income

Department of Labor
Can assist with: unemployment, job search, resumes, job training, wage and hour, layoffs, overtime, workplace safety, retirement and health benefits, and disability questions.

211.org

Community Action Organization

St Vincent De Paul

Red Cross

United Way

Catholic Charities

Salvation Army

WIC
Specifically for pregnant/postpartum women and children UNDER 5

HEAP
utility assistance

FOOD STAMPS - OFFICES BY STATES

Social Services

American Public Human Services Association

Internet site that list social service agencies by state

A NATIONWIDE listing of social services offices and applications online

HUD - RENTAL ASSISTANCE
If you need rental assistance this is the place to start. Subsidized housing is based on your income and often times it is much quicker to get into a subsidized apartment than to wait for a Section 8 Subsidy approval
Also check out how subsidized rent is determined

Ways to Work
A LOAN program specifically for low income families in need of a car or car repair, who do NOT qualify for conventional loans.

http://www.alliance1.org/Programs/Waystowork.htm

Support for military personnel and their families
Assistance just for military and their families

Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA
government grants to finance your education

United Health Care Childrens Foundation
Grants, up to $5,000, can help families pay for the costs associated with therapies such as speech, physical and psychotherapy sessions; for medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids and eye glasses; and for orthodontia and dental treatments.

MODEST NEEDS
non-profit organization reaching out to hard-working individuals and families who suddenly find themselves faced with small, emergency expenses that they have no way to afford on their own

OPEN DIRECTORY PROJECT
Listing of organizations which grant wishes to disabled, terminally ill, children and adults.

Prosper
loan program for people - from people

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
assistance with medications for those without insurance

Donated Dental services
In each state at least one program coordinator is responsible for determining that applicants are either disabled, elderly or medically compromised and have no other way for paying for dental care.

Together Rx
discount card for prescriptions

Toys for Tots
Christmas assistance for families with children

FREECYCLE
looking for something? Getting rid of something? Check out FreeCycle!

MONEY MANAGEMENT

Credit counseling

CCCS

NFCC

money management. org

credit.org

ATTORNEYS

probono attys

divorce source

PETS

If you need financial assistance, for a pet who is ill, check out this page:
National financial assistance organizations for pets

FEMA

FEMA NATIONAL SITE

Childrens Healthcare Emergencies

United Health Care Children’s Fund might be able to help. "Grants, up to $5,000, can help families pay for the costs associated with therapies such as speech, physical and psychotherapy sessions; for medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids and eye glasses; and for orthodontia and dental treatments."

united health care

HOUSING

HUD/SECTION 8/Govt subsidized housing
Section 8 housing usually has a long list because the subsidy is attached to the person, not the property. This means that regardless of where the person lives, they still get the subsidy. In NY the waiting list is 8-10 years.

****If at anytime, you are denied accessibility to applying for any program, you should contact your local city, county, or state leaders and have them intervene on your behalf. - THIS APPLIES TO ANYONE WHO IS DENIED ASSISTANCE.

HOWEVER, there is another alternative. Subsidized housing where the subsidy stays with the property rather than with the renter. You would still pay the same amount of rent - it is based on your income - but you would have to move into a government subsidized property.

In most cases, these are handicapped accessible, family oriented, all the maintenance is included - among other things.

I am including the link for HUD below - just click on the proper state and take it from there. You will need a minimal security deposit - which you can possibly get paid by social services or another charitable organization.

Regardless of how long the list is you should still be able to be put on the list.
Contributed links:

hud rental assistance

fair housing act

home page

Americans with disabilities act homepage

GRANTS

evander holyfield foundation

prosper – loan program

modest needs

FOOD CO-OPs

Find a food co-op near you!

http://www.coopdirectory.org/

NEW FROM ELAINE !!!

8/29/07

nichy org - resources

is it a scam?

8/6/07 ~ A GREAT LINK FROM SANDY 6

looking for grants? here is a great place to start!

AZOGROUP.COM

How To Locate Small Business Grants,
Government Grants, and Other Grant Money

***7/28/07 More great links from ELAINE***

HAC - HOUSING ASSISTANCE COUNCIL
Does NOT help individuals, BUT does have a lot of information and links for individuals- please browse through the site for more information.

***More from ELAINE 7/22/07***

FREE MEDICAL CAMPS

pro bono" financial planning assistance

We provide personal financial guidance to members of the public who cannot afford a financial advisor, or who are facing an immediate or unusual financial need.

****NEW from ELAINE! 7/19/07***

GRASSROOTS.ORG
This is one site you have to see for yourself! If you want to start a non-profit, volunteer, get involved, or just do some research, this is the place to start!
From Grassroots:

"The mission of Grassroots.org is to serve as a catalyst for positive social change by leveraging modern technologies and business best practices. Grassroots.org spreads important social information via our network of socially-focused web sites, while also providing non-profit organizations with free valuable resources to increase their efficiency and productivity.

Our ultimate goal is to adopt 10,000 nonprofit members, and to provide them each with an average of $10,000 of services per year at no charge (for a total savings of $100 million per year!). Additionally we will continually develop over 30 high profile nonprofit Internet portals in cooperation with specialist partners, utilizing high profile domains such as PlanetEarth.org, Relief.org, ImmigrationReform.com, Philanthropists.org, Diseases.org, Homeless.org, Crime.org, Liberties.com, and Childrens.net

We strive to deliver clear and objective information that is usable by everyday global citizens, with extra emphasis on issues facing the United States. Our social action websites are designed to encourage individuals to get involved in their communities and to provide them with the information they need to make a difference.

We focus on everyday citizens by offering free action oriented information on our sites, via our forums - and through our social action email addresses, blogs, and other technologies. We provide individuals with ways to express themselves, learn, share, and to volunteer on important projects.

We focus on nonprofits by offering free services including our one of a kind Grassroots Toolbox full of free valuable web based services – plus full-featured web hosting, free domain registration, free website design, mentoring services, consulting and more."

Also from ELAINE...

Emergency food and shelter board program

The EFSP National Board does not provide direct client assistance. Direct assistance is provided through a variety of resources, which may include EFSP funding in your community. If you are in search of assistance for yourself or someone you know, you should look in the community services section of your local telephone directory. You should find these pages in the front of your directory and should look for listings for American Red Cross, Catholic Charities or Catholic Social Services, The Salvation Army, United Way Information and Referral, or other non-profit service providers. You may also click on Funded Organizations, here or on the EFSP homepage, to find organizations funded through EFSP in your community who may be able to assist or refer you to the appropriate assistance.

SEX OFFENDER

Is there a sex offender living near you?
find out here

My wife to be doesn't work, and hasn't for a year now. We have a new baby (born 7-6-05). We only owe a total of $4600 between the both of us. I need to get my car running and registered/ insurance. All the bill collectors want all of thir money now. I'm falling behind, trying to juggle bills and get us out of debt. I pay 12 different bills a month. I am a insulin dependent diabetic 25yrs old with no heath insurance. I need a loan or grant to help me get back to normal. Stressed Out over BILLS. Nobody will give me a loan because I haven't had a loan before...well, I've never needed one this bad. I grew up feeling poor, growing up in a broken disfunctional home. I've never been on a vacation, but I won't miss a day of work. I am trying to make a good life for my wife and child, and I'm soooo close to getting it.

I am a father of one four year old boy.  I only make about 20,000.00 a year working full time for Parisian.  This might sound like plenty, but after I pay utilities, car note, house note, daycare, gas, food, and whatever else I haven't mentioned.  I really don't even have enough cash to buy food or gas after daycare, utilities, car note, car insurance, house note and insurance.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO BETTER THIS SITUATION.

 I am a single female unemployed homeowner in need of financial assistance for mortgage and utilities also for home improvements in a historical home

look up ur local catholic charites organization for your city.  You don't have to be catholic just in need. Also if u have any catholic or christian hospitals in ur area call and see if they have a community help program.  Alot of these Hospitals have programs but they don't tell people about them. 

when our son went to war in jan of 2003 our world fell apart. I was laid off, everything that could break in the house did or quit working. then my husband lost his job. We both took the war down a different path and for some reason he has kept going down the path and has since been diag with bi polor, has attemped suicide, in now in a hosp because the mental health system is so poorly funded that they had him going in  circles because not one person knew what they were doing. he has applied for disability and is waiting but this is his second trip to the mental hosp. I cant find any help with any of our utilities, or our mortgage payment. we have filed bankruptcy and it is pretty much done now but his ailment is keeping him from finding a job. he has worked hard and provided well and we are going on 30 years of marriage. where can i get some answers for any assistance.  thanks karen

I have a GROUND FLOOR GIANT - Georgia Launch Energy De-regulation.

This is a great opportunity to make and save money on your utilities. 

Check it out now:  http://msdlcraig.igniteinc.biz

Thanks and God Bless!!

Hello,

I am in need of help. I worked for 20 years, never missing anytime except when my parents passed away or had vacation time to work on my house. I became unemployed in July of 2006 after working for a company that closed it doors in my location. I appealed to them to sign up with the government to agree to the job loss situation where the benefits would be extended but to no avail. I have found that here noone cares about job experience anymore, its all about the piece of paper (either a degree or certification). Here is the kicker though, due to my job being closed for good and thats why I became unemployed, I was able to go back to school for my MCSE certification. The problem with it is that its conflicting with work schedules so my school is keeping me from getting hired anywhere. What I need help with is living expenses while in school so I could get my certification and thus be able to get that good job. We have stayed pretty close on out bills to this point but have fallen behind slightly now. Any assistance would ne most appreciated. Thank you for your help in advance.

my husband and I are going through a really tough time right now and could use help paying bills. he has been diagnosed with colon cancer and has had several surguries to correct it. he is also undergoing chemotherapy and because of it neither of us is able to work. This is his second time being diganosed with colon cancer, his third for cancer. Some years ago he had skin cancer and is slightly deformed in the face from it. His surgeon is at a loss as for what to do about his angoing surgury related problems. Please if you are able to help, or know of someone who may be able to, let me know. Thank you all for your thoughts!

I recently lost my job due to a previous back injury that I am still recovering from and need assistance in providing for my family.  I am working with DES and AHCCCS to get back on track, but they are of little help.  I need more help.  My utility bills are coming in.  I need food and clothing for my kids.  Please help me.

Hello.

I am sure everyone says this but I can't believe it has come to this.

I am a single Mother of two children. My little girl is 8 and my son is 15. 4 weeks ago I had emergency surgury which put me out  a a job and due top recovery out of work all together for the past three weeks. Last weekend my significant other up and left without a word with the greatest portion of monies we were struggling to save for rent, utilities etc. I am now in a position where my landlord wants me out by the first and I have no where to go. I have no family. My electric bill is past due, my phones will be shut off in a week. I am seeking employment and aid and hopefully have a job starting Monday but by the time I get a first pay check I will be out of an apartment. I am looking for another apartment that I can afford but I do not have anything to get me into one.

Basically I don't know what to do. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

I recently lost my job and I am now back at work making half the money I was making before I have two small children and my electric bill is going to be diconnected on friday. Can any one please help. I am desperate. We live in southern california and are do for a mild hear wave. If you can help my paypay email is lynettes_411@yahoo.com. You can also email me at this same address. thank you for any help you can give the elecric bill is 750. Thank you!!

MY HUSBAND AND I ARE PEOPLE WITH A STRONG BELIEF THAT THERE IS STILL ALOT OF GOOD AND COMPASSION LEFT IN THE WORLD. SOMETIMES HARD TO FIND BUT NEVER THE LESS THERE.

I need help paying my electric, water, gas, and phone bills. My phone and water are turned off due to nonpayment. I've been out of work for three months and can't draw unemployment. I've been searching for a job with no luck. I do have email access at my local library if anyone can help me. If you email me @ herculesmom1@yahoo.com I can provide you with my account number(s) and web sites. Thank You.

I've been out of work almost 7 months, and my unemployment has run out. My wife is disabled and cannot work. My mother-in-law has a severe case of a rare form of dementia. I need help paying rent, electricity, car insurance, car payment, food etc. I always seem to be too poor to be rich, and too rich to be poor.

   I NEED EXTRA MONEY FOR RENT, CHILDCARE, AND UTILITY BILLS. I'M NOT ASKING FOR ALOT JUST ENOUGH TO GET BACK ON MY FEET WHILE GOING TO COLLEGE FOR A BETTER CAREER.

Hello.  My name is Cammy.  My husband is in the hospital getting another round of chemo.  He has cancer and has been fighting it for over 2 years now.  He's been unable to work and is so weak in between hospital stays that he cannot watch our kids so that I can work.  We have 3 wonderful kids ages 12, 7, and 2.  Our 7 year old son has Cystic Fibrosis and our 2 year old son has severe asthma.  They are both active but require breathing treatments and medicine.  Thankfully we have help to get the medical care that we need.  Our 12 year old is very healthy.  My 12 year old and I are the care takers of the family.

We recieve Social Security and long term disability to make ends meet.  It hasn't been easy but we've managed.  We recieved a letter a couple months ago saying they made a mistake in the disability payments and paid us too much so until that is caught up (payment wise) we won't be recieving any more payments.  This has put us in a bind, especially with the gas and electric company.  We have been on a payment schedule with them and are now behind.  I came home last night from visiting my husband in the hospital and found the gas has been turned off, the electricity to follow soon.   I've been trying to find help to pay this bill from the state and county but am told there is no money right now to help.  I get the same response from the Red Cross and Salvation Army and other sources I've tried.  I don't know where else to go.  My kids need their breathing treatments, I have no hot water for baths, laundry or dishes.  My husband is coming home in a couple more days.  My head is swimming, I don't know where to turn.

I humbly ask for help and in return I promise to help others as soon as I am able.  Right now I owe $1100.00 to the utility company and after my electricity goes off they will ask for a deposit also, so I'm hoping somehow to come up with this amount.  I'm very gratefull to have found this web site.  Please help if at all possible.  Even a dollar donation would help.  I have a paypal account that you can send money to at kwi_1158@yahoo.com.  If you wish to send a letter please email me at the same address.

Thank you all who are able and willing to help those of us in need.  I will keep my promise also to help whenever I am able. 

My wife wrote a few bad checks in 2003 and 2004. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation. This was all done without my knowledge. Thinking that things were caught up and doing fine. I this week find out that she didn't pay all the restitution and was picked up for probation violation. That's the history. What I find now is that she also left our bills behind. I have everything at least able to stay on except the electric. It will be shut off Monday. It seems that in 2004 when they switched the account name from mine to hers, but didn't switch the 1200.00 balance. They hit us with that this past year. I thought we were catching up with all that till today. If I don't come up with 1000.00 by Monday, they will shut off the electric. I have 2 kids at the house. One is older and having problems, the other is 7 yrs. old. I am lost, especially since I thought this was all paid. Please help me, I don't have any other options.

I need a government grant to buy my own house to get my grandsons out of  foster care because their mother (my daughter) and their father are incarcerated right now.I receive supplemental security income, so i cant afford to buy my own home. 

hi I am a single female, am an artist and started a retail business with nothing and have kept it going for 6 yrs. but the past 2 have the MOST unimaginable. So many bad events I actually feel cursed. Being alone with a house and a business and trying to transform the A.D.D. artist INTO a business woman is a lot for person.My house needed LOTS of work 2 years ago and I was TOTALLY ripped off by 5 separate contractors--I intend on pressing charges but that too costs money and I need to prioritize. SINCE I knew I could not trust any worker alone in my house, and my home needed (STILL needs) normal amenities I was offered help from a friend to keep an eye on the shop while I babysat the workers.....WELLLLLL she needed babysitting as well some deposits mysteriously vanished (as well as a bank stealing from me---a WHOLE other ball of wax.. SERIOUSLY could write a book, but was done a terrible injustice and have no means to fight them)...well in the course of all this....a competition (franchised) store with much more money opened LESS than 2 miles from my store....wah wah wah.....bottom line, gas has been off since May....house at that time went into foreclosure, but I pulled a rabbit out of my hat and saved it...but NOW the workout payments are DOUBLE what they were and I was struggling with previous!...the water JUST got turned back on after a 2 week drought.... D.H.S. is LESS than helpful...I have been waiting for 3 weeks for the prior approved funds to be re-approved all by a simple piece of paper that was SUPPOSED to have been mailed to me and cannot get another-- the whole system is confusing to a non-systemer,--I JUST WANT TO CRY!!!! the system needs a SERIOUS restructure!...paid taxes since I was 16 and cannot get a straight answer and was humiliated by the 'social' workers---OH and not having a CAR (yeah U guessed it a drunk ran a red and I totaled my reliable transportation....$ paid the bank....hit and run of course too so no recourse)......ALL this while my credit is being destroyed trying to keep everyone happy and not doing that good of a job!...there is SOOO much more that has happened it is truly UNBELIEVABLE...and every time someone says....'well it can't get any worse'....IT DOES!...since the heat was off in May (didn't miss it in the summer heat and Tide has cold water wash!!!)...anyhow all of the heating funds through the assistance programs were depleted,  so no heating dollars exist because I supposedly make too much money..HA!...DTE is requesting a large deposit and reconnection fee on top of my charges which doubles the amount...It is really cold and I am really scared---pipes freezing, or ME....recently as well, my store was broken into and $ and inventory stolen...I have no one to turn to for help....I was/am soo proud of my store and know that it has a future as soon as I can get back out of this hole and afford the advertising /new merchandise(also pay the vendors that I currently owe)/ and catch up the back rent. My semi-understanding landlord, HAS served eviction papers ONLY to validate that money IS owed....ANY assistance or suggestions would be incredible as life's hole gets deeper and deeper---I DO NOT want to file bankruptcy---HONESTLY this is only a small portion of my cursedness...it is amazing I have not had a full blown meltdown!....I want to get my home finished so i have a peaceful environment and can get myself ORGANIZED, i KNOW this will help tremendously!...I THANK YOU in advance!

 I ALSO HAVE NO HEALTH / DENTAL INSURANCE and NEED IT!!

 a breakdown of problems

$3000 for a reliable car/plates/registration

$2350/month mortgage payment due to foreclosure fees/workout repayment plan (total mortgage $127,000)

$3600 due in delinquent and current property taxes

$3000 due in past due business location rent to the landlord

$3500 due in delinquent sales taxes from business

$3000 owed to friends who helped me save my house

$2000 in way overdue student loan

$6000 due to vendors for store inventory--thankfully they are understanding

$1000 due to re-connect my natural gas utility

$1000 due to nextel/sprint for unpaid balance on turned off cell phone (there are several disputes, I am tired of going around and around...do not have the time OR the energy)

$700 due in outstanding advertising debt

$300 behind on my phone bill---AND they left my BUSINESS INFO
OUT of the yellow pages...AND listed it as an UNPUBLISHED

$5000 in credit card debt--most is for business and the remodeling which is STILL not finished

$500 outstanding bad checks-with THEIR collection fees

$500 past due VET bill

I need financial assistance to help cover my rent, car payment, utilities, car insurance and telephone bill for this month.  I recently lost my job and what I had saved in the bank to cover emergency expenses is now depleted. I have noone to help me and i'm very concerned that I may become homless before my search for employment becomes fruitful. 

I am only asking for $500.00 to pay my utilities, that are behind.  I have 3 babies, that really deserve to have their basic utilities.  Can you please help us?  Thank you & God Bless!

Hi, i am a proud single mom of 3 beautiful kids.(2 boys, 1 girl)  We have recently had to move in with my mom.  She have been great taking us in with limited space and on a fixed income. I have been so use to being able to sufficiently take care of my kids on my 7.60 p/hr job until when my hours were cut,  i lost track of everything.  All of my utilites are off, well I have managed to get my electricity back on, everything else is  hanging in the balance.  I can't concentrate all of my finances in my bills, because since we moved in with my mom all of her utilies have increased so my half has to come in somewhere.  I have tried to receive assistance from government agencies and churches.  There's either no funds, their quota has been met for the day or because i work overnight and bring my kids to school right after, I cannot sleep in the line to receive help.  My mom is showing signs that We are wearing out our welcome, we have been here for 3 months and she is use to things being a certain way in here home and her life.  I can handle her snaps, mean mugs, and shoulder shoves, but my kids are beginning to get a piece.  Please someone, anyone help me get my kids back home.  We need $815, and any advice, help, donations anything will be appreciated.   

Thank You

i am a married 25 year old native american woman with three children. my husband and i are both in our third year of recovery from substance abuse. i have ADD and other health issues (not hiv) we are not financially secure enough to get into our own home as of yet I have tried to complete medical assisting classes several times in the past three years and between the three pregnancies and not being able to take meds while pregnant i have never finished nor completed them. my husband would like to further his education as well but we are barely surviving on what he makes, between rent and keeping three kids in diapers.