If you need financial help with utilities and rent, you can get emergency help from local charities like the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities. and Goodwill Industries.  These not-for-profits help many families during these most difficult times.
If you are a low-income wage earner, you may qualify for financial support with bills. Some programs can assist you in maintaining the stability of your family. Â
They help prevent eviction, utility bills, food, or clothing.  These charity and non-profit organizations help with bills and work all year round to bring support and emergency assistance to the less fortunate.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Find Financial Help at 2-1-1
2-1-1 Is A Great Resource
The United Way has a listing of assistance programs in most cities in the US. It is an excellent place to start your search for help with rent or electric bills. They can locate eviction prevention and temporary housing assistance for you.
They can tell you what state, government, or community programs can help you pay your rent and utilities or provide assistance with security deposits on a new place to live. You can reach the United Way by dialing 2-1-1 on your phone, or you can reach them online at 211. org.Â
Get Help From Government Programs
Low-Income Heat Energy Assistance Program – (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP is a benefit program to help financially qualified residents with heating and cooling costs. You can contact your utility company, the Department of Human Services, or participating community organizations to apply for help. Â
Once a year, participants are eligible to receive a check in the winter to help with heating costs. You can call the United Way (2-1-1) to find out where to apply in your city.
Government programs help people pay for phone bills, health care, and other expenses. COVID-19 Rent Assistance. Welfare.Â
Government programs help people who need financial support during this time. Find out about COVID rent assistance. And see what you qualify for. Â
Contact your local social service agencies or nonprofits to see if they can assist.-Â LIHEAP helps low-income electric bills to help households pay their heating and cooling costs.
- You must meet certain requirements to qualify for LIHEAP assistance.
- To apply for LIHEAP you must fill out an application form at your local social services office.
- Your application must be approved before you receive benefits.
- You must use the money you receive wisely and properly.
- You must return unused funds within 60 days.”
15 Places to Get Free Hotel and Motel Vouchers
Family Assistance (FA) Programs Help Families With Children
You may be eligible for Family Assistance, which offers cash assistance to eligible disadvantaged families with at least one minor child living with one or both parents or guardians.
Family Assistance operates under federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) guidelines. Â Click here for more about government grants.
Public Assistance Programs & Help with Bills
Many people don’t know they may qualify for help from the government.  You can receive help even if you presently receive government aid like TANF, WIC, and SNAP benefits to get government help with rent.
If you are low-income and qualify financially, you may be eligible for a one-time emergency bill assistance with bills like utility shut-off, help to pay rent, and food assistance programs. Â
Therefore, if you have a financial crisis and are in danger of losing your apartment or having utilities shut off, go to your local DSS to apply for emergency help. Â
You may also qualify for expedited Food Stamp benefits and a referral to a neighborhood bank.
What Agencies Will Not Do
- give cash directly
- pay rent before you receive an eviction notice
- help if you do not qualify financially
What can these agencies do
- Provide emergency help paying rent
- You will get help if you qualify financially
- Please notify your landlord, mortgage holder, or utilities that they are helping you.
How to Apply for Financial Help
Charities, governments, and non-profits can provide financial help with utilities and rent.  However, when applying for help, you must provide proof of income, address, and identification for all in the family.  These documents will be used to verify who is asking for help and if you are eligible to receive help from the government, charities, and church assistance programs.
Non-profits Provide Financial Help with Utilities and Rent
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities financial assistance offers various benefits, one of which prevents evictions and helps with utilities and rent, mortgages, etc. If you risk losing your home, contact Catholic Charities to get the financial help you need to stay in your home.
They are committed to not helping lower income families transform their lives with respect and dignity. They offer social services, help with rent, utility assistance, healthcare, pregnancy support, foster care, adoption services, and disaster relief.
The Salvation Army Helps With Bills
The Salvation Army has been helping communities in need for over 100 years. These include a meal program, food bank assistance, emergency shelters, rent assistance, and clothing. Â Contact this charity if you need emergency help with rent, utilities, or other bills. Â Documentation must be provided to get service.
The American Red – Emergency Bill Assistance
The American Red Cross is well known for helping families and individuals affected by disasters.  They have opened 196 shelters, given out 669,000 relief supplies, and counseled almost 12,800 families.
They provide open shelters, meals, snacks, blood collections, replace eyeglasses, Help military families, Replace prescription drugs, provide physical health and mental health support, personal supplies, toothbrush, deodorant, and shampoo. (more)
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
St. Vincent de Paul is a leading Catholic charity in America. They provide many services, such as food distribution, prescription assistance, housing assistance, help with utilities, rent, and family counseling.
If you need help with preventing eviction, contact this charity here. Â If you need help paying rent, this charity will help you or direct you to where you can get the help you need. This organization is open to people of all faiths and backgrounds who need help.
In Conclusion
If you need help with utilities, contact the above agencies immediately. When you go to an organization seeking help, bring proof of identity, address, and income. Two things to remember are 1. Start your search by calling 2-1-1 The United Way to find programs in your city 2. when funding is limited, you must go to more than one agency to get all the money you need.Â
Ms. Lipscomb, Thank you so much for getting back with me! I have reached out to so many of the Resourses you have giving me, but will continue to try. I am unemployed as of Aug. 25th 2022. I received Unemployment for a while, but had to end up applying for Disability Nov. 2022.have yet to hear back, but Senator Tim Scott’s Constituent Service Representative has been looking into this matter. My only income is $750 per month & that is alimony & only pays for rent that went up in Jan. 2024. I have exhausted any saving I had . I receive SNAP which I am thankful for , but I can’t pay any bills any longer . I give plasma to make a little money for gas , toiletries . My car is barely running., so it just seems like it’s more & more . I’m honestly loosing hope. I’m old school , so computer & the & technology are difficult for me. Thank you again. .
Hi, Catherine:
I know it is difficult when you don’t receive enough to pay bills. You said you already receive food stamps. Please contact you social worker to see, what, if anything can be done for your situation. And if you are eligible for any other benefits in your state.
I desperately need assistance with my utility bill along with car repairs & car taxes . I have tried everything I know. Trying to get in touch with LIHEAP is a joke , I’ve tried to get in touch with Kelly Buckson as well to get some assistance on how to get through. I realize when their out funds that it, but I have called , been to the office , tried to apply on line , begging for someone to respond and give me guidance been trying since Sept. 2023. I need assistance please guide me on what to do.
Hello CP Smith. I can not direct you as I do not know your financial status. Are you working, full-time, part-time, disabled have children etc. If unemployed, try to apply for emergency assistance with utilities. DSS can also give you referrals to other non-profits or charities.
can you help me i moved in to a house with my four kids and iam a single mother i had room mates who moved out and didnt pay the rent now im stuck paying two months rent i cant afford im on disabilty and have low paying job i owe 4100 for two months rent i cant afford do you know any one who can help!
i need help i moved back to virginia myhome was robbed but thats ok i have applyed for disability i have no income my lights are out i owe rent i go to my tralier and stay at night im trying to clean it up but its to hot to clean it during the day i really need help i dont have a car i come to my daughters for showers i am on food stamps i could use all the help i can get thank you 540-819-1528
Please give me info on churches, charities or programs to help with rent for one month.62year old female who ran into hard times.Thanks
Hi, Rhonda. Try the organizations in this article for help. HERE
I have a3 yrs old granddaughter it have been real cold here I need help so bad I contact urban league they try to put me way back on the list but was told me it will be 2 weeks but if u have minor kids u come the next day they pay who they want to pay with that money friends especially
Hi Peggy. Please go to the Department of Social Services to ask for emergency assistance with your electric bill.
Am A Ugandan requesting for assistance towards my situation my wife gave birth yesterday, am being demanded money for rent?
Thanks, I like to hear from you.
Hello, Wafula. The programs we sponsor are only available in the U.S.
i need help pay phone turn off notice and my car payment my husband a vet
My name is David Sailo. I am from jabalpur, madhya pradesh India. I recently lost my job and very less jobs in my place so I have come to near by big city of indore. Now the money I brought all finished and been hungry for 2 days now. I don’t know anyone here .if I could get some help …it will be really helpful . My phone number is +91 9630979293
Hello, David. The programs listed here are US based and I am sorry to tell you we have no international connections.
I need help getting an apartment and I need help pay half of the rent, maybe more.
Toussaint. You may qualify for assistance from HUD or the Department of Social Services. All assistance is given based on gross family income.
Hi I desperately need help please
Hello, Cara. Can you tell us what type of help you need? Please do a search on our site, until we can get back to you.
Good morning my name is Maria Baham and I live in Louisiana and I am a single mother and I have a extremely high light bill that’s like $400 because it was doubled and I just didn’t have the money to pay for it so they cut my lights off and I have a 13-year-old daughter who I’m afraid is not going to have any Christmas gifts because I don’t have any money to even buy a tree or anything so I was just wondering if someone can maybe guide me in the right direction to see possibly if I can get help some kind of way for my baby and in the both of us are willing to help out also with other families and you know and help with the kids or pass out gifts or help out in any kind of way so if anybody can give me a call at area code 985-285-9728 it would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you very much have a good day bye bye
Hi, Maria. The Department of Social Services has help pay past due utilities and get your lights back on. Please contact the organization in the post Free Toys for Christmas to get your child a gift.
How can i get help with getting low income house young family 2 kids one on the way and 2 dogs please any kind of help my kids won’t have a Christmas temporary going from place to place it’s sad no evictions
Hi Karen. Always contact all the government agencies to see if you qualify for TANF, SNAP, WIC etc. You can receive temporary emergency assistance. Also contact the agencies in the post, Free Toys for Christmas.
Hi my name is Salvatore abbeduto I need help with my rent out of work for a few months single father two kids I have a newborn in the seventh year old my rent is 750 a month they’re about to shut off my lights my bills $220 and I need a washer and dryer whatever you going to help me with will be much appreciated I just got back to work
Hello, Salvatore. I am sorry you are having these troubles. There is help available. Contact the agencies we list in the article Christmas Programs that Help with Bills and Toys.
Hi my name is Salvatore abbeduto I need help with my rent out of work for a few months single father two kids I have a newborn in the seventh year old my rent is 750 a month they’re about to shut off my lights my bills $220 and I need a washer and dryer whatever you going to help me with will be much appreciated
Hello, Salvatore. There are organizations that can help with your situation listed in the post How to Get Help with Rent and Utilities.. Please contact these agencies for help. You must have a current eviction notice from your landlord and turn off notice for your utilities.
my name is reeba almas. I am in thailand as asylum seeker since 2013. I am here with my husband 2 years daughter and my mother in law who is 75 years old. we are not receiving any help from any organization, according to thai law we cannot work you can check with organizations in thailand please help what we had its already finish. please help us because we need to buy milk for daughter and mother in law which is basic for both of them.
Hello, Reeba. I am so sorry to say, you have to live in the US to be eligible for assistance.
Hello I’m not very good when it comes to asking for help. I’m in a situation where I believe I need to reach out for help before I completely go under. As a Life long practicing Catholic as well as Volunteer I love helping Others and giving back. It’s a feeling like no other to see a simple kind act an the massive positive impact it can have on someone’s life. If anyone can direct me to a reliable source that can help me with rent and utility asstiance I would greatly appreciate it.God Bless Thank You.
Hello, Ashley. Please contact the agencies in the post Emergency Rent Assistance.. You must be receiving help from a government agency or be considered low income to receive help. Also, funding must be available.
We are in serious need in paying rent for May. Our landlord is talking about an eviction notice.
Hello, Dawn. First of all, it takes time for a landlord to physically put you our of your home. http://ptla.org/what-can-i-do-if-my-landlord-trying-evict-me. Please go to the department of social services to see if you can get emergency assistance with rent. You can also try, these Charities for Help
Need help paying back rent I was unemployed for 4 months. Now I have a job I’m having a hard time catching up with my rent that i fell behind while unemployed.
Hello, Jessica, please contact the DSS to see if they can help you with back rent. They may need a formal eviction notice to help you. But speak with them on their policy in your city. Also call 211 (United Way)
Hi I am disabled and I am have trouble paying my rent and my electric bill. I can work due to 4 back surgerys. And really need some help with my bills any help you can send me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and God Bless.
Hello Phillip. Please contact the agencies in the post Help with Rent and Utilities. They will help you.
Hi my name is Celita I recently lost my job last week and am currently trying to find another job, I was the sole provider for my family so I now have no income for us any help would be greatly appreciated and valued
Hello, my name is Donald. I am in need of assistance with my rent. I was let go from my job in April, and I just started a new job this week. Unfortunately, I have gotten way behind on my bills. Is there anyone who can help me?
Hello, Donald, HUD can help you with your rent, also call the United Way the have connections with many assistance programs in you state. Good luck!
hi I’m 26 a single mother of 4 trying to move up in life trying to finish high school, working a par time, and taking care of my kids I’m un able to pay for a deposit for an apartment all my checks go to rent and gas food clothing for my kids laundry I need a little help financially. I leave in a very small basement with no rooms with my mom and sister and I would like to get help to move to a bigger apartment
Hi, Anna. HUD can help with rent deposits for new apartments. Also, call United Way. (2-1-1) to get a list of assistance for, rent, utilities, food, etc. I was wondering have you tried DSS. They may be able to help with TANF, food stamps and Medicaid, depending on your income.
I am in need of assistance for deposits to get appartment. And help with utility deposits. I am on fixed income of ssi and live with family. My rv was set on fire a year ago and all my things in it burnt to the ground. Please help.
Hello, Michelle. Contact HUD, they help with security and utility deposits. Also contact United Way for more agencies that help in your area.