Georgia financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Georgia
If household costs are hard to manage, Georgia has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the county or regional application route when a program is handled by a local agency.
Money Fit serves Georgia residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
The best starting point depends on whether the need involves a state benefit, local utility or housing help, or another community service. Eligibility, funding, waiting lists, and application methods can vary.
Apply for state benefits
Georgia Gateway is the main state portal for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids, Georgia Pathways, CAPS child care assistance, WIC, and several other benefits.
Find local basic-needs help
Georgia's Community Action network can serve residents in all 159 counties and is a strong starting point for local energy, weatherization, emergency, housing-stability, and other anti-poverty services.
Housing or energy assistance
LIHEAP and weatherization are routed through local agencies, while Georgia Housing Search, DCA housing programs, and coordinated-entry systems handle different rental and homelessness needs.
Do not assume 211 currently reaches every Georgia county. Georgia's 211 network is being expanded statewide, but full statewide coverage is not yet complete. If 211 does not connect in your area, use Georgia Gateway, your local DFCS office, or the Community Action Agency serving your county.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with Georgia SNAP or WIC when it fits the household. For food needed sooner, Feeding Georgia can connect residents with the regional food bank serving their area.
Georgia SNAP
SNAP provides monthly grocery benefits to eligible Georgia households. Applications can be submitted through Georgia Gateway, by phone, by mail, or through a local DFCS office.
DFCS Customer Contact Center: 877-423-4746
Georgia WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Georgia Gateway can start an application, and local WIC clinics complete enrollment.
Georgia WIC: 800-228-9173
Feeding Georgia food-bank network
Feeding Georgia is the statewide network of Feeding America food banks serving communities across Georgia. Regional food banks can connect households with local pantries, distributions, meal programs, and other emergency food resources.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Georgia housing and utility assistance is divided among local Community Action Agencies, the Department of Community Affairs, public housing authorities, coordinated-entry systems, and legal-aid providers. Funding and waiting lists can change quickly.
Georgia LIHEAP
LIHEAP may help eligible households with heating or cooling bills and crisis assistance. Georgia's program is seasonal and administered by local Community Action Agencies on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.
DFCS Customer Contact Center: 877-423-4746
Georgia Weatherization Assistance Program
Weatherization may help qualifying households reduce energy use and address certain health and safety concerns through approved home improvements. Local agencies administer applications, and some counties may have waiting lists.
GeorgiaHousingSearch.org
Search affordable, accessible, and market-rate rentals throughout Georgia by address, city, county, or ZIP code. Contact the property directly to confirm current availability, rent, accessibility, and eligibility.
Housing search assistance: 877-428-8844
Housing Choice Voucher programs
Georgia DCA administers Housing Choice Vouchers in 149 of the state's 159 counties, while the remaining counties are served by local housing authorities. DCA's tenant-based voucher waiting lists are currently closed.
DCA Housing Choice Voucher Helpline: 470-802-4707
Homelessness and coordinated entry
Georgia uses regional Continuums of Care and coordinated-entry systems to connect people experiencing or at risk of homelessness with shelter, housing assessments, and local services. DCA's Balance of State system provides access points for communities outside the separately operated metro continuums.
Balance of State homelessness hotline: 844-249-8367
Georgia Legal Aid
GeorgiaLegalAid.org connects residents with legal information and nonprofit civil legal services for eviction, landlord-tenant disputes, public housing, benefits, debt, family safety, and other civil matters. Intake routing depends on the county.
Two older Georgia housing routes are no longer current. DCA's Emergency Housing Voucher program ended June 30, 2026, and the regular DCA tenant-based voucher waiting lists are currently closed. Use the current DCA waiting-list page, local housing authorities, GeorgiaHousingSearch.org, coordinated entry, or legal aid instead of old EHV application information.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Georgia Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids, and Georgia Pathways to Coverage serve different eligibility groups. Georgia Gateway is the main application route for these state health programs.
Georgia Medicaid
Georgia Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage through several eligibility categories, including children, pregnant people, older adults, people with disabilities, and some other low-income residents. Applications can be submitted through Georgia Gateway or a DFCS office.
Medicaid and DFCS application help: 877-423-4746
PeachCare for Kids
PeachCare for Kids provides comprehensive health coverage to eligible uninsured Georgia children who do not qualify for Medicaid. Applications are available through Georgia Gateway.
PeachCare for Kids: 877-427-3224
Georgia Pathways to Coverage
Pathways provides Medicaid coverage to some adults ages 19 through 64 who are not otherwise eligible for traditional Medicaid and who meet income and qualifying-activity requirements. Applications are available through Georgia Gateway.
Pathways information: 404-656-4507
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, substance-use, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
Georgia Pathways rules change January 1, 2027. Current Pathways rules remain in effect through the end of 2026, but Georgia has published upcoming eligibility and community-engagement changes. Applicants and current members should use the current Pathways guidance rather than older summaries. Review the 2027 changes.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Georgia Gateway can be used to apply for CAPS child care assistance and TANF. DECAL also provides a statewide child care search and family-support line.
Childcare and Parent Services
CAPS helps eligible low-income families with child care costs while parents work, attend school or training, or participate in other approved activities. Applications can be submitted through Georgia Gateway.
CAPS Customer Response Unit: 833-442-2277
DECAL child care search
Families can search licensed and Quality Rated child care providers, review monitoring information, and get personalized help finding care. The search can also identify providers that participate in CAPS.
Family Support Call Center: 877-255-4254
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
TANF provides temporary cash assistance and employment-related support to eligible Georgia families with children. Applications can be submitted through Georgia Gateway, by mail, or through a local DFCS office.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, and the ability to apply for other assistance.
Georgia unemployment insurance
Unemployment insurance provides temporary income to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Claims, weekly benefit requests, work-search reporting, and account management are handled through the Georgia Department of Labor.
Georgia Career Centers and WorkSource Georgia
Georgia Department of Labor Career Centers and WorkSource Georgia provide job-search help, career planning, training connections, employment services, and workforce programs for job seekers and eligible participants.
Georgia Legal Aid
GeorgiaLegalAid.org routes residents to Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Georgia Legal Services Program, and other civil legal resources based on county and legal issue. Services may cover housing, public benefits, debt, family safety, employment, healthcare, and other civil matters.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on income or participation in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or Federal Public Housing Assistance.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Georgia's aging and disability network serves all 159 counties and can help residents locate meals, transportation, caregiver support, home-based services, Medicare counseling, long-term-care information, and safety resources.
Aging and Disability Resource Connection
Georgia's ADRC coordinates information and referrals through the state's 12 Area Agencies on Aging for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, families, and professionals.
ADRC / Division of Aging Services: 866-552-4464
Home and community-based services
Area Agencies on Aging may connect eligible older adults and caregivers with home-delivered meals, homemaker and personal-care services, respite, transportation, home modifications, adult day services, and other local supports.
Georgia Adult Protective Services
APS investigates reports of suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation involving adults age 65 or older and adults age 18 or older with disabilities who live in community settings. APS is not a first responder.
APS: 866-552-4464, press 3
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
988 and Georgia crisis services
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving emotional distress, mental health, suicide, or substance use concerns. Georgia's behavioral health system also includes regional crisis stabilization services.
Call or text: 988
Georgia Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
Georgia's statewide domestic violence hotline is available 24 hours a day and can connect callers with trained advocates, local shelter, safety planning, and other support.
Georgia hotline: 800-334-2836
211 services in Georgia
211 can connect residents with local food, housing, health, transportation, and other community resources where coverage is available. Georgia began a statewide 211 expansion initiative in 2026, but full statewide coverage has not yet been reached.
Georgia and federal disaster assistance
GEMA/HS coordinates state disaster recovery. FEMA Individual Assistance may become available after a presidential disaster declaration and only for eligible losses in designated areas. Local emergency-management agencies can also provide event-specific information.
GEMA/HS: 800-879-4362
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, or payday loans continue taking money from the rest of the budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Georgia residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
