Massachusetts financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Massachusetts
If household costs are hard to manage, Massachusetts 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 regional or local application route when a program is handled by a housing authority, community agency, or other local provider.
Money Fit serves Massachusetts 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
Massachusetts uses different systems for food and cash benefits, health coverage, child care assistance, housing, and energy help. These three routes cover many of the most common starting needs.
SNAP or cash assistance
DTA Connect is the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance portal for SNAP and for managing cash-assistance programs such as TAFDC and EAEDC.
Find nearby help statewide
Massachusetts 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, 24-hour referral service for food, housing, utilities, health and human services, disaster information, and other local needs.
Housing or energy assistance
RAFT can help with some housing emergencies, while HEAP helps eligible households with home heating costs. Both programs use regional or local application routes.
Use the program-specific application route. DTA Connect handles SNAP, TAFDC, and EAEDC. MassHealth uses a separate health-coverage application. Child Care Financial Assistance moved to MyChildCareMA on May 6, 2026. Housing and energy programs may route through Regional Administering Agencies, Local Housing Authorities, or local HEAP agencies.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Project Bread can help Massachusetts residents find local meals, pantries, and nutrition programs.
Massachusetts SNAP
SNAP provides grocery benefits to eligible households. Massachusetts residents can apply online through DTA Connect or by phone through the Department of Transitional Assistance.
DTA Assistance Line: 877-382-2363
Massachusetts WIC
WIC provides food benefits, nutrition support, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. An online pre-application can begin the process, and a WIC clinic completes enrollment.
WIC: 800-942-1007
Project Bread FoodSource Hotline
Project Bread's statewide FoodSource Hotline can help residents find food pantries and meal programs, understand SNAP, and connect with other food resources. Calls are free and confidential, and language assistance is available.
Call or text: 800-645-8333
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Some SNAP clients have work-rule requirements. Massachusetts says some adults ages 18 through 64 may be subject to ABAWD work rules during the current time-limit period ending December 31, 2026. DTA sends notices to people who must meet the rules, and exemptions can apply. Use current DTA guidance rather than older age limits or summaries.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Massachusetts housing assistance is spread across statewide portals, Regional Administering Agencies, Local Housing Authorities, energy agencies, and legal-aid organizations. Waiting lists and available funding can change.
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition
RAFT provides short-term emergency funding for qualifying housing problems such as eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other situations that could lead to housing loss. Applications are handled through the state portal and Regional Administering Agencies.
Massachusetts 2-1-1: 211 or 877-211-6277
Home Energy Assistance Program
HEAP, also commonly called Fuel Assistance, helps eligible renters and homeowners with home heating costs. The online portal opens October 1 each year, and the heating season runs November 1 through April 30. Local agencies process applications.
Cold Relief Heatline: 800-632-8175
CHAMP public housing application
CHAMP is the Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs. It is the shared application for most state-funded public housing and some state voucher programs. Local Housing Authorities manage the housing selected, and wait times can be long.
Housing Navigator Massachusetts
Housing Navigator Massachusetts is a nonprofit search service for income-restricted rental housing across the state. Listings can show current vacancies, lotteries, short waitlists, open waitlists, eligibility details, and application contacts when available.
Emergency Assistance Family Shelter
EA Family Shelter serves eligible pregnant people and families with children who meet program requirements. Families can apply through the Massachusetts Housing Help Hub or by phone. Shelter space is limited, and an eligible family may be placed on a contact list until appropriate space is available.
EA Family Shelter: 866-584-0653, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
MassLegalHelp
MassLegalHelp provides Massachusetts-specific legal information and a statewide Legal Resource Finder for free or low-cost civil legal help. Housing, benefits, debt, employment, family safety, and other civil issues may be covered depending on the provider and eligibility.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
MassHealth is the state's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. The same Massachusetts application route can also screen applicants for the Health Safety Net and Children's Medical Security Plan.
MassHealth and related coverage
Massachusetts residents can apply for MassHealth, the Health Safety Net, or the Children's Medical Security Plan online, by phone, or with application assistance. Eligibility and coverage depend on household and program rules.
MassHealth Customer Service: 800-841-2900
TDD/TTY: 711
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may also offer dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and other services. Use the federal locator to find a health center near you and contact the center for current services, fees, and appointment availability.
MassHealth has announced federal eligibility changes beginning October 1, 2026. Some lawfully present immigrants will lose eligibility for comprehensive MassHealth coverage under the new federal rules. Additional work or education requirements and more frequent renewals begin January 1, 2027 for some members. MassHealth says most members are not affected and it will contact people who need to take action.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Massachusetts uses separate systems for child care financial assistance and DTA cash benefits. Child care applications moved to a new statewide portal in 2026, while TAFDC and EAEDC continue through DTA.
Child Care Financial Assistance
CCFA helps qualifying families pay for child care. Since May 6, 2026, new applications and statewide waitlist management use MyChildCareMA. If funding is not immediately available, eligible applicants may remain on the statewide waitlist until an offer is made under current program rules.
Waitlist help through Mass 211: 877-211-6277
Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children
TAFDC is a cash-assistance program for eligible pregnant individuals, families, and caregivers. Applications are available online through DTA Connect or through the local DTA office and assistance line.
DTA Assistance Line: 877-382-2363
Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children
EAEDC provides cash assistance for certain older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and children who meet program rules. Applications can be started through DTA Connect or a local DTA office.
DTA Assistance Line: 877-382-2363
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support through local programs. Eligibility, openings, applications, and waiting lists are handled locally.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or the loss of affordable phone or internet service can affect the rest of the household budget quickly. These statewide resources can help with employment, civil legal needs, and basic connectivity.
Massachusetts unemployment insurance
Workers who lose employment and meet program rules may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. Massachusetts accepts claims online and by phone through the Department of Unemployment Assistance.
DUA Call Center: 877-626-6800, Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
MassHire Career Centers
MassHire Career Centers offer job-search and career-planning support, workshops, training resources, and local labor-market information through a statewide network of career centers.
Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder
MassLegalHelp's Legal Resource Finder connects Massachusetts residents with legal-aid programs, nonprofits, court services, helplines, clinics, and other civil legal resources. Eligibility and available help depend on the legal issue and provider.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on household income or participation in certain public benefit programs.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473, 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. ET
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Massachusetts has statewide navigation for aging and disability services, along with separate protective-services reporting routes based on age and disability status.
MassOptions
MassOptions connects older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families with local services such as home care, food, housing, transportation, benefits, long-term support, and caregiver resources.
MassOptions: 800-243-4636, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Adult Protective Services
Massachusetts Adult Protective Services receives reports of suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation involving adults age 60 and older who live in the community.
24-hour reporting line: 800-922-2275
Report abuse or neglect of a person with a disability
The Disabled Persons Protection Commission operates a 24-hour hotline for suspected abuse or neglect involving qualifying adults with disabilities ages 18 through 59. State agencies may investigate and arrange protective services under current program rules.
24-hour hotline: 800-426-9009
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Massachusetts 988 Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support for emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or concern about a loved one. People do not need to be suicidal to contact 988.
Call or text: 988
Massachusetts SafeLink
SafeLink is Massachusetts' statewide toll-free domestic violence hotline. It connects survivors and concerned family or friends with confidential support and local domestic violence services.
SafeLink: 877-785-2020
TTY: 877-521-2601
Massachusetts 2-1-1
Massachusetts 2-1-1 provides free, confidential, 24-hour information and referrals for health and human services. During disasters it is also the Commonwealth's primary telephone information line for non-emergency shelter, restriction, assistance, and recovery information.
Call: 211 or 877-211-6277
Massachusetts and federal disaster assistance
MEMA explains what financial assistance may become available after a qualifying disaster. Federal Individual Assistance depends on a qualifying declaration, location, losses, insurance, and program rules. Check current event information before relying on any recovery program.
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, payday loans, or other unsecured debts continue affecting the household budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Massachusetts 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.
