Michigan financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Michigan
If household costs are hard to manage, Michigan 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, housing provider, or community organization.
Money Fit serves Michigan 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
Michigan uses MI Bridges for many state benefits, while housing, energy, and emergency services may be handled through county, regional, or community agencies. These routes cover many of the most common starting needs.
Apply for state benefits
MI Bridges is Michigan's main online portal for food assistance, healthcare coverage, cash assistance, child care assistance, and State Emergency Relief.
Find nearby help statewide
Michigan 211 is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, with referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, family support, and other local services.
Housing or utility crisis
Housing Assessment and Resource Agencies help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, while State Emergency Relief and Michigan energy programs may help with qualifying utility emergencies.
Michigan benefits often use both statewide and local routing. MI Bridges handles applications for many MDHHS programs. Homelessness services use a Housing Assessment and Resource Agency in each community. Energy assistance can involve MDHHS, Michigan Energy Assistance Program providers, utilities, and local community agencies.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with Michigan's Food Assistance Program or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Michigan 211 and the Food Bank Council of Michigan can help locate local food banks, pantries, and meal programs.
Michigan Food Assistance Program
Michigan's Food Assistance Program is the state's SNAP program. Eligible households receive grocery benefits through a Michigan Bridge Card. Apply and manage benefits through MI Bridges.
MDHHS assistance: 844-464-3447
Michigan WIC
WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local WIC agencies complete enrollment.
Food Bank Council of Michigan
The Food Bank Council of Michigan coordinates a statewide network of regional food banks and community partners serving all 83 counties. Use the network map to find the food bank serving your area and connect with local pantries or meal programs.
Toll-free: 800-552-4483
Michigan SNAP work rules changed in 2026. MDHHS says new federal Time Limited Food Assistance rules began March 1, 2026 for some adults ages 18 through 64, with exemptions and geographic deferrals that can apply. People affected by the work rules should use current MDHHS guidance and notices rather than older age limits or county lists.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Michigan housing and utility assistance is handled through several state and local systems. Emergency housing referrals generally begin with the HARA serving the household's community, while utility assistance may involve MDHHS, local providers, and the utility company.
Housing Assessment and Resource Agencies
Every Michigan community has a Housing Assessment and Resource Agency that provides housing-needs assessment and referrals for people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing housing. Available shelter, rental assistance, and supportive services vary by region and funding.
State Emergency Relief
State Emergency Relief can provide limited help with qualifying emergencies involving heat and utilities, home repairs, relocation, and certain other urgent needs. Eligibility is determined by MDHHS, and applications are available through MI Bridges.
Michigan Energy Assistance Program
MEAP helps eligible low-income households with home energy costs and related services intended to reduce energy insecurity. Program services are delivered through approved assistance providers, and availability can vary.
MSHDA rental resources
Michigan State Housing Development Authority provides rental-search tools, affordable housing directories, housing-authority information, and links to homelessness services. Contact properties or administering agencies directly to confirm openings and eligibility.
MSHDA Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists
MSHDA administers Housing Choice Vouchers across Michigan, but applications are accepted only when a waiting list is open. MSHDA currently reports no Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists open. Project-based voucher openings are handled separately and can change by property.
Michigan Legal Help
Michigan Legal Help provides free legal information and a Guide to Legal Help that can identify local legal-aid programs, self-help centers, or private-lawyer referral options. Housing, public benefits, debt, family safety, employment, and other civil matters may be covered.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Michigan offers Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan, children's coverage, pregnancy-related coverage, and other health programs. MI Bridges is the primary online application route for state healthcare assistance.
Michigan Medicaid and healthcare assistance
MDHHS uses one healthcare application to determine eligibility for Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan, CHIP and other coverage programs. Apply online through MI Bridges or use the state's healthcare application information when a paper application is needed.
Healthy Michigan Plan
The Healthy Michigan Plan provides Medicaid expansion coverage for qualifying Michigan residents ages 19 through 64. Applications can be submitted through MI Bridges, by phone, or through a local MDHHS office.
Michigan Health Care Helpline: 855-789-5610
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, substance-use treatment, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
Healthy Michigan Plan work requirements begin in 2027. Michigan says new federal work requirements begin January 1, 2027. Existing Healthy Michigan Plan members are generally checked at renewals beginning with renewal dates on or after March 1, 2027. MDHHS says it will contact members who need to provide information or take action.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
MI Bridges is also the main application route for Michigan child care and family cash assistance. Local MDHHS offices can help with applications and case questions.
Child Development and Care Scholarship
The CDC Scholarship helps eligible Michigan families pay for child care while a parent or caregiver works, attends qualifying education or training, completes high school, or participates in another approved activity. The program is active statewide, and applications use MI Bridges.
Child authorization questions: 844-464-3447
Family Independence Program
FIP provides temporary cash assistance to eligible pregnant people and low-income families with minor children. Applications are available through MI Bridges or a local MDHHS office. Work-eligible participants may also have PATH employment and training requirements.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, 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 keep up with other bills.
Michigan unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose work may be able to receive temporary unemployment benefits. Claims can be filed online through MiWAM or by phone through the Unemployment Insurance Agency.
UIA Customer Service: 866-500-0017, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Michigan Works!
Michigan Works! service centers provide employment, training, career-planning, and job-search resources through a statewide network of local agencies.
Service center locator: 800-285-9675
Michigan Legal Help
The Guide to Legal Help can connect residents with local legal-aid offices when they may qualify for free services, or with other lawyer-finding resources when they do not. The site also provides Michigan-specific legal information and self-help tools.
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
Michigan's aging and adult-service networks can connect residents with food, transportation, home-care support, caregiver services, cash assistance, and protective services.
Area Agencies on Aging
Michigan's Area Agencies on Aging help older adults and caregivers find local nutrition, transportation, in-home assistance, respite care, legal help, health programs, and other community services.
Michigan aging-services information: 517-241-4100
State Disability Assistance
SDA provides cash assistance to certain eligible adults with disabilities. Some caretakers of a person with a disability and some adults age 65 or older may also qualify. Applications use Michigan's public-assistance process.
Michigan Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services investigates suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving vulnerable adults and can coordinate with other agencies and community services when protective support is needed.
24-hour reporting line: 855-444-3911
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Michigan 988 and MiCAL
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support for suicidal thoughts, mental health concerns, emotional distress, or substance-use crisis. Michigan's Crisis and Access Line is part of the state's 988 response network.
Call or text: 988
VOICES4 Hotline
The State of Michigan's VOICES4 Hotline provides free, confidential, anonymous, 24-hour support for people affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking. Trained advocates can provide crisis support, referrals, and information about local services.
Call or text: 855-864-2374
TTY: 517-381-8470
Michigan 211
Michigan 211 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Residents can call for referrals involving food, housing, utilities, transportation, healthcare, family support, disaster needs, and other local services.
Call: 211 or 844-875-9211
Text: ZIP code to 898211, with regional text hours varying
Michigan and federal disaster assistance
Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division explains disaster-recovery programs and when state or federal assistance may become available. FEMA Individual Assistance depends on a qualifying declaration, location, losses, insurance, and program rules.
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, payday loans, or other unsecured debts continue affecting the household budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Michigan 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.
