Montana financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Montana
If household costs are hard to manage, Montana 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, Tribal, regional, or local application route when a program is administered closer to home.
Money Fit serves Montana 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
Montana uses a statewide public-assistance portal for several benefits, but many programs still route through local Offices of Public Assistance, Tribal offices, child care agencies, housing field agencies, or regional service providers.
Apply for food, cash, or health coverage
Montana's online public-assistance system can be used for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, Healthy Montana Kids, and related benefits. Local Offices of Public Assistance can also help with applications.
Find nearby help statewide
Montana 211 is a free, anonymous, 24-hour service that connects residents with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, transportation, aging services, and other community resources.
Housing or energy assistance
Montana's Housing Choice Voucher waitlists are currently open, while LIHEAP and weatherization are handled through local eligibility offices and Tribal LIHEAP offices.
Montana's geography makes local routing especially important. LIHEAP uses local eligibility or Tribal offices, child care assistance is processed by the child care agency serving the family's county, and Housing Choice Voucher applications are organized by regional field-agent areas.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Montana Food Bank Network and Montana 211 can help locate food pantries, meal programs, school and summer meals, and other local food resources.
Montana SNAP
SNAP provides grocery benefits to eligible Montana households. Applications can be submitted online through Montana's benefit portal, by contacting the Public Assistance Helpline, or through a local Office of Public Assistance.
Public Assistance Helpline: 888-706-1535
Montana WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local WIC clinics complete enrollment.
Montana WIC: 800-433-4298
Montana Food Bank Network
Montana Food Bank Network works with more than 330 network partners, including food pantries, meal programs, schools, shelters, and senior centers. Its resource map can help residents find nearby food assistance by county and program type.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Montana rental assistance, homelessness services, and energy assistance are handled through different state, regional, Tribal, and local providers. Waiting lists and available funding can change.
Montana LIHEAP
LIHEAP helps eligible renters and homeowners with part of their winter home energy costs and may provide help with qualifying furnace emergencies. Applications are handled by the local eligibility office or Tribal LIHEAP office serving the household.
2026-27 heating season: October 1 through April 30
Montana Weatherization Assistance Program
Weatherization helps eligible households improve heating efficiency and reduce energy use through qualifying home improvements. Unlike LIHEAP's heating-season application period, weatherization applications can be submitted throughout the year through the local or Tribal energy-assistance office.
Montana Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Montana Department of Commerce administers Housing Choice Vouchers statewide through regional field agencies. The HCV and Moderate Rehabilitation waitlists are currently open, and applications are submitted by region. Waiting time depends on preference, application date, funding, and turnover.
MTHousingSearch.com
The Montana Department of Commerce partners with MTHousingSearch.com to provide a free statewide rental-search service. Search listings and contact the property directly to confirm rent, eligibility, accessibility, and current availability.
Coordinated Entry and local homelessness services
Montana uses regional Coordinated Entry systems to assess housing needs and connect people experiencing homelessness with available shelter, rapid re-housing, supportive housing, and prevention resources. Montana 211 can help locate the appropriate local contact.
Montana Legal Services Association
MLSA provides free civil legal help to eligible low- and moderate-income Montanans. Housing, eviction, public benefits, debt, family safety, employment, and other civil issues may be covered. Online intake is available, and the HelpLine is staffed Tuesday through Thursday.
MLSA HelpLine: 800-666-6899, Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Emergency Housing Voucher referrals are not currently being issued. Montana Commerce says its EHV allocation remains in place, but new EHV referrals are not being issued at this time. People needing housing assistance should use Coordinated Entry, the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist, Montana 211, or other local housing programs instead.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Montana Medicaid, Healthy Montana Kids Plus, and Healthy Montana Kids cover different eligibility groups. Most applications can be submitted through the state portal, while Marketplace coverage remains another route for people who do not qualify for Medicaid.
Montana Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids
Montana residents can apply for Medicaid, Healthy Montana Kids Plus, and Healthy Montana Kids online through the state benefit portal. Local Offices of Public Assistance can also help with eligibility and application questions.
Public Assistance Helpline: 888-706-1535
Health coverage application options
Montana also directs residents to HealthCare.gov for Medicaid screening and reduced-cost Marketplace coverage. Free in-person help is available through Cover Montana.
HealthCare.gov: 800-318-2596
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.
Montana Medicaid Expansion changed on July 1, 2026. Certain adults ages 19 through 64 must now meet an 80-hour monthly community-engagement requirement unless an exclusion applies. Montana used a hold-harmless period from July through September 2026, meaning noncompliance alone did not cause denial or disenrollment during those months. Starting in October 2026, the requirement is enforced. Beginning in January 2027, most affected members must redetermine eligibility every six months.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Montana's child care assistance is administered through local child care agencies, while TANF cash assistance is handled through the public-assistance system and local Offices of Public Assistance.
Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship
The Best Beginnings Scholarship helps eligible families pay for child care while parents or guardians work, attend school or training, or meet another approved activity. Applications are routed to the child care agency serving the family's county.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Montana TANF provides temporary cash assistance to qualifying families with children and some pregnant individuals. Employment and training requirements may apply through the Pathways program. Applications can be submitted online, by phone, or through a local Office of Public Assistance.
Public Assistance Helpline: 888-706-1535
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
Best Beginnings moved more of its process online in 2026. Montana launched an enhanced Parent and Provider Portal through the state's Okta system, replacing many paper-based scholarship processes. Families should use the current Best Beginnings page and their local child care agency for application and case support.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, transportation, and the rest of the household budget.
Montana unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose employment may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. Montana uses an online Claimant Center for claims and payment requests, with phone support through the Unemployment Insurance Division.
UI Claims Center: 406-444-2545
Job Service Montana
Job Service Centers provide help with career exploration, job searches, training, apprenticeships, resumes, and other employment needs. Centers are located throughout Montana.
Montana Legal Services Association
MLSA provides free civil legal assistance to eligible Montanans for issues such as eviction, public benefits, debt, family safety, and other non-criminal legal problems. Reduced staffing is currently causing longer response times, although online intake and the HelpLine remain available.
HelpLine: 800-666-6899, Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
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
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Montana has ten Area Agencies on Aging, statewide information and referral, and Adult Protective Services for older adults and qualifying adults with disabilities.
Area Agencies on Aging
Montana's Area Agencies on Aging help older adults and caregivers find meals, transportation, legal referrals, insurance counseling, home services, respite, utility help, and other community resources.
Statewide Aging Help Line: 800-551-3191, normal business hours
Montana 211 and local disability services
Montana 211 can help people with disabilities and caregivers locate transportation, healthcare, housing, benefits, independent-living support, and other community resources by city or county.
Montana Adult Protective Services
APS responds to suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving people age 60 and older and certain adults age 18 and older with qualifying physical, mental, or developmental disabilities. Reports can be made online or by phone during business hours.
APS reporting line: 844-277-9300, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Montana 988 Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or a mental health crisis. Montana calls are answered by trained crisis workers at regional centers familiar with local resources.
Call or text: 988
Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
MCADSV does not provide direct crisis services, but it maintains a regional directory of victim-service programs across Montana and can help connect residents with local providers. For immediate hotline support, use the national domestic-violence or sexual-assault hotline.
MCADSV: 888-404-7794
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673
Montana 211
Montana 211 is free, anonymous, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Residents can search by city or county or speak with a resource specialist.
Call: 211
Montana DES and federal disaster assistance
Montana Disaster and Emergency Services works with FEMA after qualifying disasters. Federal Individual Assistance can include help with eligible housing and other disaster-related needs after a presidential declaration. Montana does not maintain a separate state-funded Individual Assistance program, so local voluntary organizations may also be important when FEMA assistance is unavailable.
Montana DES: 406-324-4777
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 Montana 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.
