New York financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in New York
If household costs are hard to manage, New York 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, borough, local social services district, or community-provider route when a program is administered locally.
Money Fit serves New York 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
New York uses myBenefits for several state assistance programs, while health coverage, child care, housing, legal help, aging services, and emergency resources may use separate statewide or local systems.
Apply for SNAP, Public Assistance, or HEAP
myBenefits is the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance portal for SNAP, Public Assistance, HEAP, benefit screening, case tracking, recertification, and document submission.
Find nearby help statewide
211 New York State connects residents with local food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, transportation, legal help, and other health and human services.
Housing or rental assistance
New York Homes and Community Renewal administers statewide Section 8 programs and the MyHousing Portal for open waiting lists, while local housing authorities and homelessness systems manage additional options.
Local administration matters in New York. SNAP and Temporary Assistance are administered through local social services districts. Child Care Assistance generally uses county social services districts, but New York City applicants use MyCity and Schenectady County uses its county application route. Housing waitlists and homelessness services also vary by local program.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Feeding New York State can route residents to the regional food bank and pantry network serving their county.
New York SNAP
SNAP provides monthly grocery benefits to eligible households. Residents can apply online through myBenefits or through the local Department of Social Services serving their county or borough.
New York WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. New York offers in-person and virtual services through local WIC agencies.
NYS WIC: 518-402-7093
Growing Up Healthy Hotline: 800-522-5006
Feeding New York State food-bank network
Feeding New York State represents ten Feeding America food banks covering every county in the state. Its county-by-county food finder directs residents to the correct regional food bank and local pantry locator.
New York SNAP work rules became stricter. Current OTDA guidance says certain adults ages 18 through 64 who do not live with a child under age 14 can be subject to ABAWD rules. Unless an exemption applies, affected adults generally need 80 hours per month of qualifying work, training, or other approved activity to receive SNAP beyond the federal time limit.
Housing, rent, and utility help
New York housing help is spread across Homes and Community Renewal, local housing authorities, local social services districts, regional homelessness systems, HEAP, and nonprofit legal-aid providers. Waiting lists and funding can change.
New York State Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
New York Homes and Community Renewal administers Section 8 vouchers through local program administrators. Applicants can use the MyHousing Portal for open waiting lists and project-based voucher opportunities. An application does not guarantee a voucher.
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and additional Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered by local housing authorities. Waiting-list status differs by agency, so contact the authority serving your community directly.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
Home Energy Assistance Program
HEAP helps eligible New Yorkers with home heating costs and can include regular, emergency, heating-equipment, and cooling components depending on season, funding, and household circumstances. Applications and current program status are available through myBenefits and local social services offices.
Local emergency housing assistance
Local social services districts can consider emergency assistance for qualifying shelter arrears and housing emergencies. New York also funded the Shelter Arrears Eviction Forestallment program through September 30, 2026 in participating districts, so availability should be confirmed locally before relying on it.
Local homelessness services
New York homelessness services are organized through local Continuums of Care, social services districts, shelters, and community providers. Coordinated Entry is used for many permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and homelessness-prevention programs, while emergency shelter generally uses separate intake routes.
LawHelpNY
LawHelpNY provides New York-specific legal information and a statewide directory of free legal-aid organizations. Residents can search by ZIP code, city, county, and legal issue for housing, benefits, debt, family safety, employment, and other civil legal matters.
Section 8 waiting lists are not universally open. HCR's MyHousing Portal shows only open and participating waiting lists. In July 2026, HCR opened selected New York City project-based voucher waitlists, while other state and local waiting lists follow their own schedules. Always confirm the specific list before applying.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Medicaid, Child Health Plus, the Essential Plan, and Marketplace coverage use different eligibility rules. NY State of Health is the main application route for many children and adults, while local social services districts handle some Medicaid categories.
NY State of Health
NY State of Health is New York's official health-plan Marketplace and application route for many Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and Qualified Health Plan applicants. Medicaid and Essential Plan enrollment is available year-round for people who qualify.
Customer Service: 855-355-5777
TTY: 800-662-1220
New York Medicaid
Medicaid application routes differ depending on age, disability, Medicare status, long-term-care needs, pregnancy, and household circumstances. NY State of Health and local social services districts can route applicants to the correct process.
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.
New York is preparing for federal Medicaid eligibility changes. NY State of Health currently warns that some Medicaid members will face new requirements beginning January 1, 2027. New York Medicaid also issued 2026 guidance ending certain continuous-coverage policies. Keep contact information current and respond to official renewal notices rather than relying on older coverage rules.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
New York Child Care Assistance is locally administered, while Temporary Assistance includes Family Assistance and Safety Net Assistance. Application routes depend on where the household lives.
New York Child Care Assistance Program
CCAP helps eligible families pay for child care. Most counties use the statewide Child Care Assistance Application or the local social services district. New York City applicants use MyCity, while Schenectady County applicants must use the county's own application route.
Family Assistance and Safety Net Assistance
Family Assistance is New York's TANF cash-assistance program for qualifying families with children. Safety Net Assistance serves qualifying individuals and families who are not eligible for Family Assistance. Emergency assistance can also be available for some urgent needs even when a household does not qualify for ongoing cash assistance.
OTDA Hotline: 800-342-3009
County and community family services
Local social services districts and community organizations can connect families with child care, food, transportation, housing, parenting support, employment services, and emergency assistance. 211 can help identify the correct local provider.
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
The child care application is not identical statewide. The current OCFS application system specifically says New York City residents must use MyCity and Schenectady County residents must use the Schenectady County application. Residents elsewhere should follow the statewide application or their local social services district.
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.
New York unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose employment may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. Claims can be filed online or by calling the Telephone Claims Center.
Telephone Claims Center: 888-209-8124
New York Career Centers
New York State Career Centers provide job-search assistance, resume help, career planning, training information, workshops, unemployment reemployment services, and access to employment resources.
LawHelpNY
LawHelpNY helps residents find free civil legal services by ZIP code, city, county, and legal issue. It also provides self-help information, hotlines, and court resources.
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
NY Connects is New York's statewide No Wrong Door system for long-term services and supports. Adult Protective Services is administered through local social services districts.
NY Connects
NY Connects provides free information and assistance for older adults, people of all ages with disabilities, caregivers, families, and helping professionals. It can connect people with personal care, housing, transportation, food, caregiver support, Medicaid, SNAP, and other long-term services and supports.
NY Connects: 800-342-9871
Area Agencies on Aging
County and New York City aging offices coordinate meals, transportation, caregiver support, legal services, benefits counseling, home-based services, senior centers, and other supports for older New Yorkers.
Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services investigates suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation involving vulnerable adults who may be unable to protect themselves. APS is administered locally through social services districts, so reports should go to the district serving the adult's location.
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
New York 988 Lifeline
Call, text, or chat 988 for free, confidential crisis support involving suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, mental health concerns, or substance use. New York has 14 dedicated 988 contact centers connected with local behavioral-health resources.
Call or text: 988
New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline
The statewide hotline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Advocates can help with crisis counseling, safety planning, shelter referrals, legal services, housing, healthcare, and other local resources.
Call: 800-942-6906
Text: 844-997-2121
211 New York State
New York's regional 211 systems provide free information and referral for food, shelter, utilities, health and mental-health services, child care, transportation, legal resources, disaster recovery, and other community needs.
Call: 211
New York DHSES and federal disaster assistance
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services coordinates disaster recovery and Individual Assistance programs. Federal FEMA assistance depends on a qualifying declaration, designated locations, eligible losses, insurance, and current application periods.
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 New York 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.
