Ohio financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Ohio
If household costs are hard to manage, Ohio 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, regional, or community-provider route when a program is administered locally.
Money Fit serves Ohio 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
Ohio uses the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal for food, cash, medical, and child care assistance. Housing, utility, aging, legal, and crisis services also use statewide networks and local agencies.
Apply for food, cash, medical, or child care assistance
The Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal lets residents apply for SNAP, cash assistance, Medicaid, and publicly funded child care and manage existing benefits.
Find nearby help statewide
Ohio 211 now serves all 88 counties and provides free, 24-hour referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, employment, mental health, disaster services, and other community needs.
Housing or utility assistance
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency provides statewide renter resources, while HEAP, PIPP Plus, and weatherization use EnergyHelp and local Community Action or energy-assistance providers.
Ohio combines statewide systems with county administration. County Job and Family Services agencies handle many eligibility decisions for SNAP, Ohio Works First, Medicaid, and child care. Public housing, homelessness services, weatherization, and utility crisis help can also depend on the local provider serving the household.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Ohio's twelve regional food banks and Ohio 211 can help locate pantries, meal programs, and other local food resources.
Ohio SNAP
SNAP provides grocery benefits to eligible Ohio households. Residents can apply through the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal or through the county Job and Family Services agency serving the household.
Ohio Benefits help: 844-640-OHIO (6446)
Ohio 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.
Ohio Association of Foodbanks network
Ohio's twelve Feeding America food banks work with more than 3,600 local hunger-relief organizations and serve all 88 counties. The statewide directory can connect residents with the regional food bank serving their area.
Ohio SNAP work requirements changed in 2026. Federal changes expanded the group of adults who may be subject to time-limited SNAP work rules. County agencies determine whether a person is subject to the requirement or qualifies for an exemption, so use current Ohio Benefits notices and county guidance rather than older age limits.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Ohio housing and utility help is spread across statewide rental-search tools, local public housing authorities, Continuums of Care, Community Action Agencies, energy-assistance providers, and legal-aid organizations. Funding and waiting lists can change.
Ohio Housing Locator
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency supports OhioHousingLocator.org, a free statewide search for affordable and accessible rental housing. Search by location, rent, bedroom count, and accessibility features, then contact the property directly to confirm availability and eligibility.
HEAP and PIPP Plus
Ohio's Home Energy Assistance Program can help eligible households with home energy costs, while PIPP Plus allows qualifying regulated utility customers to pay a percentage of household income toward monthly gas and electric bills. Applications and local-provider information are available through EnergyHelp.
2026 HEAP Summer Crisis Program
The Summer Crisis Program is available through September 30, 2026 for qualifying households that meet current income rules and at least one crisis condition, such as an older household member, a documented medical condition, a disconnect notice, shutoff, or establishing new service.
Home Weatherization Assistance Program
HWAP provides qualifying households with no-cost energy-efficiency improvements that may include air sealing, insulation, heating-system work, health and safety testing, and other approved measures. Renters may qualify with landlord approval.
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered by local housing authorities. Waiting-list status and application periods differ by authority, so residents should contact the agency serving their area directly.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
Ohio 211 and local Continuums of Care
Emergency shelter, coordinated entry, rapid re-housing, and homelessness-prevention services are administered locally. Ohio 211 can help identify the current shelter, housing, and supportive-service resources serving the caller's county.
Call: 211 or 888-644-6211
Ohio Legal Help
Ohio Legal Help provides plain-language legal information and a statewide tool for finding local legal-aid organizations. Housing, eviction, public benefits, debt, employment, family safety, and other civil legal matters may be covered by the appropriate legal-aid provider.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Ohio Medicaid covers different eligibility groups, including children, adults, pregnant people, older adults, and people with disabilities. Residents can apply through Ohio Benefits or through the county Job and Family Services agency.
Ohio Medicaid
Ohio residents can apply for Medicaid through the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal or by contacting the county Job and Family Services office. Eligibility depends on age, household size, income, pregnancy, disability, Medicare status, and other program rules.
Medicaid application help: 844-640-OHIO (6446)
Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline: 800-324-8680
County Job and Family Services
County agencies can help residents apply for Medicaid and other public benefits, submit documents, report changes, and resolve eligibility questions.
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.
Medicaid expansion work requirements are changing nationally. Federal rules require states to implement an 80-hour monthly community-engagement requirement for certain non-pregnant Medicaid expansion adults ages 19 through 64 no later than January 1, 2027, unless an exemption applies. Ohio-specific notices and implementation instructions should be followed as the state rolls out the requirement.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Ohio Works First and Publicly Funded Child Care use the Ohio Benefits application system and county Job and Family Services agencies. Current child care administration is overseen by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.
Publicly Funded Child Care
PFCC helps eligible parents and caretakers pay for child care while they work, attend school or training, participate in Ohio Works First activities, or meet another qualifying need. Families can apply through Ohio Benefits, and the county agency determines eligibility and authorization.
Child Care Help Desk: 877-302-2347, option 4
Ohio Works First
Ohio Works First is the state's TANF cash-assistance program for qualifying families with children and some pregnant individuals. Applications use the same Ohio Benefits system, with interviews and eligibility decisions handled by county agencies. Work-related requirements and time limits can apply.
Prevention, Retention and Contingency
PRC provides short-term, work-supporting or emergency assistance to eligible low-income families. Counties develop their own PRC plans, so covered needs, income limits, payment amounts, and application procedures can differ locally.
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, transportation, and the rest of the household budget.
Ohio unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose employment may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. Claims and weekly certifications can be handled online through Ohio Unemployment Services.
Unemployment assistance: 877-OHIO-JOB (877-644-6562)
OhioMeansJobs
OhioMeansJobs connects jobseekers with job listings, career planning, training, resume tools, unemployment reemployment services, apprenticeships, and local workforce resources.
Ohio Legal Help
Ohio Legal Help provides self-help legal information and connects low-income Ohioans with local legal-aid organizations. Services may cover housing, debt and consumer issues, public benefits, employment, family safety, and other civil legal matters.
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
Ohio's aging network connects older adults and caregivers with regional Area Agencies on Aging, while Adult Protective Services investigates reports involving vulnerable adults age 60 and older.
Area Agencies on Aging
Ohio's Area Agencies on Aging help older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families find meals, transportation, home care, caregiver support, benefits counseling, long-term services, and other community resources.
Find your Area Agency on Aging: 866-243-5678
Ohio Department of Aging: 800-266-4346
Ohio caregiver support
The Ohio Department of Aging and local Area Agencies on Aging provide caregiver information, respite and support resources, long-term care navigation, and connections to local services.
Ohio Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services investigates suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving vulnerable adults age 60 and older. Reports can be made through the statewide hotline or the online reporting system. Call 911 first if someone is in immediate danger.
Statewide APS Hotline: 855-OHIO-APS (855-644-6277)
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Ohio 988 Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, mental health concerns, or substance-use crisis. Ohio 988 connects callers with trained crisis counselors and local resources when appropriate.
Call or text: 988
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
ODVN maintains a statewide directory of local domestic violence programs that may provide shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, support groups, and housing help. ODVN can also help residents identify an appropriate local agency during business hours.
ODVN: 800-934-9840
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Ohio 211
Ohio 211 is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Statewide expansion reached all 88 Ohio counties in 2026, giving residents one statewide route to local food, housing, utility, healthcare, child care, employment, and disaster resources.
Call: 211 or 888-OHIO-211 (888-644-6211)
Ohio EMA and federal disaster assistance
Ohio Emergency Management Agency coordinates state response and recovery when disasters exceed local capacity. FEMA household assistance becomes available only after a qualifying federal declaration and only for designated locations, eligible losses, and current application periods.
Ohio EMA: 614-889-7150
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 Ohio 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.
