Oregon financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Oregon
If household costs are hard to manage, Oregon 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 local, regional, or Tribal application route when a program is delivered through a community provider.
Money Fit serves Oregon 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
Oregon uses the ONE Eligibility system for medical, food, cash, and child care benefits. Housing and utility assistance are usually delivered through local Community Action Agencies and other community partners rather than directly by Oregon Housing and Community Services.
Apply for food, medical, cash, or child care benefits
Oregon's ONE Eligibility system lets residents apply online, by phone, or in person for SNAP, Oregon Health Plan, TANF, Employment Related Day Care, and related benefits.
Find nearby help statewide
211info connects Oregon residents with food, housing, utilities, child care, healthcare, transportation, legal, and other community resources. Core phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with expanded hours during some emergencies and for certain programs.
Housing or utility assistance
Oregon Housing and Community Services directs people needing immediate housing, rent, utility, shelter, or weatherization help to local Community Action Agencies and 211info.
Local delivery matters in Oregon. Community Action Agencies administer many rent, utility, LIHEAP, weatherization, and homelessness programs. Child care assistance uses the statewide ONE application but currently has a waitlist, while housing vouchers and public housing are generally managed by local housing authorities.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Oregon Food Bank's statewide network can help locate free groceries, produce, and meal sites.
Oregon SNAP
SNAP provides grocery benefits to eligible Oregon households. Applications can be submitted through ONE Online, by phone, or at a local Oregon Department of Human Services office.
ONE Customer Service: 800-699-9075, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Pacific
Oregon WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, health screening, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local clinics complete enrollment.
Oregon WIC: 971-673-0040
Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Food Bank works with regional food banks and local partner agencies across Oregon and Southwest Washington. Its Food Finder can locate free groceries, produce, meal sites, and other food resources by ZIP code or location.
Oregon SNAP work rules apply to more adults. Current ODHS guidance says some adults ages 18 through 64 must complete at least 80 hours per month of qualifying work or activity unless an exemption applies. People who do not meet the rule can be limited to three months of SNAP in a three-year period, so tell ODHS if an exemption applies to your situation.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Oregon Housing and Community Services funds many housing and energy programs but generally does not provide direct household assistance. Local Community Action Agencies, housing authorities, legal-aid programs, shelters, and other providers handle most applications.
Community Action Agency housing assistance
Local Community Action Agencies can provide or coordinate rent assistance, homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, utility help, and other housing-stability services when funding is available. OHCS directs residents needing immediate help to the local agency or 211info.
Oregon LIHEAP and Energy Assistance
LIHEAP helps qualifying households with home energy costs, and the Oregon Energy Assistance Program provides electric-bill help for qualifying Pacific Power and Portland General Electric customers. Local Community Action Agencies administer the programs, so application timing and procedures can vary by county.
OHCS Energy Assistance: 800-453-5511, option 1
Oregon Weatherization Assistance
Eligible renters and homeowners may qualify for weatherization measures that improve energy efficiency and home safety. LIHEAP participants may also be referred for weatherization, and local Community Action Agencies handle household applications.
Local public housing authorities
Housing Choice Voucher and public housing programs are generally administered by local public housing authorities. Waiting-list status and application periods vary by authority, so contact the agency serving your community directly.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
211info and local coordinated services
Emergency shelter, coordinated entry, rapid re-housing, and homelessness-prevention services are administered locally. 211info and Community Action Agencies can help identify the current housing resources serving the household's area.
Oregon Law Help and Eviction Defense Project
Oregon Law Help provides free legal information and a statewide directory of free or low-cost legal-aid offices. Tenants who already have court eviction papers can also contact the Eviction Defense Project for legal assistance.
Eviction Defense Project: 888-585-9638
OHCS does not directly award most emergency housing assistance to households. If you need rent, utility, shelter, weatherization, or homelessness help, use the local Community Action Agency or 211info rather than sending an assistance application directly to Oregon Housing and Community Services.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
The Oregon Health Plan is Oregon's Medicaid program. ONE Online is the primary application and case-management route, while coordinated care organizations and OHP Client Services help members use their coverage.
Oregon Health Plan
Residents can apply for OHP through ONE Online, by phone, or at a local ODHS office. Eligibility depends on age, income, pregnancy, disability, immigration status, household circumstances, and the specific coverage program.
Eligibility and renewals: 800-699-9075
OHP Client Services: 800-273-0557
Late 2026 and 2027 OHP changes
Oregon is implementing federal eligibility changes in stages. Some immigrant members move to Healthier Oregon in October 2026. Work or activity rules for some adults ages 19 through 64 begin in 2027, and more frequent renewals also start in 2027 under the federal changes.
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.
Oregon is handling some federal Medicaid changes differently from other states. Beginning in October 2026, some immigrants who would lose federally funded Medicaid instead move to Healthier Oregon and keep full OHP benefits. In 2027, some adults ages 19 through 64 will face an 80-hour monthly work or activity requirement unless exempt, and many members will begin renewing more frequently. Oregon says implementation details are still being updated as federal guidance develops.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Oregon's Employment Related Day Care program helps eligible families pay for child care, while TANF provides temporary cash assistance to qualifying families with children and pregnant people.
Employment Related Day Care
ERDC helps eligible working families pay for child care. Oregon currently has an ERDC waitlist because demand exceeds available funding. Families who already receive ERDC can continue if they remain eligible and reapply on time.
ONE Customer Service: 800-699-9075
Oregon TANF
TANF provides a monthly cash benefit to qualifying families with children, some pregnant people, and certain young household heads. Most participating adults also work with the JOBS program on employment and self-sufficiency activities.
211info Child Care
211info provides child care referrals and can help families search for licensed child care, understand ERDC, and identify child care resources in their area.
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 ERDC waitlist remains active. Most new applicants are placed on the waitlist unless they meet a program exemption and have self-reported income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Exemptions include some TANF or Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors families, child-welfare referrals, recent ERDC recipients, and families eligible for contracted child care slots. Wait times vary with funding and program capacity.
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.
Oregon unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose employment may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. Claims can be filed through Frances Online or by phone, and most regular unemployment claimants must also complete job-search and reemployment requirements.
UI Contact Center: 877-345-3484, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
WorkSource Oregon
WorkSource Oregon provides job-search help, career planning, training resources, reemployment orientation, and access to iMatchSkills. Most Oregon unemployment claimants must register for employment services and complete required reemployment activities.
Oregon Law Help
Oregon Law Help provides free civil legal information and helps residents find free or low-cost lawyers and legal-aid offices. Topics include housing, public benefits, debt, employment, family safety, consumer problems, and other civil legal issues.
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
Oregon's Aging and Disability Resource Connection helps people of all ages and incomes understand long-term services and supports, while ODHS accepts statewide reports of suspected abuse involving older adults and vulnerable adults.
Aging and Disability Resource Connection
ADRC staff help older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, families, and professionals find long-term care, home services, transportation, meals, Medicare help, caregiver support, and other community resources.
Oregon aging services
ODHS and local aging agencies connect older adults and caregivers with meal programs, home care, disability services, Medicare help, state benefits, transportation, and caregiver support.
Oregon adult abuse reporting
ODHS accepts reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation involving people age 65 and older and certain adults age 18 and older with physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, or mental health conditions.
Abuse reporting line: 855-503-SAFE (7233)
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Oregon 988 Lifeline
Call, text, or chat 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, mental health concerns, or alcohol and drug use. Oregon's crisis system can also connect people with mobile crisis or stabilization resources when appropriate.
Call or text: 988
Oregon survivor services
Oregon maintains a statewide network of community-based, Tribal, and culturally specific domestic and sexual violence programs. Call to Safety provides crisis-line support, while the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence maintains a statewide service directory.
Call to Safety: 888-235-5333
211info
211info provides free information and referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, transportation, legal help, disaster recovery, and other needs. Core phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; text service is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Call: 211 or 866-698-6155
Text: ZIP code to 898211
Oregon OEM and federal disaster assistance
Oregon Department of Emergency Management coordinates state disaster recovery. FEMA Individual Assistance becomes available only after a qualifying presidential major disaster declaration that includes household assistance for designated areas and eligible losses.
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 Oregon 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.
