Vermont financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Vermont
Vermont households may be able to get help with food, heating, housing, healthcare, child care, cash assistance, employment, and other basic needs. Some benefits use statewide applications, while housing, aging, legal, and emergency services may route through local or regional organizations.
Money Fit serves Vermont 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
Vermont's Economic Services Division manages several major benefits, Vermont Health Connect handles health coverage enrollment, and local agencies help administer housing, child care, aging, legal, and community services.
Apply for food, fuel, or cash assistance
Vermont's MyBenefits portal accepts online applications for 3SquaresVT, Essential Person, Fuel Assistance, and Reach Up.
Find nearby community resources
Vermont 211 connects residents with food, shelter, transportation, healthcare, and other community services. It is available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
Need emergency housing
General Assistance Emergency Housing is now handled directly by the Vermont Economic Services Division during weekday business hours. Vermont 211 can still help locate shelters and other community resources.
Local routing matters in Vermont. Child care assistance uses community child care support agencies. Housing vouchers and affordable properties may have separate waiting lists. Weatherization, legal aid, aging services, and homelessness programs also use local or regional providers.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with 3SquaresVT or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Vermont Foodbank and community food shelves can help locate nearby groceries and meals.
3SquaresVT
3SquaresVT is Vermont's SNAP program. Eligible households receive monthly food benefits. Applications can be submitted online through MyBenefits or by paper, with supporting documents sent through the state's uploader, mail, or a district office.
Benefits Service Center: 800-479-6151
Vermont WIC
WIC provides food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and recently pregnant people, infants, and children under age five. Applications can start online, by text, or through a local WIC office.
Vermont WIC: 800-464-4343
Text: Apply to 1-844-839-8942
Vermont Foodbank
Vermont Foodbank works with hundreds of food shelves, meal sites, community organizations, schools, and healthcare partners across the state. Its food shelf locator can help identify nearby food and meal programs, but hours should be confirmed with the individual location before traveling.
3SquaresVT work rules changed in 2026. Some adults ages 18 through 64 without a child under 14 in the household are subject to time-limited benefit work rules unless an exemption or temporary excuse applies. The state generally requires 80 hours per month of qualifying work, training, or other approved activity for affected adults. Vermont's simplified 3SquaresVT application route for older or disabled households now uses age 65 as the age threshold.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Vermont housing help is divided among the Economic Services Division, Vermont State Housing Authority, Vermont Housing Finance Agency, local housing providers, community action agencies, and legal-aid organizations. Program openings, funding, and waiting lists can change.
Vermont Housing Finance Agency rental directory
VHFA maintains a statewide directory of affordable rental housing. Applications are made to the property manager or housing provider, not to VHFA, and individual properties may have separate eligibility rules and waiting lists.
Vermont State Housing Authority
VSHA administers rental assistance programs, including Housing Choice Vouchers. Its statewide Housing Choice Voucher waiting list remains closed, so households should check VSHA and other local housing authorities for current openings and program-specific opportunities.
General Assistance Emergency Housing
Vermont's Emergency Housing program may provide temporary hotel housing in qualifying emergencies. Applicants must contact the Economic Services Division Housing Line or submit the application through a district office or the state's document uploader.
ESD Housing Line: 800-775-0506
Seasonal Fuel Assistance
Vermont Fuel Assistance helps eligible renters and homeowners pay part of their home heating costs. Current state guidance uses household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level as a general threshold, and new applicants can apply online, by mail, or through a district office.
Benefits Service Center: 800-479-6151
Crisis Fuel Assistance
Crisis Fuel Assistance can help eligible households facing a winter heating emergency. Current state guidance uses income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Application periods depend on whether the household uses bulk or metered fuel.
Weatherization Assistance
Eligible Vermont households may receive no-cost weatherization services that improve energy efficiency and reduce heating costs. Active Seasonal Fuel Assistance households are also eligible for free weatherization services, and local agencies deliver the work.
Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont
Free civil legal help may be available for qualifying Vermonters dealing with eviction, housing conditions, public benefits, debt and creditor issues, healthcare access, family safety, and other civil legal problems.
Emergency housing routing changed September 1, 2026. Vermont 211 no longer performs General Assistance Emergency Housing intake or issues motel vouchers after hours. ESD handles that program Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 800-775-0506. Vermont 211 remains available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily to connect residents with shelters and other community resources.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Vermont Health Connect is the state's health insurance marketplace and enrollment system for Medicaid, Dr. Dynasaur, and Qualified Health Plans. Federal changes affect some Medicaid and Marketplace rules beginning in late 2026 and 2027.
Vermont Health Connect
Eligible residents can apply for Medicaid or Dr. Dynasaur throughout the year. Vermont Health Connect also enrolls residents in Qualified Health Plans and is the only route to Marketplace financial help.
Customer Support: 855-899-9600
Dr. Dynasaur
Dr. Dynasaur is Vermont's Medicaid coverage for eligible children and certain pregnant people. Children under age 19 can receive protected continuous enrollment for 12 months, subject to program rules.
2027 Qualified Health Plans
Open Enrollment for 2027 Qualified Health Plans runs from November 1 through December 28, 2026. Enrollments completed by December 15 can begin January 1, while later enrollments through December 28 can begin February 1.
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 rules begin changing October 1, 2026. Vermont says federal law will restrict Medicaid eligibility for some noncitizens beginning October 1. Starting January 1, 2027, some adults ages 19 through 64 will face new community-engagement requirements and six-month renewals unless an exception applies. Current members and applicants should use Vermont's Medicaid change information to check whether the new rules affect them.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance Program uses local community child care support agencies, while Reach Up cash assistance is administered through the Economic Services Division.
Child Care Financial Assistance Program
CCFAP helps eligible Vermont families pay for regulated child care when they have an accepted service need and meet program rules. Current income and family-share guidelines took effect March 22, 2026. Applications are submitted to the family's local community child care support agency.
Reach Up
Reach Up provides eligible families with children with monthly cash assistance, case management, and support related to employment, education, housing, health, safety, training, and other goals. Applications can be submitted through MyBenefits, by mail, or at a district office.
Benefits Service Center: 800-479-6151
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
Reach First ended July 1, 2026. Vermont's Economic Services Division states that the Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations Act eliminated the Reach First program. Families seeking cash assistance should review the current Reach Up and related program routes rather than relying on older Reach First information.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, legal problems, and loss of affordable phone or internet service can affect housing, healthcare, transportation, and the rest of a household budget. Vermont and federal programs provide several starting points.
Vermont Unemployment Insurance
Eligible workers who lose employment or experience reduced work may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. Initial claims can be filed online through Claimant e-Services or by phone.
Initial claims: 877-214-3330
Claimant assistance: 877-214-3332
Vermont JobLink
Vermont JobLink is the state's public employment system for job searches, resumes, career services, training information, and connections to American Job Centers and workforce programs.
Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont
Free civil legal help may be available for qualifying residents with housing, public benefits, healthcare, consumer debt, employment, family safety, disability, and other noncriminal legal problems.
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
Vermont's Aging and Disability Resource Connections system uses a No Wrong Door approach to connect residents with long-term services and supports. Five Area Agencies on Aging provide regional services for older Vermonters and caregivers.
Aging and Disability Resource Connections
Vermont ADRC helps people of all ages, disabilities, and income levels find information and support for long-term services and supports. Core partners include the five Area Agencies on Aging, Vermont Center for Independent Living, and Vermont 211.
Area Agencies on Aging
Vermont's five Area Agencies on Aging help older adults and caregivers with information and referral, meals and nutrition, caregiver support, legal assistance, benefits counseling, and other community-based services.
Senior Helpline: 800-642-5119
Adult Protective Services
Vermont Adult Protective Services receives and investigates reports involving suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults. If someone is in immediate danger or needs emergency medical help, call 911.
Adult Protective Services: 800-564-1612
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Vermont 988
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, mental health concerns, or substance use. Vermont crisis services can also connect people with local mobile crisis support when appropriate.
Call or text: 988
Vermont Network
The Vermont Network connects survivors with local domestic and sexual violence programs, advocacy, safety planning, shelter, and other support throughout the state.
Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-228-7395
Sexual Violence Hotline: 800-489-7273
Vermont 211
Vermont 211 connects residents with food, shelter, transportation, healthcare, and other health and human services. The service is currently available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Call: 211 or 866-652-4636
Text: ZIP code to 898211
Vermont Emergency Management
Vermont Emergency Management coordinates statewide emergency response and recovery. Residents affected by a disaster should follow current state instructions, document damage, contact their insurer when applicable, and check whether household assistance has been authorized for their location.
Check assistance before relying on a past declaration
As of September 17, 2026, Vermont Emergency Management lists the State Emergency Operations Center at normal operations. Its open federal declarations are Public Assistance grants tied to prior disasters. FEMA Individual Assistance for households depends on the specific disaster, designated locations, eligible losses, insurance, and an active application period.
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 Vermont 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.
