Free and low-cost help in Indiana

Start with one phone call. Dial 211. It is free and confidential, and it connects you to local help with rent, utilities, food, health care and more. Say what you need in one sentence, then give your ZIP code.

You can also search findhelp.org by ZIP code for free and reduced-cost programs nearby. The HelpBLESS benefits checker is a two-minute anonymous check of US programs worth applying for, and Help near me shows housing counselors, health centers, treatment and disaster declarations for your ZIP code. Both are free, and you do not have to post anything to use them.

Before you call, put your papers in one place: a photo ID, proof of address, recent pay stubs or a short note saying you have no income right now, the bills you are behind on, and the names and birth dates of everyone in your household. Programs ask for different things, so bring the folder and let the worker tell you what to copy.

Write down three needs and put them in order, for example food this week, an overdue electric bill, then a doctor visit. Ask every office two questions: what happens next, and what should I bring. Keep a note of who you talked to, the date, and any application number. Applying directly with a program costs nothing.

Indiana has expanded Medicaid, so many adults with low incomes can get coverage. You can apply any time of year, not just during an open window. Children and teens may be covered through Medicaid or CHIP, and InsureKidsNow.gov explains the children's side. If your income is above the Medicaid range, HealthCare.gov is the federal marketplace, where savings are based on income.

Community health centers charge on a sliding fee by income, insured or not. Indiana has 386 federally funded health center sites. The most are in Indianapolis (59), Fort Wayne (21), East Chicago (16), Gary (11), Muncie (11), Richmond (11), Anderson (10) and Munster (10). Ask for the sliding fee scale when you call, and bring proof of income to your first visit.

If a hospital bill is the problem, ask the billing office for its written financial assistance policy. Nonprofit hospitals are required to have one, and the IRS page on hospital financial assistance policies explains the rule. Request the application in writing and keep a copy of what you send.

For mental health or substance use treatment, FindTreatment.gov lists low-cost options. If you are in emotional distress, call or text 988 any time. If you are unsure whether applying for a health program could affect an immigration case, ask a free legal aid office before you apply rather than guessing.

For groceries, SNAP is the main program, and the SNAP state directory shows where to apply in Indiana. WIC provides food, formula and nutrition help for pregnant people, new parents and children under 5. Free or reduced-price school meals are handled through your school district, so ask the school office how to start an application.

Food banks fill the gap while an application is pending. The Feeding America food bank finder shows the food bank and pantries that serve your area; call ahead for hours and what to bring. Many pantries ask for little or nothing, and 211 can name ones that are open this week.

For cash, TANF is temporary assistance for families with children, run through state offices. If you worked last year, the IRS EITC Assistant can tell you in a few minutes whether the Earned Income Tax Credit applies to you.

Apply for SNAP and WIC in the same week if you can, since they are separate programs with separate offices. Write down the date you applied and ask when you should expect to hear back. If you move or your income changes, report it so the case does not close by mistake.

For heat and electric bills, LIHEAP is the federal energy assistance program. The LIHEAP state and territory contacts list shows the Indiana office that takes applications. The Weatherization Assistance Program pays for insulation, sealing and heating repairs that lower bills over time for income-eligible households.

For rent, HUD rental assistance covers public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers and other HUD rental programs. Waiting lists can be long, so apply and keep looking. HUD-approved housing counselors give free or low-cost advice on renting, eviction, foreclosure and budgeting, and they are worth calling before a court date, not after.

If you have a legal notice in hand, such as an eviction filing or a foreclosure letter, use the Legal Services Corporation finder to locate a free civil legal aid office, or check LawHelp.org. Rules on eviction and notice vary by place, so get local advice about your own paperwork.

Lifeline is a federal discount on phone or internet service for eligible households, and it helps you keep a number that offices can reach. When you call a utility or a landlord, ask what payment arrangement they offer and get the answer in writing if you can.

Indiana has had federal disaster declarations in the last 12 months. Severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding were declared a major disaster on August 25, 2026, with individual assistance available, and the deadline to apply is October 25, 2026. The same storms received an emergency declaration on August 15, 2026, and a severe winter storm received an emergency declaration on January 24, 2026.

If you were affected, apply at DisasterAssistance.gov. Keep receipts for hotel nights, repairs, food and generator fuel, and photograph damage before you clean up. Send copies, never originals. Ask for help filling out the form if the online version is hard to use.

The American Red Cross provides shelter, emergency supplies and recovery help after disasters and home fires. Ready.gov has official guidance on preparing for and recovering from emergencies.

Disasters are hard on mental health too. If you are not sleeping, cannot stop thinking about it, or feel unsafe, call or text 988. It is free, confidential and available any time.

HelpBLESS is a place where anyone can post a need for money, time, skills, goods or advice, and anyone can answer it, locally or from anywhere. Posting is free, and a person reviews each post. You can limit a post to your state, city or ZIP code so people nearby see it.

Write the post the way you would explain it to a neighbor. A template: I am asking for [amount] toward [specific bill] in [your city]. I have applied for [program] and am waiting to hear back. I can offer [skill or hours of help] in return. I need to resolve this by [date]. A specific ask gets a clearer answer than an open one.

On money posts, HelpBLESS keeps a platform fee of 15% and the card processor takes its fee, and an optional tip to HelpBLESS starts at 0%. Do the math before you set the amount, so the goal matches what you actually need to receive.

Keep private things out of any public post: ID and Social Security numbers, bank and card numbers, medical records, children's school or full names, and immigration paperwork. Share details only with an organization you called yourself, and only what it asks for. If you are in danger or in crisis, use 988 rather than a public post.