Free and low-cost help in Maryland

If you are in crisis, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline first. If you are safe but do not know where to start, call 211. It is free and confidential, and it connects people to local help with rent, utilities, food, health care and more. Say where you live and what you need most this week.

Today, make one list: the bill that is most urgent, the food or health need that cannot wait, and any notice you have received. Ask 211 what documents the programs it names will want, such as proof of income, address and household size. Write down the name of each office, the next step and a date to follow up.

Use the HelpBLESS benefits checker for a two-minute anonymous check of US programs worth applying for. Use Help near me with your ZIP code to find housing counselors, health centers, treatment and disaster declarations. You do not have to sort everything out at once. Start with one call and one application.

Maryland has expanded Medicaid, so many adults with low incomes can get coverage. You can apply any time of year. Children and teens may be able to get free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid and CHIP; ask about the children's options when you apply. The federal health insurance marketplace also offers income-based savings.

There are 106 federally funded health center sites in Maryland. The cities with the most sites are Baltimore with 20, Salisbury with 11, Silver Spring with 6, Capitol Heights with 4, and Columbia, Denton, Easton and Greenbelt with 3 each. These centers charge on a sliding fee by income, whether you have insurance or not. When you call, ask for the sliding fee scale and what income documents to bring.

If you have a hospital bill, ask the hospital for its financial assistance policy. Nonprofit hospitals must have a written charity care policy, and the IRS page explains the rule. For mental health or substance use treatment, use the government's Find Treatment locator to look for low-cost options. Ask each place what it needs before you go.

For food, start with SNAP. Your state SNAP office takes applications and can tell you what to bring. WIC provides food, formula and nutrition help for pregnant people, new parents and children under 5. If you have school-age children, ask your school district how to apply for free and reduced-price school meals.

The Feeding America food bank finder can point you to food banks and pantries that serve your area. If you are a family with children, ask the state TANF office about temporary cash assistance. TANF is run by each state, so the office can explain its own steps.

If you worked last year, the IRS Earned Income Tax Credit Assistant can help you check whether the credit applies to you. Keep your questions specific: ask what proof of income and household information each office needs. Ask each office what free help it offers with the application.

If you are behind on rent or facing eviction, contact a HUD-approved housing counselor. The counseling is free or low-cost, and counselors can talk through renting, eviction, foreclosure and budgeting. Call 211 as well and ask for local rent help in [your county or city].

For utility bills, contact the LIHEAP office that takes applications where you live. Ask what documents it needs and how the process works. The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free insulation, sealing and heating repairs that lower energy bills for income-eligible households. Ask whether your home can be reviewed.

HUD rental assistance includes public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers and other HUD rental programs. Ask a HUD counselor which waiting lists are open near you. The Lifeline discount can lower the cost of phone or internet service for eligible households. If you have a shutoff notice or a court paper, say so on the first call and ask for the next step.

Maryland had a Severe Winter Storm emergency declaration on 2026-01-24 in the last 12 months. If you were affected, go to Disaster Assistance to apply for FEMA and other federal disaster aid after a declared disaster. Ask what records and proof of damage the application needs.

The American Red Cross can help with shelter, emergency supplies and recovery help after disasters and home fires. Ready has official guidance on preparing for and recovering from emergencies. Keep your documents together and ask each agency what it needs before you share them.

Do not put your Social Security number, account numbers or full address in a public post. Share only what an agency asks for through its own application. If you are in emotional crisis, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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

Write a title that names the need and place, using placeholders when you practice: Need [amount] for [utility bill] in [your city]. In the body, say what happened in one or two sentences, what you need, and how someone can help. Ask for a specific item or amount, not a general appeal. Keep out medical details, children's full names, immigration status, account numbers and your exact address. Share only what helps someone answer.

You can also post for time, skills, goods or advice: a ride to an appointment, help with a form, a crib, or a call with someone who knows a local program. If you post a money need, HelpBLESS keeps a 15% platform fee and the card processor takes its fee; a tip to HelpBLESS is optional and starts at 0%. If you are in crisis, call 988 before you post.