Free and low-cost help in Montana

Start with one call. Dial 211. It is free and confidential, and it connects you to local help with rent, utilities, food, health care and more. Tell the person your county and what is most urgent this week. If you are in emotional distress or crisis, call or text 988 at any hour.

Before you call, put a small pile of paper together. Photo ID if you have one. Proof of where you live, such as a lease or a utility bill. Proof of income for the last month, such as pay stubs or a benefit letter. A list of everyone in your household and their ages. The one bill or notice that is worrying you most. You do not need all of it to get started, and an office can tell you what is missing.

Then pick one thing to do today. Not five. Apply for one program, book one appointment, or ask one question. The person helping you can point you toward the next thing. Income limits and rules differ by program and by place, so ask the office that runs the program instead of relying on what a neighbor was told.

HelpBLESS is another place to ask, and posting a need there is free. A person reviews each post before it goes up, and you can limit a post to your state, city or ZIP code so neighbors see it. Use it for the need you can describe plainly, and hold back the details covered further down this guide.

Montana has 72 federally funded health center sites, and they charge on a sliding fee based on your income. Insurance is not required. The most sites are in Great Falls (6), Hardin (5), Missoula (5), Billings (4), Cut Bank (4) and Helena (4), with more in Butte (3) and Dillon (3). Call the site nearest you and ask what to bring and what a visit would cost at your income.

Montana has expanded Medicaid, so many adults with low incomes may be able to get coverage. You can apply any time of year, not just during an open window. Children and teens may be covered through CHIP and InsureKidsNow. If you buy your own plan, HealthCare.gov is the federal marketplace and savings are based on income.

If you owe a hospital bill, ask the billing office for its written financial assistance policy before you pay or agree to a payment plan. Nonprofit hospitals are required to have one, and the IRS explains the rule. Ask what the application requires and how long it takes. Ask first, rather than paying in full and arguing later.

For mental health or substance use treatment, FindTreatment.gov lists low-cost options near you. When you post publicly about a health need, leave out diagnoses, medications, insurance ID numbers and anything you would not want an employer to read. Those details belong with the program office handling your application, not in a public post.

For groceries, use the SNAP state directory to find where to apply for food benefits where you live. WIC covers food, formula and nutrition help for pregnant people, new parents and children under 5. School meals are handled through your school district, and the district can tell you how to apply for free or reduced-price meals. The Feeding America food bank finder shows the food bank and pantries that serve your area, and 211 can name one open today.

Do the fast thing and the slow thing at once. Get food from a pantry this week while the SNAP application moves through. Ask the office how long it usually takes and whether anything can move faster, and ask what documents they still need from you.

For cash, TANF state offices run temporary cash assistance for families with children. The IRS EITC Assistant is a free tool that checks whether the Earned Income Tax Credit might apply to you, including for past years. That credit is a tax refund, not a loan, and you do not have to pay anyone to find out.

Apply for more than one program. Applying for SNAP does not block you from WIC or school meals, and each office can tell you what it needs. Bring the same document pile you made for your first call, and keep a copy of anything you submit, along with the name of the person who took it.

For heat and power bills, start with LIHEAP. The LIHEAP state and territory contacts list shows the office that takes applications where you live. The Weatherization Assistance Program covers insulation, sealing and heating repairs at no cost for income-eligible households, which lowers your bill over time. Both are worth asking about in the same call.

For rent, HUD rental assistance covers public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers and other HUD rental programs. HUD-approved housing counselors give free or low-cost advice on renting, eviction, foreclosure and budgeting. Call a counselor as soon as you see trouble, not after a court date is set. They can help you sort out what is actually due and what options exist.

If you have a notice, a hearing date or a landlord who is threatening to remove you, contact a free civil legal aid office through Legal Services Corporation, or use LawHelp.org for programs and self-help information by state. Legal aid offices are for people with low incomes, and asking early gives you more room to work with.

The Lifeline phone and internet discount can lower a monthly phone or internet bill for eligible households. When you post publicly about a housing problem, keep out your exact street address, case numbers and copies of notices. Share those with the counselor or the legal aid office, not with strangers online.

Montana has had several federal declarations in the last 12 months. Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds was declared a major disaster on 2026-05-29, with individual assistance available and an application deadline of 2026-08-31. Severe Storms and Flooding was declared a major disaster on 2026-04-07, and an emergency declaration was made for flooding on 2025-12-19. A fire management declaration was made for the Sand Creek Fire on 2026-08-14.

If a declaration covers your county, apply at DisasterAssistance.gov and watch the deadline. Keep photos of the damage, receipts for anything you had to buy, and copies of letters from your insurer. Write down the date you applied and the application number, and keep them with your other papers.

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, including what to do in the first days.

The Help near me tool on HelpBLESS shows disaster declarations for a ZIP code, which is a quick way to check whether your area is covered before you start an application. When you post about a disaster loss, describe the damage and the need in general terms rather than posting your address or the inside of your home.

A good post is short and specific. Say what happened, what you need, how much if it is money, and by when. Say what you have already tried. A template you can fill in: I am in [your city] and I am short [amount] for [rent or utility] by [date]. I have applied for [program] and am waiting to hear back. I can [something you can offer in return]. Add one line about how someone can help, such as dropping off goods or covering a bill directly.

Keep private things private. Do not post your Social Security number, bank or card numbers, medical details, immigration status, your children's full names or schools, or your exact street address. Do not send photos of documents to someone who messages you privately. Program offices have secure ways to collect what they need, and a public post is not one of them.

On money posts, HelpBLESS keeps a platform fee of 15% and the card processor takes its fee, with an optional tip to HelpBLESS that starts at 0%. You do not need to promise anyone a particular outcome or a repayment date you cannot keep. Say plainly what the money is for and what happens if you raise more or less than the amount.

Go back and update your post when something changes, whether a program came through, a deadline moved, or the need was met. Close it when it is done and thank the people who answered. If someone offers help that feels wrong, you can decline, and you can report the post or message.