Free and low-cost help in Tennessee

If you are in danger or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 right now. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and confidential, any time.

When you are safe, start with 211. It is a free, confidential line that connects you to local help with rent, utilities, food and health care. Before you call, put these in one place: a photo ID, proof of your address, recent pay stubs or a statement of no income, and a list of the bills that are past due.

Set aside one folder, paper or phone, for copies. Many programs ask for the same income and address proof, so one set carries you through several applications. If a benefits decision goes against you, or you get an eviction notice, free civil legal aid exists: use the Legal Services Corporation's finder or LawHelp.org to locate an office that serves Tennessee.

Then work in this order: food, then health coverage, then utility and rent help. Write down who you called, the date and any case number. If you have to call back, you will not be starting over.

Medicaid and CHIP accept applications any time of year, not just during an open period. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid, so many adults below the poverty line get neither Medicaid nor marketplace savings. That gap is real, and it is not the end of your options. Children and teens can be covered through InsureKidsNow.gov, and HealthCare.gov shows marketplace plans with income-based savings.

Community health centers are the practical answer for many people. They charge on a sliding fee by income, insured or not. Tennessee has 177 federally funded health center sites. Memphis has 19, Chattanooga and Nashville have 14 each, Knoxville has 8, Oneida has 5, Lewisburg has 4, and Johnson City and Newport have 3 each. Call the one nearest you and ask what to bring and what a visit costs at your income.

If a hospital bill is the problem, ask the billing office for the hospital's written financial assistance policy. Nonprofit hospitals are required to have one. Ask for the application before you set up a payment plan or pay anything, and keep copies of what you send.

For mental health or substance use treatment, FindTreatment.gov lists government-checked programs, including low-cost ones. Search your ZIP code and call ahead about fees.

SNAP is the first call for groceries. The SNAP state directory tells you where to apply in Tennessee. Apply even if you are unsure; the agency decides, not you. WIC covers food, formula and nutrition help for pregnant people, new parents and children under 5. It is separate from SNAP, so applying for one does not use up the other.

If you have children in school, apply for free and reduced-price school meals through your school district. You can apply mid-year, and a change in income counts. For food this week, the Feeding America food bank finder shows the food bank and pantries that serve your area. Call the pantry before you go to confirm hours.

TANF is temporary cash assistance for families with children, run through state offices. Ask about it when you apply for SNAP.

Before you file taxes, use the IRS EITC Assistant to check the Earned Income Tax Credit. It is a free tool and takes a few minutes.

For a shutoff notice or a heating bill you cannot cover, start with the LIHEAP state and territory contacts page. It lists the office that takes LIHEAP applications in Tennessee. Apply before the shutoff date if you can.

Ask the same office about the Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides free insulation, sealing and heating repairs that lower energy bills for income-eligible households.

For rent, HUD rental assistance covers public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers and other HUD rental programs. Ask whether there is a waiting list and how to get on it, and tell them if your address or phone changes. HUD-approved housing counselors give free or low-cost help with renting, eviction, foreclosure and budgeting. Ask for a counselor who works in Tennessee.

Lifeline is a federal discount on phone or internet service for eligible households. A phone that agencies can reach you on matters when they call back about an application.

Tennessee has had declared disasters in the last year. A Severe Winter Storm received a major disaster declaration on February 6, 2026, with individual assistance available; the application deadline is June 10, 2026. An earlier emergency declaration for a Severe Winter Storm was made on January 24, 2026.

If either storm damaged your home or cost you money, apply at DisasterAssistance.gov. Do it before the June 10 deadline even if you are unsure what you can get. Have your address, any insurance information, and photos of the damage ready.

The American Red Cross helps with shelter and emergency supplies after disasters and home fires. If your home is unsafe tonight, call them or 211 and say plainly that you have nowhere to sleep.

Ready.gov has plain guidance on what to do during and after an emergency, including how to document damage while it is fresh.

When local programs are used up, or the gap is small and specific, asking people directly can close it. On HelpBLESS, anyone can 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.

Be specific and short. A template like "I need [amount] toward rent in [your city] by [date]. I have applied for [program] and I am short [amount]" tells readers what you need. Say what you have already tried, and say what the money will cover. Skip anything you would not want a stranger to keep.

Protect yourself. Do not put your Social Security number, bank account or routing numbers, your children's names or schools, immigration papers or medical records in a post or a public reply. Share documents only with an agency or a person you have checked, through a private channel.

Two HelpBLESS tools can save you calls. The benefits checker runs a two-minute anonymous check of US programs worth applying for. Help near me shows housing counselors, health centers, treatment options and disaster declarations for your ZIP code.