Free and low-cost help in Texas

Start with one phone call. 211 is a free, confidential line that connects you to local help with rent, utilities, food, health care and more. Say it plainly: what you owe, what is due, and who lives with you. Write down what they tell you, with names and dates.

If you would rather look yourself, findhelp.org searches free and reduced-cost programs by ZIP code for food, housing, bills, health and work. It is a good late-night option when offices are closed and you want a list for the morning.

Before you call anyone, make one folder: photo ID, proof of income such as pay stubs or a benefit letter, a recent bill, your lease or mortgage statement, and birth certificates or Social Security cards for your household if you have them. Keep copies. Most programs ask for the same few things, so one folder serves several applications. Note each place you contact and the date.

If you are in emotional distress or crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is free, confidential and answered any time.

Texas has not expanded Medicaid, so many adults below the poverty line get neither Medicaid nor marketplace savings. Community health centers still see them, insured or not, and charge on a sliding fee by income. Texas has 649 federally funded health center sites. Houston has 61, Austin 47, San Antonio 46, Dallas 24, El Paso 20, Longview 16, Lubbock 13 and Tyler 13. Call first and ask what a visit would cost at your income.

Medicaid and CHIP take applications any time of year. InsureKidsNow.gov covers children and teens. HealthCare.gov is the federal marketplace, with income-based savings. Even if you expect no savings, run the numbers once.

For a hospital bill, ask the billing office for an itemized bill and a copy of the hospital's written financial assistance policy. Nonprofit hospitals must have one; the IRS page explains the rule.

FindTreatment.gov finds mental health and substance use treatment, including low-cost options. The HelpBLESS Help near me tool shows health centers and treatment sites for a ZIP code.

For food, start with the SNAP state directory, which shows where to apply for SNAP food benefits in Texas. The application asks about income, rent, utilities and who lives with you. WIC covers food, formula and nutrition help for pregnant people, new parents and children under 5.

Ask your school district about free and reduced-price school meals; the front office can tell you how to apply. The Feeding America food bank finder shows the food banks and pantries that serve your area.

For cash, TANF state offices handle temporary cash assistance for families with children, and each state runs its own. The IRS EITC Assistant checks whether the Earned Income Tax Credit applies to you.

Keep notes. When you apply, ask what documents are still missing and when benefits would start. Set a reminder to follow up if you have not heard back.

The LIHEAP state and territory contacts list shows the office that takes LIHEAP applications in Texas. If a shutoff notice has arrived, say so on the application and keep the notice.

The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free insulation, sealing and heating repairs that lower energy bills for income-eligible households. Ask the LIHEAP office about it on 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 counseling on renting, eviction, foreclosure and budgeting.

If eviction is on the table, talk to a HUD-approved counselor or a free civil legal aid office early. The Legal Services Corporation finder and LawHelp.org both list offices by state. Lifeline is a federal discount on phone or internet service for eligible households.

Texas has had several declared disasters in the last 12 months. The one that matters most for homeowners and renters is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding: a major disaster declaration dated 2026-09-01, with individual assistance available and an application deadline of 2026-12-29. A flooding emergency declaration was made 2026-07-18. Fire management declarations cover the Hydra Fire (2026-09-15), Ross Fire (2026-08-25), Stinky Fire (2026-05-18), Hunggate Fire (2026-05-14), Corner Pocket Fire (2026-03-15) and 8 Ball Fire (2026-02-18).

Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov. Before you clean up, photograph the damage, and keep receipts for anything you spend on repairs, lodging or supplies.

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.

Keep your paperwork out of public posts. No photos of documents, house numbers or children.

On HelpBLESS, anyone can post a need for money, time, skills, goods or advice, and anyone can answer, 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 neighbors see it.

Write a title like [amount] for [specific bill] in [your city], then a short paragraph: what the money is for, how much you need, the deadline, and what you have already tried. Name the bill, not the feeling. One clear need per post is easier to answer than five.

Leave out Social Security numbers, bank or card numbers, logins, immigration papers or case numbers, medical records, children's names or schools, your full street address, and anything about an open court case. Share documents only with a program or helper who asked through an official channel, and only after you have checked who they are.

On money posts, HelpBLESS keeps a platform fee of 15% and the card processor takes its fee; an optional tip to HelpBLESS starts at 0%. Set your amount with that in mind. If you are the one answering, ask one plain question about the need and give what you can without strain.