Need help today? Start with the problem.
Find simple next steps for urgent bills and basic needs. No long forms. No confusing words.
What do you need help with?
Start with the thing that is putting the most pressure on you right now.
Power, gas, or water
Shutoff notices, past-due bills, and emergency utility help.
Rent or eviction
Past-due rent, eviction notices, and local housing help.
Food
Food benefits, local food help, and meals when money runs short.
Safe place to stay
Emergency housing and local places to ask for help.
Medicine or health costs
Ways to look for lower costs and local health help.
A ride
Transportation for work, health visits, or other basic needs.
Urgent home repair
Help with unsafe or broken parts of a home.
Not sure where to start
Search by the problem you have, not by the name of a program.
Start with three facts
You do not need to know the name of a government program.
- What happened? A shutoff notice, rent due, no food, no ride, or another urgent need.
- Where do you live? Many programs are local.
- What is the deadline? A shutoff date or court date can change what you should do first.
What we try to show
- The next step to take
- Who to call or where to apply
- What papers you may need
- Official sources when possible
- What to try if the first answer is no
Useful guides for common problems
Short, practical guides for the problems that cannot wait forever.
How to Find Help Paying for Childcare
Childcare can cost enough to make work or school impossible. If the price is more than your family can carry, ask about…
How to Avoid Scams When You Are Looking for Help
Scammers look for people who are scared, rushed, or short on money. They may pretend to offer grants, rent help, utility help,…
What to Do When You Need Help With Several Bills at Once
When rent, utilities, food, debt, and medical bills all hit at once, the problem is not only that you need more money.…
How to Find Free or Low-Cost Legal Help
You may not need a private lawyer as your first step. Legal aid offices, court self-help centers, nonprofit groups, bar associations, and…
What to Do When You Cannot Pay for Medicine
If you cannot afford a prescription, do not wait until the last dose if you can avoid it. Call the doctor or…
How to Find Help With a Security Deposit or Move-In Costs
Getting approved for an apartment does not help if you cannot pay the security deposit, first month's rent, utility deposit, application fees,…
What to Do If an Assistance Program Says No
A denial can feel final, but it may not be. You may have been denied because of missing papers, an income rule,…
What to Do After You Lose Your Job
Losing a job can turn into a rent, food, insurance, and transportation problem very quickly. The first week matters. Protect your final…
How to Find Help Paying for Home Repairs
A leaking roof, broken furnace, unsafe wiring, plumbing failure, or accessibility problem can become an emergency. Home repair help exists in many…
What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down and You Need It for Work
A car repair can become a job emergency when you have no other way to get to work. Before you use a…
How to Find Low-Cost Dental Care
Dental pain can become a bigger health problem if you wait too long. If you do not have dental insurance or cannot…
How to Ask a Hospital to Lower a Medical Bill
A hospital bill is not always the final amount you must pay. If the bill is too high, ask for an itemized…
Help should not be hard to understand.
Need Help Today is built for ordinary people dealing with real bills, deadlines, and basic needs.