St Vincent De Paul St Amelia (phone (716) 836-0011) - This non-profit provides food assistance to low income individuals and families who are in need of help. Also, the center provides financial assistance for paying for appliances, heating units and utility bills if needed by qualified applicants.

Buffalo Housing/Homeless Outreach Program – Families who are at risk of losing their homes or facing eviction from apartments may qualify for assistance. Some of the assistance provided includes short-term emergency rental assistance and money to pay rent arrearage. In addition money can be used to help pay rent over the so called medium term. Grants for paying security deposits and utility deposits can be applied for, as well as current heating and utility bills. Motel or hotel vouchers and well as cash for moving and storage cost assistance round out the aid offered. 2969 Main Street, Buffalo New York 14214, phone (716) 834-3131.

WNYHeroes Inc. – Military veterans and families can get help with basic needs and expenses, including rent help, money for mortgage, free food, heating and utilities, medical bills, holiday meals, and much more. 1125 Main Street, Suite 27, Buffalo NY 14209, call (888) 400-3892

Erie County Housing/Homeless Outreach Program – Similar to the program above, the key difference being this one serves any family across all of Erie County New York. Services provided from the nonprofit include financial assistance and grants for heating and energy bills, rent payments, security deposits, electric bills, and moving costs. 2969 Main Street, Buffalo NY 14214. Phone number is (716) 834-3131.

Erie County - Social Services Department – Apply for government assistance, including Temporary Assistance; Adult & Child Protection; Food Stamps; Medicaid; Social Services;; HEAP; Emergency Assistance; and get Information & Referral to local charities and assistance programs. Rath Building, 158 Pearl Street, Buffalo New York 14202. Phone (716) 858-8000.

Catholic Charities – Several resources are offered, including the Neighbor for Neighbor Heat Fund for National Fuel. This heating assistance program was created to provide financial assistance for energy bills and heating to low income, disabled, elderly, handicapped, or those Erie County NY with medical emergencies or hardships. Catholic Charities also administers various rent, housing and supportive services. These can include, but are not limited to, housing need assessments, identify new housing opportunities; utility and home repair advocacy; provide relocation assistance; application for entitlement program; landlord/tenant mediations; short term case management services; information and referral to community agencies and government programs. 128 Wilson Street, Buffalo New York 14212, phone (716) 896-6388.

Tonawanda Salvation Army – Offers the following to qualified people. Apply for emergency food assistance and vouchers. They also run the Neighbor 4 Neighbor utility assistance for seniors when funds are available. In addition, apply for rental assistance for Niagara and Erie County residents. 46 Broad Street, P.O. Box 191, Tonawanda NY 14151, (716) 693-3110

Buffalo Home Energy Assistance Program – Call them to learn about or apply for emergency assistance for paying electric, gas, oil, heating bills etc. and even funds for some heating equipment repair. Low income families and individuals can apply for heating assistance. They also offer weatherization program. 478 Main Street, 1st Floor, Buffalo New York 14202, call (716) 858-7644.

Financial assistance for water bills - Low income people who live in Erie County and Buffalo New York have two main programs that can help with water bills. One is a payment plan, and the other is a resource offered by Neighborhood Legal Services. Read more and find details on the options available.

Low interest loans for expenses and bills

The Child & Family Services Ways to Work Loan Programs is an option that offers low interest loans to qualified individuals. Money can be used to pay for bills, household appliances, furniture, medical bills and needs, loans for paying rent or a mortgage arrears, vehicle repair or purchase, security deposits, home repair, child care. People who are working at minimum part time or who may be going back to school are eligible to apply for the loan program. Click here to find other loan programs, or dial (716) 335-7400.

Community Action Organization of Erie County CAO New Ventures housing program

This offers housing, mortgage, and rent assistance to low income families and individuals. Some of the aid that can be provided include a grant for first month's rent, funds for one month past due rent (to prevent eviction). They may even be able to offer funds for one month past due mortgage payment to prevent a foreclosure filing. Find additional mortgage assistance programs in New York. Continue.

Employment and job assistance.

Offers assistance with job search, job preparation, job referrals, job placement, resumes, and referrals to onsite services, CAO partner agencies, and other agencies and charities that are located throughout Erie County and Buffalo New York. Call CAO at 881-5150.

Rent Assistance

Is being offered as part of a federal government stimulus initiative that is called the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. It provides financial help and cash grants to families and individuals who are at risk of being evicted and finding themselves out on the streets. It can also help those who have already been made homeless by the recession, and maybe they have been evicted or maybe they lost their home to foreclosure.

The services offered as part of the program range from short-term rental assistance and housing relocation, to help with security deposits, utility deposits, and even utility and heating bills.

 

 

Good news is the help is not just for residents of Buffalo. Erie County received $1.2 million for the initiative, while the Town of Tonawanda received $775,000 to spend.

The different agencies and charities distributing the funds include the American Red Cross, Neighborhood Legal Services ((716) 847-0650), Catholic Charities, Saving Grace ((716) 893-1840), Community Action Organization, Crisis Services, the Homeless Alliance and the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Center. Contact the Community Action Organization of Erie County and they can also refer you to these agencies. Or find other Erie County and Buffalo rent programs.

Belmont Housing Resources for WNY - This non-profit agency can provide information on rental assistance programs, and they also administer the Section 8 rental assistance program. (716) 884-7791

Matt Urban HOPE Center - People facing an eviction and at risk of losing their home or apartment, or those who are currently homeless, can contact this agency. Dial (716) 855-2124.

Erie County New York programs and agencies that cover the entire state

Get details on financial assistance programs and not-for profit agencies that provide rental assistance, housing, free foreclosure advice, heating bill assistance, and other aid to Buffalo NY and Erie County families.

New York mortgage assistance and foreclosure prevention
New York HUD housing counseling
New York utility bill help. Click here.
Dental clinics in New York.
New York free legal assistance
New York food pantries and banks. More.
New York health care clinics
Section 8 vouchers in New York.

Employment Services

If you need help finding a new job, are under or unemployed, the Buffalo Urban League (716-854 -7625) can help you. The administer an Employee Transition Service that offers entry level employment opportunities, can provide job training and help to people who are new to the workforce or who have limited work experience or skills. But the program foes not end there. They will also assist individuals who are professionals who have been affected by layoffs in this economy, people who are seeking to upgrade their employment or gain new skills, and can also help skilled workers.

Home repairs and improvements

If you experience an emergency such as a broken furnace or heating unit, need a window or roof replacement, the city of Buffalo partners with West Side Neighborhood Housing Services to offer homeowners options and programs to resolve their crisis. Some the repairs and improvements that can be provided include defective heating system, repair or replacement of water heaters and furnaces, roof repair, replacement of water pipes, and much more. Call 716.877.3910 for housing assistance.

Buffalo and Erie County Salvation Army

The local Salvation Army branch runs the Emergency Family Assistance Program. This program can help people pay for bills, including medical, rent, and energy bills. (716) 825-994.

Mortgage counseling, foreclosure prevention, and debt reduction

The Urban League of Buffalo offers Erie County New York homeowners foreclosure and mortgage help. They have an on site Housing and Community Development Department that provides housing assistance. HUD approved counselors will work with the family to help them keep their home. In addition, the program also provides budget and credit counseling to get finances back on track. They also have a predatory lending assistance program. Call them at 854 -7625.

Another option is West Side Neighborhood Housing Services (716) 885-2344). They provide one on one counseling, mediation services, information and access to loan modifications, and a host of other foreclosure programs and solutions to mortgage defaults. Click here to learn more about New York mortgage programs.

In addition to the rent programs mentioned above, Belmont Housing Resources for WNY also offers foreclosure assistance. The center is a HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency that provides home ownership & rental counseling to Erie County and Buffalo residents; including pre-purchase, reverse mortgage, foreclosure advice and mortgage default counseling. Dial (716) 884-7791.

In addition to those three agencies listed above, several other non-profit credit and housing counseling organizations are located in the area. They may be able to provide income qualified consumers and homeowners with free or low cost debt reduction and mortgage assistance. Find information on credit counseling organizations in Erie County.

Medical care and health care clinics

Clinics and medical facilities that offer individuals care include

Community Health Center of Buffalo - Phone (716) 986-9199. This clinic offers complete primary medical, health and dental care for entire family. No one is refused due to their inability to pay for their medical or hospital bills. They offer services on a sliding fee, reduced C scale, there is also a $10.00 co-pay for services. In addition, all health insurance types are accepted. In addition, learn about New York medical debt collection laws.

ECMC Outpatient Clinic Services  - This facility offers care and the fees charged to patients will vary depending on service and the patients income. Both dental and medical care is offered. (716) 898-3152

Find information on dozens of other free community clinics in Erie County and Buffalo New York.

 

 

Food pantries and assistance programs

There are several food assistance programs and places to obtain free vouchers from in the Erie County and Buffalo New York area. They include:

• Antioch Baptist Church Food Pantry - (716) 895-0198
• Buffalo Lutheran Food Pantry - (716) 892-7682
• Calvary Missionary Baptist Church - (716) 895-3642
• Delevan Community Food Pantry - (716) 492-1902
• First Presbyterian Church - (716) 884-7250
• Lackawanna Neighborhood Service Center CAO - (716) 825-2147
• Or click here to find information on dozens of other food pantries.

Pro-bono legal aid

Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. - Volunteer attorneys offer free legal advice for civil issues. Get advice for all issues including, but not limited to, unemployment insurance benefits; Family Law (divorce, adoption, guardianship, standby guardianship, name change and non-parent custody petitions); foreclosures; consumer/bankruptcy; real property/small estate; evictions, and more. Click here for more free legal advice, or dial (716) 847-0662