Gaston County assistance programs

Find help with rent, debts, utility bills, and conserve energy

The Gaston Community Action provides residents of Gaston and surrounding communities with a variety of assistance programs. Some of the the help they provide includes :

• Community Services Block Grant, which is targeted to making both low and middle income families residents self-sufficient. The program can provide short term help with paying rent, employment searches and job training, housing assistance, information on debt assistance programs, and transportation services.
   
• Weatherization Program. Gaston Community Action will work directly with local homeowners to install free energy saving improvements in their homes, such as additional installation, calking, replacing appliances, and more. While the program is funded by the federal government, the community action group does the actual installations. These improvements can help people save hundreds of dollars per year on their energy bills.

Call the agency at (704) 861-2283.

Bessemer City Area Crisis Center, which can be reached at 704-629-2147, offers various forms of help and assistance to the needy in the Bessemer City area. they accomplish this goal by providing free clothing and other forms of financial assistance for paying utilities, medical bills, and offering medicine. Get access to life maintenance needs, food, senior food program, housing and rent help, and information and referral to other government agencies and programs. For example, learn about state government mortgage programs. Read more.

 

 

 

Another local non-profit agency to turn to is Cherryville Area Ministries and Thrift Shop. This charity organization offers help to those in need who live in the Cherryville North Carolina area. Eligible families can receive free clothing and financial assistance for paying rent, utilities, medicine and health care debts, and food. The agency also operates a thrift shop. Transportation for senior citizens is also provided. 704-435-3816.

Dallas Christian Ministry, whose phone number is 704-922-1236, is another non-profit. Apply at this organization to get help to the needy who live in the Dallas area. They do this by providing free clothing and financial assistance for paying such expenses as utilities, medicine and by offering free food and groceries.

Another Gaston County option is Mount Holly Community Relief Organization. Provides emergency assistance and cash grants for paying rent, heating and utility bills, they offer prescription medicine and food in Mount Holly and surrounding areas and communities.

Salvation Army Center of Hope helps people of all faiths, as funding allows. Among other services they provides cash assistance with rent, food, energy bills, health care, information on credit card and debt programs, details on lender and bank counseling  programs such Chase assistance programs, medicine, and clothing to residents of Gaston County who are in an emergency situation. In addition to this cash help, they can also provide temporary emergency shelter for families, men, and women. Those who are hungry and need a meal, they provides breakfast, lunch and dinner through the soup kitchen for anyone who is hungry, seven days per week. They never try to turn away anyone. 704-867-6145

Cherryville Area Ministries - This non-profit runs several assistance programs. The programs can help with numerous items, and they will range from offering assistance to clients with paying for rent, electricity, car gas, prescription medicine costs, heating oil and fuel, kerosene and gas bill. Also provides vouchers for providing free clothing, groceries and food. There are some criteria that need to be met, including the applicant must have a cut off notice or late payment notice, eviction notices are required. The agency also offers layoff assistance and help for people who lost their jobs. Thrift Store is also run. Cherryville North Carolina (704) 435-3866.

 

 

Serving Our Community with Kindness in Springwood (Belmont NC phone - (704) 827-8780) offers financial assistance including free food, utilities, rent help, prescription medicine, clothing to people with need. Provides layoff assistance as well.

Belmont Community Organization - This agency can help clients and families within service area boundaries of I-85, the Catawba River and Cramerton city. The agency provides food, clothing, groceries, furniture and housewares, as well as limited financial assistance and grants that can be used for utilities, medicines, gasoline and auto fuel, kerosene and rent. Special programs include back-to-school, holiday meals and Christmas Angel Tree. Call (704) 825-4526

Health care in Gaston area

HealthNet Gaston provides uninsured and/or low income Gaston County residents access to a medical home or regular doctor. Just a sampling of the services offered include prescription medication assistance, limited specialty health care, laboratory, diagnostic aid and other hospital services, and also health coaching. Some services are offered at low cost or for free. Call the Gastonia based community clinic at (704) 867-6408.

Gaston Family Health Services Dental Clinic (Phone number (704) 853-5191) - This center, which is known as GFHS, may be able to offer family medical and dental care assistance to patients and community residents without regard to ability to pay or who do not have health or dental insurance. (704) 853-5191

Also, click here for more information on clinics, as well as locations of centers.

Debt help and foreclosure prevention counseling

Two organizations to call for credit counseling, debt reduction, or foreclosure assistance include Family Service of Gaston County ((704) 864-7704) as well as Consumer Credit Counseling Services (dial (704) 862-0239). Between the two of them they can provide clients with credit and financial counseling services. Learn about and enter into debt management plans and get help with paying credit card bills. In addition, qualified individuals can use pay reduction plan to relieve calls from creditors, and learn about their rights when it comes to debt reduction. The non-profit agency is approved for pre- and post-bankruptcy services. Foreclosure and reverse mortgage counseling is also available when needed. Click here to find more information on other non-profit credit counseling agencies.