Philadelphia assistance programs.

Get help with expenses, including rent and utility bills.

The Mayor's office of Community Services, located at 990 Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia (215-685-3600) has several programs that will help people with paying bills. The The Community Engagement Unit is one of the oldest programs offered, and it provides assistance with:

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Rental assistance, furniture and clothing, food aid, and other referrals are available
• CRISIS grants for utility and heating bills
• Board of City Trust Grant
• IRS tax preparation - free service
• Customer Responsibility Program (CRP) with Philadelphia Gas Works
• Customer Assistance Program (CAP) PECO
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• Economic Stimulus Rebate Property Tax/Rent Rebate

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley, Inc.

Provides budget, credit and money management counseling and advice. Provides counseling on debt management and debt reduction/elimination. Offers educational and training presentations. Find additional programs to get debt help. ((215) 563-5665)

Vision Assistance

The Lions Club of Delaware Valley (800-743-6667) will assist low-income, disabled, and the elderly with eye and vision issues, and also provide eyeglasses.

 

 

 

Food Assistance

Individuals and/or families that have little or very limited income can turn to a local food cupboard for help and free food. In Philadelphia, these organizations and charities that can help include. The Salvation Army ((215) 561-0178), Harold O. Davis Memorial Baptist Church, St. Gabriel's Parish (610) 532-5057), and St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Another option is the Share Food Program. This organization can direct you to local distribution centers, and they run their own program in which for $20 in cash or food stamps. plus the applicant putting in just two hours of community service, participants in the program can receive $40-$45 worth of fresh food or groceries. Call them at 215-223-2220.

Kids Smiles

Receive free or low cost dental care for children that are covered by Medical Assistance or the CHIP health plan. They also give aid to uninsured children whose families meet income thresholds. Call them at 215-492-9291.

Rental Assistance

If you are your family help with paying a security deposit or if you have been given an eviction notice, you can get help with rent from the following agencies. Tenant Action Group ((215) 575-0700), Diversified Community Services, South Lehigh Action Council, New Kensington CDC ((215) 739-6910), or the Southwest CDC.

A number of non-profits and government agencies in Philadelphia administer rental programs, offer landlord/tenant mediation, and provide counseling to renters. More on Philadelphia rent assistance agencies.

Philadelphia Mortgage Assistance Programs

The City of Philadelphia has created a program to help residents who need mortgage assistance. The Housing  Retention Program provides aid to low-income residents who have children and it will also help those who are are suffering from a short-term financial emergency or crisis. Click here to read more.

Find additional mortgage assistance programs for Pennsylvania. This mortgage program is unique as it mandates that banks and lenders can’t foreclose on a home until they have a conciliation conference between the lender and homeowner.

Help for single parent from ACHIEVEability Keeping Families and Homes Together Project
This is a pilot program that will help lower income, single parents who are newly unemployed and who need to be enrolled in either an academic degree program, job training, or an equivalent trade school program. Financial assistance provided from the program will include short- or medium-term rental assistance, help with paying security or utility deposits, actual utility bill payments and other small subsidies for these types of expenses.

Urban League of Philadelphia - Professionally trained mortgage and housing counselors conduct free group and individual housing and foreclosure counseling sessions. In addition, access personal credit repair and credit maintenance; debt reduction, money management through budgeting; and learn the rights and responsibilities of homeowners. Call (215) 985-3220.

Mortgage Help Center - Lender Fannie Mae has opened a location in Philadelphia that provides homeowners the ability to get free, confidential advice from a highly trained and government certified housing counselor. The location is also staffed with counselors from local non-profit housing agencies. Click here.

Women Against Abuse

Over $200,000 in grants will be provided for housing stabilization as well as housing relocation support for women and children who have had to flee their homes as a result of domestic violence. In total, the Women Against Abuse program will assist dozens of families with housing support. Dial (215) 386-1280 to learn more on this agency.

 

 

Emergency and Crisis Assistance for rent and bills, including heating and utility

Catholic Charities of Philadelphia is one of the primary agencies to turn to for emergency help. They partner with local agencies, such as the United Way and other churches, to help thousands of people per year. Some of the emergency assistance programs available to people in need of help include rent or utility bill assistance, clothing cupboards and food pantries, housing referrals and counseling, information on Pennsylvania and federal government programs, and case management. In addition, adults may be able to benefit from employment training, ESL classes, job placement assistance, and GED preparation. Call Catholic Charities at 215.587.3590.

Utility Emergency Services Fund - Will pay for a gas, electric, heating, or water bill for qualified individuals. The bill can’t exceed $500.00 and needs to be in shut-off status or already terminated. All grants and financial aid provided must be applied to utility bills in which the account will reach a zero balance once aid is applied. Call (215) 829-0545. Find other electric bill programs.

City of Philadelphia offers the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). Call (215) 6867106. This federal government stimulus funded program can provide emergency rent help, utility and security deposits, credit counseling, and other housing assistance.

Catholic Social Services – Three main offices serve residents in the Philadelphia region. The types of programs include limited financial assistance for paying either home mortgage or rent as funding from FEMA allows. They also run the Utilities Emergency Services Fund (UESF), which will pay for an electric, gas, energy or water bill which does not exceed $750 and in shut-off status or already terminated. Maybe most importantly residents can meet with a social worker to develop a plan for long term self-sufficiency and explore all options, like government assistance.

• 4400 N. Reese Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, call (215) 329 - 5660
• 7340 Jackson Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19136, dial (215) 624-5920
• 6214 Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19143, phone (215) 724-8550

Center in the Park – Meet for free with a counselor to explore ways to get help with utility bills, home heating fuel, housing or just if you have a general financial need. Address 5818 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19144. Phone:(215) 848-7722

Congreso de Latinos Unidos – Access Family Social Services which can provide assessment and short-term case management for resource connection including public benefits navigation, legal and immigration issues, energy bill help from LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)/Crisis applications. 216 W. Somerset Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19133. Call (215) 763 - 8870

Douglas Community and Outreach Center – The non-profit provides seniors in Philadelphia with referral assistance to government aid and completing LIHEAP applications, and counselors advocate on behalf of seniors. 613 S. 60th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19143. Call (215) 432 - 0109

Fern Rock-Ogontz-Belfield Community Development Corporation – People who live in zip codes of 19120, 19126, 19138, 19141, and 19144 can apply for utility bill assistance. 1201 W. Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19141. Call (215) 549 - 8755

Intercultural Family Services, Inc. – Housing programs and rent assistance is offered. The agency can provide cash assistance and grants for rent, utilities and security deposits to resolve a housing crisis and prevent homelessness. 4225 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, Phone:(215) 386-1298 Ext: 255

Philadelphia Board of Directors of City Trusts – Funds are offered for energy bills, such as gas and heating oil. 21 S. 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107. Call (215) 568 – 0440

Salvation Army - Greater Philadelphia – Low income and working poor can apply for help with utility bills, help, rent, and food. 4344 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19124. Call (215) 288 - 3596

Susquehanna Neighborhood Advisory Council – the agency provides both cash and crisis grants to the needy. Cash grants help families pay for their heating bills. 1815 W. Susquehanna Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19121. Call (215) 765 - 2200

Philadelphia programs and non-profits that cover all of Pennsylvania

Below is information on various programs and agencies that provide foreclosure counseling, utility help, food and other assistance to all of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

• Pennsylvania Section 8
• Pennsylvania mortgage and foreclosure assistance
• Pennsylvania food pantries and banks
• Pennsylvania HUD foreclosure and housing counseling
• Pennsylvania utility bill help
• Pennsylvania free legal advice
• Dental clinics and centers in Pennsylvania. Read more.
• Pennsylvania free community clinics

Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Inc.

This organization will have almost $600,000 in grants to provide legal services to help people avoid the loss of their rental home and to legal advice to also help them secure housing. The program helps with civic legal cases. This can also apply to households that may already be homeless. Find more on legal assistance in Philadelphia. Call 215-981-3800 to speak to a legal professional at Philadelphia Legal Assistance.

Tenant's Action Group (TAG), which can be reached at (215) 575-0700, helps deal with the legal issues and disputes between landlords and tenants. The organization helps tenants with finding solutions, can offer mediation, and provide information and places to go for housing and legal aid.

Utility and heating service disconnection crisis assistance

The city has established a crisis hotline (215-587-006) that will assist families and individuals who receive a utility emergency shutoff notice. In addition to providing funds to pay a bill, it also assists both renters and homeowners in need of heater repairs, replacements, or system tune ups. This assistance program is a federal/state government resource that provides assistance and funds for individuals who are income-eligible for the crisis assistance.

Another local non-profit agency to contact for energy bill help is New Kensington Community Development Corporation. This non-profit can be reached at 215-427-0350.

Utility Emergency Services Fund, which can be called at 215-972-5170, is a non-profit agency that offers utility bill help to income-eligible people that receive a disconnection notice or a shut-off notice for a bill that is $500 or less. The non-profit agency's policy is to pay the bill down to a zero balance in order to get the person back on their feet.

Carroll Park Community Council, Inc. provides emergency assistance for families who have received a disconnection notice for their energy services. They focus on western Philadelphia. the phone number is 215-877-1157.

A local charity that serves northwest Philadelphia is Germantown Settlement. Call them at 215-849-3104. They provide utility assistance for water, heating, and electric bills.

Consumers can also turn to various cooperatives and buying organizations that provide reduced cost home heating oil. They may be able to save up to 30¢ per gallon on their oil. Learn more on home heating oil buying groups.

 

 

Water service shut off - Water bill payment plans and a low income program are offered for families and individuals who are faced with a shut off. A limited amount of cash grants and emergency funding can help pay water bills in a crisis situation. Read more.

Free Clinics in Philadelphia

There are numerous places and clinics that people can turn to in Philadelphia that provide access to medical care, dental services, and even prescription medications. This city and county are divided into a few different districts. Call the following numbers to learn where to go to for medical care. 215-685-6570, 215-685-1803, 215-685-7504. If you are not in a certain district, the professionals at these free clinics should be able to refer you to the correct location.

Get help finding a job and increasing income

The Philadelphia Unemployment Project (PUP) (phone number 215-557-0822) is a free service that people can use to find help with information about programs for the unemployed as well as place to find resources and assistance with conducting a job search. The center has a Jobs Club, computer training center, job developers, benefit counselors, fax machine and Internet connections. All services are no cost to the unemployed.

Greater Philadelphia area Head Start

Get access to educational, health and medical care, and social services from this service. The Head Start program is funded both by the federal government and the state, and it was created to help low income children under five years old, and resources can help their parents too. About 20 agencies run the program across Philadelphia and surrounding counties. Read more on Philadelphia Head Start programs.