The Salvation Army runs several assistance programs for families in need of help. The non-profit agency provides rent help, licensed child care, utility bill assistance, an on site food pantry and even disaster assistance. In addition, they can help homeless women and their children through the operation of 3 shelters in the Memphis area and they also provide counseling and supportive services. Last, but not least they operates the City of Memphis' homeless intake system and supportive housing hotline. Call the Salvation Army at (901) 543-8586

Catholic Charities partners with other local churches and non-profits to offer aid. One of their primary partners is St. Peter Ministries and the so called Fig Tree program. This is a resource that assists Memphis families in crisis with financial assistance, referrals to other agencies, and food. Specifically, some of the assistance can pay for rent, clothing, utility assistance, prescription medications and eye exams. You can call St. Peters Ministries at 722-4711 to learn more.

Another Shelby County resource is United Methodist Neighborhood Centers of Memphis. This center offers social service programs and aid including emergency assistance food, furniture, rent/utilities, free clothing, holiday food baskets, household products, Christmas toys and disaster relief. Also provides child care assistance with transportation and other aid. The non-profit facility can be contacted at (901) 323-4993.

Neighborhood Christian Center (phone number (901) 881-6013) provides Shelby County and Memphis Tennessee residents with utility bill help as well as rent programs.

Millington Crisis Center Ministry offers services and resources such as prescription assistance, gasoline money and vouchers, used clothing and furniture, groceries, rent and utility assistance, free food, budgeting seminars, debt counseling and referrals. (901) 872-4357

Shelby County CSA - Contact them if you meet income guidelines. The agency provides utility and cooling bill payment assistance to households meeting program income guidelines and other criteria when funds are available for aid. (901) 380-3756

Society of St Vincent DePaul – Churches work together to help those in need. Funding is limited. Apply for money to help pay rent/utility/medical bills or other emergency financial assistance. Food and clothing may also be available. A total of ten different Catholic Churches participate. 8277 Belgrade Place, Cordova, Tennessee 38016, Call (901) 722-4703

TN Opportunity Programs - Migrant or seasonal farm workers can get help with rent or utilities. 437 Nissan Dr, # 502, Smyrna, Tennessee 37167, phone (615) 459-3600

City of Bartlett - Mayor's Office – On a monthly basis, the Bartlett Family Assistance Commission provides Bartlett residents with non-emergency financial assistance for energy bills, rent, mortgage, and occasional home repair. A vote needs to occur. This assistance is for Bartlett residents only. 6400 Stage Rd, Memphis, TN 38134, call (901) 385-6444

South Memphis Community Office – This office provides referrals and assistance with other MLGW bills, services and programs. 2935 Lamar Ave, Memphis, Tennessee 38114. (901) 544-MLGW

Memphis Area Legal Services - Provides low cost or free legal advice and representation in selected non-criminal matters. The legal aid is targeted at elderly and low-income people in the Shelby County region, and legal areas covered include consumer issues (such as consumer contracts and warranties); loan, credit, and collections issues (including running a monthly bankruptcy clinic); legal problems with utilities and disconnections, as well as public benefits or housing assistance. 109 N Main St #200, Claridge House, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, call (901) 523-8822

Monthly water bills - Seniors, unemployed, disabled, and families with an unexpected financial hardship may qualify for help with paying water bills in Shelby County Tennessee. A program known as Plus - 1 is the primary resource available. Read more on Memphis water bill assistance.

 

 

Free medical and dental care

Memphis patents can receive free health care from the largest faith based clinic in the nation. Over 50,000 people are assisted every year. Church Health Center Clinic (phone number (901) 272-0003) provides high quality, free or affordable healthcare for working, uninsured or underinsured people and their families across Shelby County. Scores of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and support staff volunteer their time to ensure the success of the clinic. Some of the health care services offered include medical care, vision and an eye clinic, dental cleanings and care, prescription drugs, counseling, and much more. Click here to locate other medical and hospital bill assistance programs.

Other clinics in the Memphis Tennessee area that will provide health care on a sliding fee scale include the following:

• Guthrie Center - North Memphis Healthloop Clinic ((901) 515-5400) - Offers pediatric treatment/referral, disease management, and other health care services.
• Bisson Center - Whitehaven Healthloop Clinic - Provide primary and general medical care. Phone (901) 515-5100.
• Hickory Hill Public Health Clinic - This Memphis facility offers numerous health care programs. (901) 365-1045
• Catholic Charities of West TN - They provide a cash grant that can be used to pay form medications. Phone number (901) 722-4787.
• Find more Shelby County clinics.

Low income assistance

The Shelby County Community Services Agency offers both short term relief for immediate bills, and also provides tools to help people over the long term. The agency partners and coordinates services with local non-profit organizations, other branches of both federal and state of Tennessee government programs, other governmental agencies and citizens' committees. The Shelby County agency plans and carries out programs for low income residents across the county and Memphis.

Among other programs offered by the agency include help for utility and summer cooling bills as well as winter heating bills, energy saving weatherization programs, and food assistance. To give an example of the size of the operation, every year the community service agency helps 13,000 households keep warm in the winter and almost 2,000 households cool their homes during the hot Tennessee summer. Millions of dollars in free food is also distributed to local families. The weatherization assistance program provides energy conserving improvements, free minor home repairs, such as adding insulation and fixing broken windowpanes and rotted windowsills, which lower energy bills for qualified families. Call the Shelby County Community Services Agency at (901) 545-4644 to apply for help or learn more.

Rent and mortgage financial assistance in Shelby County

Memphis based Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) provides struggling, low income renters and homeowners with emergency rent and mortgage assistance. Phone (901) 527-0226.

In addition to the programs noted above, Millington Crisis Center Ministry offers Rent Assistance too. (phone (901) 872-4357). This program provides rental assistance programs for needy Millington residents.

About fifteen different non-profit agencies and locations that employ HUD certified counselors are available to help Shelby County individuals and families either stop a foreclosure, or to get back on track with paying their home loans. More on Memphis foreclosure prevention.

In addition to the regional Memphis and housing programs listed on this page, a number of other churches, charities, and not-for profits operate across the city and Shelby County. All told thousands of people receive assistance every year and are able to remain in their homes and apartments. Read more on Memphis rental assistance.

Debt assistance and reduction programs

Some of the organizations located in the Memphis area and that serve residents include Consumer Credit Counseling Service ((901) 323-4909) and ClearPoint Financial Solutions (901) 276-2000. Work with mortgage and debt counselors. They can negotiate with your mortgage servicer, credit card company, or other creditors. Learn more on credit card hardship programs.

 

 

Memphis and Shelby County food pantries

Some of the churches, food pantries, and charities to turn to for free food include St John's United Methodist Church ((901) 726-4104), New Bethel Temple ((901) 327-8515), St. Patrick's Church ((901) 527-2542), First Church - Memphis (phone (901) 240-5682), and the Trinity Community Coalition Outreach ((901) 786-1220). Get information on other food pantries in Shelby County.

Head Start resources for children

Shelby County Head Start can offer children, up to age 5, with care. The government funded program will help prepares children for school through physical and psychological testing, can offer them both dental, health and vision screenings, information for parents, and speech therapy. The main office is in Memphis TN. (901) 922-0700

 

City of Memphis

There are a few other organizations that focus just on helping the residents of Memphis. Read more about these services and resources.