St. Louis assistance programs.

Housing Counseling

This is a service of the Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. (CAASTLC). (314) 863-0015. The program will help individuals and families stabilize their housing situation. A counselor will work closely with the client, and the household will receive one or more of the following services from the agency. Services offered include eviction prevention, Homeless Intervention & Stabilization Services, or Rental Housing Services.

Rent and/or Mortgage Assistance

This is another program that is administered by CAASTLC. They partner with local charities, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. Some of the groups they work with include the Missouri Housing Trust Fund (MHTF) and the Federal government Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSG).

Assistance is available for paying rent or mortgage payments, security or utility deposits, and grants are even available for emergency minor home repairs to prevent code violation or property condemnation. If you are interested in learning more or applying for help, please call (314) 863-9023. Or read about other mortgage programs or ways to get rent assistance.

Get rent assistance for veterans

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program is providing almost $300,000 to the Public Housing Authorities in St. Louis. The funds will be used to help veterans with paying rent and housing costs. Call CAASTLC to learn more.

The HUD-VASH program is a partnership the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and HUD, which combines rental housing assistance with clinical services and case management to assist homeless veterans and those who may soon be evicted.

Under this assistance program, veterans and former military personnel will be able to use Section 8 rental housing assistance and other government supportive services they may need to be integrated back into their communities and former lives, and help them get back on their feet. Find additional rental programs for veterans.

Education and Training

Many people need skills and support to get back on their feet and to become self-sufficient. CAASTLC offers classes to these people to help them achieve their potential through education and training.

• Debt counseling
• Energy Conservation.
• Nutrition with Meal Planning.
• Budgeting advice
• Home Management, Repairs and Maintenance.
• Credit Card Help
• Job training and Readiness.
• Parenting Skills Development and Child Development.
• Women's Issues of Abuse.
• Family Literacy, Education and Communication Skills.
• Saving for Retirement
• Individual Development Account

 

 

 

Reduce Energy Bills With Weatherization

Yet another program offered by Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. is the federal government funded weatherization program. This can help lower high home energy costs and bills for low to moderate income St Louis residents by implementing free energy-efficient measures that may include reducing air infiltration, installing additional floor, wall and attic insulation, heating system replacement and repairs, water heater tank upgrade, and minimal building envelope repairs. People can save a few hundred dollars per year, and the Weatherization program is free to qualified families. Call (314) 863-0015 to learn about the service.

Water Bill Assistance

If you may have your water service turned off, any Missouri American Water customer who is at risk of losing their water shut off or having it disconnected may apply for H2O Help.

The community action agency is the local designated H2O Help program manager for families who live in St. Louis County. CAASTLC will accept applications for water bill assistance and determine eligibility to the program. Missouri American Water will then use H2O funds, which include both both customer and company donations, to help pay all or part of an eligible customer's water bill, once the customer is approved by CAASTLC for the aid.

The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. can be reached at (314) 863-0015. Call them or stop by to learn about your options and assistance programs they offer.

 

 

Basic and Emergency Assistance in St. Louis

A few of the local charities and non-profit agencies to turn to for crisis assistance include the organizations below:

• Catholic Charities of St. Louis - This agency offers over 100 different programs. They range from foreclosure and housing counseling, to rent and energy bill help, up through senior programs and child care. They help people of all religions. Dial (314) 367-5500.
   
• Crisis Food Center - Receive clothing, free food and groceries, and housing hold products at the Crisis Food Center. (618) 462-8201
   
• Emergency Assistance Ministry - This agency provides help to people in the zip codes of 63031, 63033, 63034, 63042. The non-profit provides emergency financial assistance with paying the last $40.00 on utility and heating bills, rent, mortgage, housing, water bills and prescription medications. Dial (314) 831-0879
   
• Glen-Ed Pantry - If you live in Edwardsville or Glen Carbon, Illinois, this agency (phone (618) 656-7506) can provide you with emergency assistance including help for rent and utility assistance, free food, clothing, and even school supplies,
   
• Highland Area Christian Ministry - Offers counseling, food, and emergency aid. Phone number (618) 654-9295.
   
• Salvation Army of Saint Louis - The non-profit charity offers low income, elderly, and others access to several assistance programs. They administer social services for families and individuals, including emergency shelter, utility help, day camps, substance abuse treatment, rent and housing expenses, senior centers, and child care services. Learn about energy assistance resources from local utility companies. Call the agency at (314) 646-3000 to learn more or apply.
   
• Society of St. Vincent De Paul of St. Louis - They run several different programs for people in need. Call the organization at (314) 531-2183. Find help with:
• Car repairs - They partner with local garages to fix a car if it is needed for work or medical reasons.
• Free medications - If you can’t afford to pay for your prescription or do not have health insurance, receive a voucher for free medications.
• Legal counseling - They can arrange for qualified individuals to get free legal advice. Learn more.
• Also receive access to food, clothing, and other emergency aid.
   
• Historic Trinity Lutheran Church ((314) 231-4092) will pay $50 for rent to someone facing an eviction.
   
• Joint Neighborhood Ministry - This is a partnership of local churches. They can help address emergency needs of the working poor, low income, and those undergoing a hardship. The agency can provide free food, utility and heating bill assistance, counseling, a preschool, and other aid. St. Louis Missouri. Dial (314) 771-3987
   
• Franciscan Connection - People struggling can get respectful support and emergency financial assistance to low-income St. Louis area families in times of need of help or hardship. Dial (314) 773-8485.
   
• Urban League of Metro St. Louis - Serves this county and several others in the immediate area. Various forms of assistance are offered, including rent help, utility assistance, foreclosure counseling, job finding services, and much more. (618) 274-1150
   
• Human Services - St. Louis - Dial (314) 6125900. This government agency runs the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). This is a federal government funded program that can provide grants and money to prevent an eviction, ongoing rent help, funds for security deposits, credit counseling, energy bill help, and more. Also learn about HUD counseling programs.

In addition to all of the programs, agencies, and non-profits listed above, a number of other organizations exist that focus just on individuals in St. Louis who need help paying rent or funds to deal with other housing issues. Get information on St. Louis rental assistance.

St. Louis assistance programs and agencies that help anyone in Missouri

Residents can look into the programs listed below which can help with a variety of emergency needs. Find how to get help with paying rent, utility bills, mortgage assistance programs, free food, and other financial aid in St. Louis Missouri.

• Missouri heating and utility bill assistance
• Missouri community health care clinics
• Missouri Section 8
• Missouri free HUD foreclosure and housing counseling
• Missouri free legal help
• Missouri food banks
• Missouri dental centers and clinics

Career development and help finding a job

If you are out of work and need to find a job, Employment Connection ((314) 333-5627) may be able to help. They provide access to tools (such as computers) and other services (such as resume review) in order to help people find meaningful work.

 

 

St. Louis food assistance and pantries

There are several agencies, churches, and non-profits in the St. Louis area that provide food, groceries, and other forms of nutritional aid. Some of the places to contact are.

• Eureka United Methodist Church - Provides food to area residents in need. Dial (636) 938-6377.
• Emergency Assistance Ministry - They are located in Florissant Missouri and run a food pantry including government commodities.
• Feed My People - (636) 677-9885
• Circle of Light Associates ((314) 381-4225) - Food for those in need.
• Inner City Christian Church - (314) 385-9375
• Neighborhood Outreach Center - Food is being provided for individuals and families at or below the federal government poverty level. (314) 361-7878
• If these non-profits can’t help you, find more food pantries in St. Louis.

Debt reduction and counseling services

Contact Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions at (314) 830-6464. A financial specialist will meet with clients to offer credit repair services, budget advice, medical and debt counseling services, and other advice.

Foreclosure prevention and mortgage assistance

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is a Missouri based HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency. Among other programs they offer homeowners include offering HUD certified housing counseling and foreclosure prevention programs and information to St. Louis homeowners. In addition to the foreclosure programs, they may even be able to provide mortgage payment assistance and cash grants once an individual has gone through the HUD Certified Housing Counseling and the programs offered. Call them at (314) 615-3600.

Government sponsored mortgage servicer Fannie Mae has opened a location to provide free, confidential counseling to local homeowners. Borrowers can call or stop by the center for information and help in applying for home loan modifications, receive counseling, and budgeting skills. Read more on the St. Louis Fannie Mae mortgage center.

St. Louis Health care for low income and uninsured

If you need access to high quality, yet affordable health care, a number of community clinics and dental centers operate in the region. Tens of thousands of local families turn to these locations every year for check ups, medications, consultations, and referrals. While it is unfortunate that not all St. Louis patients can be helped as their needs may be more extensive then what is able to be offered, at the very least individuals can receive advice and/or referrals to specialists. Click here for a listing of community clinics in St. Louis Missouri.