Assistance programs Niagara County.
There are local charity organizations, churches, and DSS programs that administer help to the low income. Find everything from free weatherization assistance programs to free foreclosure counseling and housing grants programs that can help pay energy and heating bills. The Niagara County DSS office also help the low income with SNAP food stamps applications, Medicaid, section 8 housing vouchers near you, and other government aid.
Also find churches, charities, and non-profits that offer help with rent, give out free groceries or food boxes or holiday meals, medical care and other support. There are also GED programs, free back to school supplies, and credit counseling sessions in Niagara County. Learn more about these organizations that people of Niagara county can turn to for financial or material aid.
Help from Niagara Community Action Program, Inc.
This local community action agency helps people through short term financial hardships, and will also do its best to provide longer term, self sufficient programs and assistance to people in need. Some of what they offer locals include the services noted here.
- Housing and foreclosure assistance - One of the programs offered is known as the Rural Preservation Program. Homeowners can receive several different types of aid from this resource. Applicants can receive mortgage help, housing and foreclosure counseling, as well as budgeting skills and credit repair and improvement tips and advice. Learn more on New York foreclosure programs.
- Weatherization assistance program - The main goal of this program is to help people save on and reduce their heating and energy bills. It is free to qualified applicants, and people can save hundreds of dollars per year. Contractors will visit your home and install free energy conserving updates, such as new windows, additional insulation, tune up your heating and cooling unit, install caulking, and much more. Weatherization can also include repairs of your home.
- Low income energy assistance - The Niagara Community Action Agency can also help people and guide them through the LHEAP program. This federal government and New York assistance program will provide low income and elderly residents with grants and other aid to help them pay all sorts of utility and heating bills.
- Community Action also helps with employment needs. They help Niagara County residents search for jobs, apply, and even offer information on making a living from side hustle jobs. Staff address income and employment needs.
Contact the Niagara Community Action Agency at (716) 285-9681. Click more information on Niagara County community action agency.
Crisis assistance for bills, rent, utilities and mortgages
The local Salvation Army branch, which can be reached at (716) 434-6104, can provide individuals and families with money to help them to try to make it through a short term financial hardship. They can only do this as funding allows. They have been known to provide some limited funds to help pay housing expenses, such as someone’s rent or partial mortgage payment, money for paying utility bills, and certain limited medical expenses.
All of this is combined with BTG case management and other social services. The faith based charity also passes out free food or Christmas meals/toys as well as operates transitional housing. Or low income families can apply for free school uniforms or supplies. More on the Niagara County and Lockport Salvation Army.
Catholic Charities may also have funding. They have services that can help people in emergency situations. For example, if struggling with basic needs such as as rent, energy bills, food, prescription medications, housing costs and heating expenses. (716) 433-0246.
Niagara County Social Services Department - The government funded agency may be able to provide financial grants, social services and other aid to Niagara County New York families. Resources offered include assistance with medical bills and needs (dial 278-8710), employment & child support assistance (439-7676) to Niagara County residents.
They can also offer food stamps (278-6822), child welfare services (278-8650), adult protection (278-8621), nursing home (439-7728), employment and career counseling (278-8589), and transportation/general services. Social services focuses on the very poor, elderly, and disabled among others.
Both housing and rental needs can be met as well from either a loan or maybe cash grant program from DSS. For details on housing, discounted fuel, HEAP energy saving assistance for heating and cooling bills (call 278-8645), jobs, education and debt and financial counseling (278-8205), call a local center. Or for more information on any of these public assistance programs. Click more details social department Niagara County.
Niagara Neighborhood Legal Services - The pro-bono firm, and its staff, advise low income families on their legal rights. They can assist with family and civil issues. Or volunteers from the center work to stop foreclosure or evictions in the county. Other help is for accessing public benefits, landlord mediation or dealing with illegal or unsafe housing in the area. Learn more on Neighborhood free legal services.
Lutheran Churches operate in the county. These faith based charities often can help with basic needs. Maybe some free clothes or a box of food. Or they may give students a snack or notebook/supplies for school. Some offer, based on funding, one time, limited financial aid for some bills. Or they give out vouchers for medications. Learn more on how to get help from Lutheran Services.
In some years, the Salvation Army runs a specific, government funded Rent/Mortgage Assistance Program. Funding is limited and it does not operate in all years. The phone number is (716) 434-1276. The non-profit agency can provide assistance with up to one month's rent or one month of a mortgage payment.
Belmont Housing Resources for WNY focuses on housing, mortgage, and rent issues. The non-profit agency manages subsidized rental properties for the low income. In addition, they are a HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency that provides both home ownership, foreclosure and rental counseling. Specifically, the services include reverse mortgage, pre-purchase, foreclosure prevention and mortgage default counseling. Learn more on HUD foreclosure help, or dial (716)312-8075.
Find rent, security deposit, and legal aid to stop evictions. Several charities, non-profits, and a couple social service programs focus on helping low income tenants as well as the homeless in Niagara County. They offer everything from money to pay back rent to security or moving cost assistance, motel vouchers, or free legal defense services. More on emergency rental and security deposit assistance in Niagara County.
Food banks in Niagara New York
Country Roads Caring Neighbors Inc. Food Pantry - May be able to provide food, and if funding allows, holiday gifts, toys, and other non-financial aid. Wilson NY. (716) 751-9717
Community Missions, which can be reached at (716) 285-3403 and is located in Niagara Falls, offers emergency food aid.
Word of Life Ministries - May have free food for people facing a hardship. Call (716) 297-2951
There are dozens of other assistance programs for groceries, meals, and household supplies. Soup kitchen, pantries, churches and charities among others may help. Find more free food pantries in Niagara County New York
Niagara County foreclosure prevention
The Buffalo Urban League may be able to help if you are faced with losing your home. They can help people understand the foreclosure process, and what options you have. Learn more on the foreclosure process.
The various housing programs they offer can help people learn about predatory mortgages and lending, they can help people get out of debt, provide locals with mortgage foreclosure prevention counseling, and offer credit repair services. Rental assistance services and referrals are also available. (716) 250-2412..
Free or variable priced medical care
Individuals who do not have medical or dental insurance, that have a limited income, or who struggle with paying their medical bills have some options available to them. A number of clinics and health centers operate across Niagara County. Services can help people obtain prescription medications, get medical bill assistance, and much more. There are even case managers, such as free advice from medical billing advocates.
Some of the clinics include Horizon Health Service (phone (716) 650-5550) and the Niagara Community Health Center (dial (716) 278-4418). There are locations throughout both the county and western New York. Click here for additional locations of free community clinics in Niagara County.
Financial counseling and debt reduction
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Niagara and Buffalo Inc. - Offers people a creditor repayment plan, which can help them reduce debts. Get budgeting advice and answers to financial questions. They can also advice on bankruptcies and foreclosures. Phone (800) 926-9685
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