Government benefits from St. Louis City’s Family Support Division
St. Louis City’s Family Support Division office plays a central role in helping low-income households stabilize their lives, get public assistance and other help. The county social service department can provide applications to government benefits ranging from SNAP food stamps to cash assistance from TA. There is also aid for housing needs, such as grants for heating bills or section 8 rental assistance vouchers.
The office operates differently from many of the county or rural offices elsewhere in Missouri. As the city of St. Louis location manages a high volume of applicants, works with a larger network of medical providers and community partners, and offers expanded help for residents dealing with homelessness, chronic health conditions, and employment barriers. St. Louis residents generally rely on this office for coordinated help with food, medical coverage, child care support, and utility bill help.
Food and cash assistance to pay bills from Family Support
Struggling residents often turn to the St. Louis City office for help with food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Many low-to- moderate income households in the city experience food insecurity or irregular work hours. Family Support Division support staff are accustomed to helping people with fluctuating income, gig-work earnings, loss of job and part-time employment.
The office works closely with local food banks and outreach workers so that applicants who arrive hungry or without groceries can receive same-day referrals while their SNAP application is still being reviewed
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Many households in the city experience food insecurity or irregular work hours, and staff are accustomed to helping people with fluctuating income, gig-work earnings, and part-time employment. Hunger prevention in the form of SNAP is the county's main public aid programs for providing affordable groceries and food to working poor families. The debit card, also known as the Missouri Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) can be used to shop at local retailers or grocery stores.
- The process can take time. Many children and senior citizens in the city and county also receive some type of monthly benefit from this government resource, but when not possible, the office works closely with local food pantries in St Louis and so that applicants who arrive hungry or without groceries can receive same-day referrals while their SNAP application is still being reviewed.
Temporary Assistance, or TA, is the main county resource that offers families small amounts of cash. This can be thought of as a grant, and the funds are used for a wide variety of living expenses, ranging from medications to food or rent. Most of this aid is for families with young children, though there can be some options for adults without children if they have no other options available to them.
- Caseworkers in the city spend significant time helping applicants understand work requirements, exemptions, and job-training options. The Family Support Division also partners with employment service providers in the central corridor and north side, helping adults enroll in training programs, apply for jobs, or receive work-readiness support.
Child care assistance is often offered for people on TA. The St. Louis City Family Support Division also connects households to child care assistance through the Child Care Subsidy Program. This is available as the result of funding from the state of Missouri as well as the federal government, and vouchers will be issued to help pay for a portion of expenses for income qualified parents. All providers of day care need to be approved by the social service department in St. Louis, and this is a very limited program.
- The St. Louis Department of Social Services (DSS) will require that applicants be in training or working, and this can include searching for a job. The county can even offer information on subsidized day care, if this is one of the barriers that the family is facing when it comes to employment. This is more extensive than in some rural offices where care options are limited but scheduling challenges are fewer.
LIHEAP in Missouri is another government grant program. There is both the regular, ongoing portion of the program as well as Crisis Intervention. The assistance is focused on paying winter heating bills, with the possibility of some limited funding for summer cooling or air conditioning expenses. Continue with LIHEAP energy bill grants in Missouri.
- While the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is administered statewide, the city location receives more emergency walk-ins from residents facing immediate shutoff notices. Staff coordinate every winter and summer with local outreach teams, cooling shelters, and Ameren Missouri’s customer support programs. When it comes to this benefit, senior citizens as well as the disabled will take priority for any funds from LIHEAP. There is also additional support for households with young children in St. Louis, and all applicants will of course need to meet income and other guidelines in place.
Additional benefits from the St. Louis City’s Family Support Division
One unique aspect of the St. Louis City office is its relationship with local shelters, housing agencies, and organizations that help people experiencing homelessness. City staff coordinate with groups that serve residents who lack mailing addresses or identification documents. They also refer residents to emergency rental assistance programs / organizations in Saint Louis,
- They often create individualized application plans for people living in shelters or transitional housing, including assistance with gathering birth certificates, Social Security records, or proof of residence. These partnerships allow homeless residents to access food benefits, medical coverage, and utility protection while they work through longer-term housing issues.
Social Services can also help families enroll into public health care programs. Examples of them include HealthNet for Kids, which is for individuals that are age 19 or younger. There are other options as well, which include HealthNet for Pregnant Women and Newborns, Medicaid, Medicare, as well as HealthNet for Families (MHF). A large share of city residents qualify for HealthNet Managed Care, and the St. Louis location works directly with area hospitals, behavioral health clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Staff often guide applicants through choosing plans and locating primary care providers.
Find how to apply for public aid from DSS in Saint Louis
While there are several offices in the area, the main one is at St Louis City Family Support Division which is at 3101 Chouteau, St. Louis, Missouri 63103. For information on DSS services, call 855-373-4636. The office uses interpreter services more frequently and often works with nearby legal-aid groups to ensure legal immigrant households in St. Louis understand application rules and benefit eligibility.
Another distinctive feature of the St. Louis City location is its in-person document assistance. The office frequently works with local libraries, community centers, and neighborhood groups to host application events. These events help residents who have limited computer access or difficulty navigating online portals. Staff or partner agencies help applicants upload verification documents, check the status of their case, or submit renewals. This level of community outreach is more common in the city because many households rely on public transportation or do not have stable internet access at home.
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