St. Mary’s County assistance programs.

Information on how to get help for paying debts, rent, energy bills, and other assistance

One agency to call is St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Mary's County. They offer qualified individuals two assistance programs. They include the following.

Cash assistance - Funds may be available to help pay rent, gas and electric bills. Sometimes the program will also help pay for prescription medications and eyeglasses. Low income individuals may access services from the program once every 3 months.
Food assistance and pantry - In addition, the charity also operates an emergency food pantry for those in need. The pantry will help make arrangements to deliver food if individual is homebound or unable to care for themselves.

Call them at (301) 863-8193 to get more information or apply for help.

HOPE of Southern Maryland (phone number (301) 737-2870) also provides financial assistance and resources for low income and needy individuals. The agency is based in Lexington Park Maryland.

Get help for paying for and preventing utility turnoffs, rent assistance programs, funds to prevent an eviction, prescriptions, and other emergency needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis by counselors.
Holiday assistance, such as meals and gifts are also available. Last, but not least, they run a food pantry which distributes food and groceries.

St. Mary's County has an agency known as DSS, which provides Emergency Assistance to families with children. The agency provides emergency cash assistance (a one time grant) to families with children. It will assist them with dealing with court-ordered evictions, utility cutoffs, mortgage foreclosures, funds for paying water bills and burial assistance aid. Dial (301) 737-2870.

Another Lexington Park and St. Mary's Maryland agency is Zion United Methodist Church. This charity runs a food pantry. They also provides cash grants and limited financial assistance for paying for rent, utility and heating bills, water bills, and vouchers for prescription medications. There are some criteria to receiving help from the agency. Phone number (301) 863-5161.

In addition to the programs below, St Mary branch of Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee (SMTCCAC) also oversees Head Start and transportation services for the elderly. The non-profit may also have referrals to resources such as emergency rent assistance, low income apartments, or no interest loans. Other aid may include SNAP food stamp applications or information on local pantries. More on Tri-County Community of southern Maryland.

Rent help, HUD approved counseling, and mortgage help

Contact the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee, Inc. at (301) 274-4474 for a variety of housing programs.

Foreclosure counseling - The community action agency is a HUD approved Foreclosure Prevention Counseling. They can help Maryland homeowners prevent a foreclosure and save their home, and can refer people to the Maryland pro-bono foreclosure program. They also offer Rental and Homeless Prevention Counseling Assistance.

Utility bill help - They administer the Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs. Among the different programs offered include the The TRI-COUNTY FUEL FUND, the ELECTRIC UNIVERSAL SERVICE, and the MARYLAND ENERGY ASSISTANCE. All of these programs offer cash grants, information on federal government assistance programs, and other ways to get help with heating and energy bills.

By Jon McNamara

Additional Local Programs


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