Assistance programs in Vanderburgh County and Evansville, Indiana
If you live in Vanderburgh County or Evansville and you are behind on rent, out of food, or worried about a utility shut-off, this page shows you where to turn. It lists local charities, churches, nonprofits, and government offices that help with emergency bills, free groceries, housing and shelter, health care, and legal problems. Each listing gives an address, a phone number, and a short note on what the group does. Read the notes so you can pick the right place to call first.
A good starting point is the Community Action Program of Evansville & Vanderburgh County (CAPE), which runs the area's energy-bill assistance program and an emergency food pantry. Your local township trustee can also give short-term help with rent, utilities, and other basic needs through vouchers. For shelter, meals, and day services, United Caring Services and St. Vincent de Paul serve people across the county.
Start here — key numbers
- Energy & food (CAPE): (812) 425-4241 — help with heating and cooling bills, plus an emergency food pantry.
- Rent, utilities & basic needs (Township Trustee): Knight Township (812) 477-1596 or Pigeon Township (812) 435-5388.
- Shelter & meals (United Caring Services): (812) 422-0297 — day shelter, night shelter, and hot meals.
- Domestic violence, 24 hours (YWCA): (812) 422-1191 — safe shelter and a crisis line that never closes.
- More food pantries: A fuller list of pantries across the county, with locations and days. Vanderburgh County food pantries.
- Free clothes & furniture: Clothing closets, furniture, and school supplies in the region. Southwestern Indiana clothing and furniture help.
- Dial 2-1-1: Free, confidential help by phone. A local operator connects you to food, rent, and utility programs near you. You can also call (866) 211-9966.
Before you go — three quick tips
Always call first. Money and food supplies run out, and hours change, so a phone call saves a wasted trip. Bring a photo ID and a Social Security card for everyone in your household, since most pantries and aid offices ask for them. For a shut-off or an eviction, bring the notice you received, because many programs need to see it before they can help.
Emergency financial help and community action
Community Action Program of Evansville & Vanderburgh County (CAPE)
CAPE is often the first agency to call for help with bills. It runs Indiana's energy assistance program, which can help pay heating and cooling costs for qualified low-income households. The winter heating help generally opens in the fall and runs into spring. CAPE also operates an emergency food pantry, and it may have diapers and formula when funding allows. Other services include Head Start, home weatherization, homeownership counseling, and money-management classes. CAPE serves Vanderburgh, Posey, and Gibson counties. Call (812) 425-4241 | 401 SE 6th Street, Suite 001, Evansville, IN 47713 | https://www.capeevansville.org/.
Township Trustees
Every township in Indiana has a trustee who provides emergency help to residents in need. Assistance comes as vouchers rather than cash. It can cover rent or a mortgage payment, utilities, food, medicine, and burial costs. Most Evansville residents live in Knight Township or Pigeon Township. Vanderburgh County has eight townships in all, so if neither one covers your address, ask which trustee serves you. A shut-off or eviction notice is usually required.
- Knight Township: (812) 477-1596 | 1116 N. Weinbach Avenue, Evansville, IN 47711 | https://knighttownship.com/
- Pigeon Township: (812) 435-5388 | 907 SE 8th Street, Evansville, IN 47708
Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Evansville
St. Vincent de Paul helps families in a crisis with basic needs. Its Office of Emergency Assistance can offer help with things like rent, utilities, food, clothing, furniture, and medicine, usually through a referral. The food pantry provides groceries to households in need. A separate thrift store sells low-cost clothing, furniture, and household goods, and it also helps people who cannot pay through a referral. Bring an ID and a Social Security card for each household member. Website: https://www.svdpevansville.org/
- Emergency help & food pantry: (812) 425-3485 | 809 N. Lafayette Avenue, Evansville, IN 47711
- Thrift store: (812) 425-3148 | 767 E. Walnut Street, Evansville, IN 47713
The Salvation Army of Evansville
The Salvation Army offers a mix of emergency support. It runs a food pantry and a soup kitchen that serves hot lunches on weekdays. Staff can provide case management and referrals, and may be able to help with an emergency need. The Salvation Army also runs seasonal programs, such as Christmas gifts and back-to-school items for children. Bring proof that you live in Vanderburgh, Warrick, or Posey County. (812) 422-4673 | 1040 N. Fulton Avenue, Evansville, IN 47710
Catholic Charities Diocese of Evansville Serving the area since 1937
Catholic Charities helps people facing money, family, or housing stress. It offers outreach, case management, and referrals to other programs. When funding allows, it may help qualified families with bills, medications, or housing costs such as rent, a mortgage, or utilities. The agency also provides counseling and low-cost immigration legal services. Help is open to anyone, whatever their faith. Catholic Charities serves the twelve counties of southwestern Indiana. Call (812) 423-5456 | 2111 Stringtown Road, Evansville, IN 47711 | https://www.ccevansville.org/.
Evansville Christian Life Center
This center is a one-stop spot for several kinds of help. Its emergency food pantry gives a supply of groceries and toiletries, with no referral needed, though you must show an ID. It also runs a health clinic that offers low-cost medical, dental, and pregnancy care for people without insurance. Families with young children can get diapers and formula from its diaper bank. The center offers low-cost clothing and classes that help people build a stronger financial footing. Call (812) 423-9222 | 509 S. Kentucky Avenue, Evansville, IN 47714 | https://restoringpeople.com/.
Housing and shelter
Aurora, Inc. Serving the community since 1998
Aurora works with people who are homeless or close to it. Its street outreach team brings supplies and support to people living outdoors or in shelters. Its rapid re-housing program can move families into stable housing and, for those who qualify, help with rent and deposits. Aurora is the coordinated entry point for the region, so a call here can open the door to other housing help. It also runs a re-entry program and permanent supportive housing. Call (812) 428-3246 | 1001 Mary Street, Evansville, IN 47710 | https://www.auroraevansville.org/
United Caring Services
United Caring Services is the area's low-barrier shelter, which means most people in need are welcome. Its day shelter gives people a place to get out of the weather, with hot meals, showers, laundry, a mailing address, and clothing. It also runs emergency night shelters, including Ruth's House for women, along with medical respite beds and transitional housing apartments. This is a leading option for anyone with nowhere to sleep tonight. Call (812) 422-0297 | 324 NW 6th Street, Evansville, IN 47708 | https://unitedcaringservices.org/.
Ozanam Family Shelter
Ozanam is the local emergency shelter built to keep families together, rather than splitting them up. Families staying there receive basic necessities and are connected with resources to help them find long-term housing. If your family is homeless or about to be, call the shelter directly. Call (812) 422-2214 | 1100 Read Street, Evansville, IN 47708 | http://ozanamfamilyshelter.org/.
YWCA Evansville Serving the community since 1911
The YWCA provides safe shelter and support for women and families, with a focus on survivors of domestic violence. It offers emergency housing, case management, and advocacy. Its crisis hotline is answered at all hours, so you can reach someone any time you feel unsafe. The YWCA also runs a residential program that helps women work toward sobriety and stability. Call (812) 422-1191 (24-hour crisis line) | 118 Vine Street, Evansville, IN 47708 | https://www.ywcaevansville.org/.
Housing Authority of the City of Evansville
The housing authority runs public housing apartments and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. A voucher helps you rent a private home while you pay a share of your income toward the rent. Waiting lists open and close from time to time, so check the website for the current status before you apply. This is a longer-term option, not emergency help. Call (812) 428-8500, Section 8 line (812) 428-8548 | 500 SE 10th Street, Evansville, IN 47713 | http://evansvillehousing.org/.
Food assistance
Several groups listed above also give out food. CAPE, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Salvation Army all run pantries, so check their listings too. The pantries below are additional options.
Tri-State Food Bank
Tri-State Food Bank is the regional food bank that supplies pantries and meal sites across southwestern Indiana. It does not hand out groceries to individuals at its warehouse. Instead, it stocks the local pantries you visit. Use the food bank's website to find a pantry. Call (812) 425-0775 | Evansville | https://tristatefoodbank.org/.
St. Matthew's United Church of Christ
St. Matthew's runs a neighborhood food pantry and is part of the Evansville Emergency Food Pantry Consortium. To receive food from a Consortium pantry, you first need a food voucher from a referring agency. Your township trustee, the Division of Family Resources, St. Vincent de Paul, or SWIRCA can issue one. Bring an ID and a Social Security card for each household member. Call (812) 422-8023 | 3007 First Avenue, Evansville, IN 47710
Bread of Life Ministry Serving the region for over 50 years
Bread of Life is a mostly food and clothing bank that helps individuals, families, and other charities across the Tri-State. It does not take walk-ins. You must call ahead to be evaluated and set an appointment before you can pick up food or clothing. Call (812) 922-5339 | https://www.breadoflifeministryinc.org/
Help for seniors
SWIRCA & More - Serving older adults for more than 50 years
SWIRCA is the Area Agency on Aging for the Evansville region. It helps older adults and people with disabilities stay in their own homes with the support they need. Services include in-home care, caregiver support, and senior transportation. Its counselors also offer free, unbiased Medicare help through the SHIP program, so you can sort out coverage without a sales pitch. SWIRCA serves Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Perry, and Spencer counties.(812) 464-7800, resource center (812) 464-7817 | 16 W. Virginia Street, Evansville, IN 47710 | https://swirca.org/.
Free legal help
Legal Aid Society of Evansville - Serving Vanderburgh County since 1958
The Legal Aid Society is a nonprofit law firm that gives free legal advice and representation to low-income Vanderburgh County residents. It handles civil matters such as eviction, child custody, protective orders, and help getting government benefits. Apply by phone on a weekday morning or in person during business hours. Having your court papers and any court dates ready will speed things up. Call (812) 435-5173 | Civic Center Complex, Room 105, 1 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Evansville, IN 47708 | https://www.evansvillegov.org/county/department/index.php?structureid=26.
Indiana Legal Services
Indiana Legal Services offers free civil legal aid to low-income residents across southwestern Indiana. It focuses on housing problems, public benefits, and family law tied to domestic violence. You can apply by phone or online. This office serves a wider set of counties than the Legal Aid Society, so it is a good option if you live outside Vanderburgh County. Call (812) 426-1295 or (844) 243-8570 | 111 SE 3rd Street, Evansville, IN 47708 | https://www.indianalegalservices.org/. For other options above and beyond this, see our guide to Indiana free legal services.
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