“The lack of affordable housing and the limited scale of housing assistance programs contributes to the current housing crisis and to homelessness.”
If you are not yet homeless but fear you will be one day soon, it may be possible to avoid becoming homeless by finding out about prevention or emergency assistance programs in your area. Often these programs can help in paying rent, utilities, or bills. If you are currently homeless, emergency assistance programs may help with health care, food, and temporary, transitional, or permanent housing.
For individuals struggling to keep a roof over their head, this organization has a database that includes hundreds of homeless and housing programs in the country. The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) will provide places for you to find help in your area and if you cannot find any help locally, they urge you to contact them and they will see if they can find you assistance.
“Over half of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. result from health issues.”
NCH recognizes that poor health is both a cause and a result of homelessness. When people are reduced to homelessness because of poor health, it can rapidly escalate and develop into employment problems, financial difficulties, and housing issues. The National Healthcare for the Homeless Council provides a directory for healthcare services in your area for people experiencing homelessness.
To receive immediate food assistance you can call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273). Additionally, you can connect with your local food bank here.
Families struggling to afford a place to live are often struggling to meet other basic needs as well. Many could also use assistance with food, employment, healthcare and more. There are federal programs that can assist with these needs, Uncover Top Federal Benefit Programs.