Alabama

Runs coordinated entry for central Alabama, the front door to shelters and housing programs if you're homeless or about to lose your housing. Call 205-254-8833.

Helps people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in more than 40 rural Alabama counties with housing and supportive services.

The state's housing agency; lists affordable rental housing across Alabama and runs mortgage and down payment programs for homeowners and buyers.

Free lawyers who can defend you in an eviction case and help you stay housed if your income is low. Call 866-456-4995.

Monthly cash payments for very low-income families with children, run by Alabama DHR. Apply online at MyDHR or at your county DHR office.

• MyDHR

The statewide network of community action agencies that give out emergency help with rent, utilities, and other bills; find the agency for your county on their site.

Local Salvation Army offices across Alabama offer emergency financial help, food, and shelter; use the location directory to find the office near you.

Explains how hospital financial assistance (charity care) works in Alabama and will help you apply for free to get hospital bills reduced or wiped out.

The state's children's hospital can reduce or forgive bills for families who can't pay; ask for the financial assistance application before or after care.

Free help for older adults and people with disabilities getting prescription medicines they can't afford. Call the Alabama Department of Senior Services at 1-800-243-5463.

Pays part of your heating and cooling bills, including past-due amounts, for low-income households; run by ADECA and applied for through your local community action agency.

Free home improvements like insulation and air sealing that lower your energy bills for good; apply through your local community action agency.

Lists which local agency handles utility bill help in each Alabama county so you know exactly where to apply.

Monthly money on an EBT card to buy groceries. Apply online at MyDHR or at your county DHR office.

• MyDHR

The state association of food banks covering all 67 counties; use their site to find free food pantries and distributions near you.

Free healthy food, formula, and nutrition support for pregnant women, new moms, babies, and kids under 5. Call 1-888-942-4673 or apply through your county health department.

Free health coverage for children, pregnant women, and some parents and people with disabilities on low incomes. Call 1-800-362-1504; you can apply online through Insure Alabama.

• Insure Alabama

Low-cost health and dental insurance for kids under 19 whose families earn too much for Medicaid. Call 1-888-373-5437.

Statewide network of clinics that see uninsured and low-income patients for free or very low cost; find a clinic near you on their site.

Alabama uses the federal marketplace for health insurance; most low- and middle-income people qualify for big discounts on monthly premiums. Call 1-800-318-2596.

Call or text 988 any time to reach a trained Alabama crisis counselor for a mental health, suicide, or substance use crisis; they can connect you to local crisis care.

Walk-in crisis centers around the state where you can get immediate mental health or substance use help instead of going to an ER or jail.

The state's list of hotlines and peer "warm lines" for mental health and addiction; the ADMH consumer help line is 1-800-367-0955.

Helps low-income working families pay for childcare; run by Alabama DHR, which pays part of your provider's cost while you work or attend school.

A state-backed one-stop site for finding childcare, parenting support, family services, and benefits programs across Alabama.

Free diapers for families in need, distributed through partner agencies in central Alabama; their site shows where to pick them up.

Free job search help, training programs, and resume support at career centers across the state.

Weekly payments if you lost your job through no fault of your own. File online at the Alabama Claimant Portal or call 1-866-234-5382.

• Alabama Claimant Portal

Job training, work support, and help with barriers like transportation for people receiving Family Assistance (TANF).

Free civil legal help statewide for low-income Alabamians — evictions, debt collection, benefits denials, domestic violence, and more. Call 866-456-4995.

Plain-language guides, free legal forms, and a directory of free and low-cost legal help for every kind of civil problem in Alabama.

Connects you to lawyer referral, volunteer lawyer programs, and other options if you need an attorney and don't know where to start.

Low-cost immigration legal services and family support for immigrants across Alabama, based in Birmingham.