Money to buy food
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP benefits can help you feed your family with fresh and healthy groceries.
74 programs for you to look at.
Remember that we can’t guarantee eligibility, but can only recommend programs for you to consider.
74 additional programs.
Lotteries for affordable housing
NYC Housing Connect
An online portal where you can apply to rent or buy an affordable unit or home.
Money for heat and utility expenses
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
HEAP helps eligible households meet the cost of heating their homes.
Ride for half price
Fair Fares NYC (FFNYC)
Save 50% on public transportation including subway fares, eligible bus fares, and Access-A-Ride paratransit trips.
Monthly cash help when you are in need
Cash Assistance
Cash assistance can help you pay rent, utilities, and other emergency expenses.
Financial help to cover the cost and installation of an air conditioner or fan
Cooling Assistance Benefit
This benefit helps you buy and install an air conditioner or fan for your home to stay cool during hot weather.
Free health insurance for low income residents
Medicaid
Covers doctor and clinic visits, regular exams, immunizations, and other health needs.
Health insurance for adults who don't qualify for Medicaid
Essential Plan
Comprehensive health insurance benefits with $0 monthly premiums and low cost sharing.
Free or low-cost health insurance for children 18 and under
Child Health Plus (CHP)
Your child is potentially eligible for Child Health Plus regardless of income or their immigration status.
Enroll now Private health insurance plans
Qualified Health Plans (QHP)
Qualified Health Plans are health insurance plans where you pay a certain amount each month
for coverage.
Volunteering and skill-building for older adults
Silver Corps
Volunteering for at least 15 hours a week in a nonprofit orgovernment agency.
Free internet for NYCHA residents
Big Apple Connect
Paid summer job experiences for youth
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
Up to six weeks of paid experience for young people ages 14-24.
Vouchers that help cover the cost of child care for children 6 weeks to 13 years old
Child Care Vouchers
Child care vouchers help pay for child care from licensed providers or informal providers like relatives, neighbors, or friends.
Free or low-cost child care for children six weeks to two years old
Infant and Toddler Programs
Early child care and education services for up to 10 hours a day.
Get text messages with new job openings
Text 2 Work
Affordable housing waiting lists
NYC Mitchell-Lama
Rental and cooperative homeownership units for families with moderate and middle incomes.
Forgivable loan for down payment of closing costs
HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance
Up to $100,000 toward the down payment or closing costs on a new home.
Homeless shelters and services
Homeless Intake Shelters & Drop-In Centers
Services and temporary shelter for adults and families with children.
Referrals for long term services and supports
NYC NY Connects
Free service to help older adults and people with disabilities remain independent at home and in their community.
Resources for affordable homeownership
Center For NYC Neighborhoods (CNYCN)
Get help avoiding foreclosure, dealing with late mortgage payments, preventing scams, and more.
Cash help during an emergency
Emergency Assistance / One Shot Deal
Cash help for people who can't pay an expense due to an unexpected situation or event.
Services and support for homeless youth
Runaway And Homeless Youth Drop-In Centers
Homeless youth ages 14–24 can receive help and referrals for emergency shelter.
Find a licensed child care program
NYC Child Care Connect (NYC CCC)
An online resource that helps you find and stay informed about a child care program in your community.
Homes for adults who cannot live alone
Family Type Homes for Adults (FTHA)
Supportive housing for adults who cannot live alone due to old age, developmental disabilities, or physical or mental health.
Paid time off to care for family
NYS Paid Family Leave (PFL)
Up to 12 weeks of paid time off to care for a new child, sick family member, and other situations.
Help with rent for families with children
Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS)
Pays part of or all of the rent to eligible families at risk of or being evicted, or living in an HRA shelter.
Learn more : Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement
Flood insurance
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Flood insurance covers damage to your home and belongings.
Free early childhood education for children of student-parents
Living for the Young Family Through Education (LYFE)
Student-parents can get free early childhood education for their children ages 6 weeks to 4 years.
Free financial counseling and coaching
NYC Financial Empowerment Centers
Get help to manage your money and improve your financial health.
Tax credit for families with children
Child Tax Credit (CTC)
When filing taxes for 2023, families can claim this tax credit worth up to $2,000 for each qualifying child under 17 years old.
Discount on your phone or internet service
Lifeline
A monthly discount up to $9.25 on phone or internet service for eligible households.
Money for funerals due to COVID-19
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
Free and safe legal help for immigrants
MOIA Immigration Legal Support Centers
Get free, comprehensive legal screenings to find out if you qualify for any immigration benefit.
Job training and placement for older adults
Older Adult Employment Program
Free program offering training and job placement help for older adults 55 and older.
No cost or low-cost healthcare access
NYC Care
Comprehensive health care for all NYC residents, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.
English conversation and learning program
We Speak NYC (WSNYC)
Free classes with materials for you to learn about City services and improve your English.
Payments for eligible unemployed adults
NYS Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Unemployment gives temporary income to workers who lose their jobs.
Services to help you keep your housing
Homebase
If you're at risk of homelessness, Homebase offers support to stay out of shelter and remain stably housed.
Food from pantries and community kitchens
Community Food Connection (CFC)
Child support services
Office of Child Support Services (OCSS)
Financial support for children and employment support for parents not living with their children.
Free job prep and job matching service
Workforce1 Career Centers (WF1CC)
Affordable public housing
Public Housing
Job training and employment for low-income youth ages 16-24
Train & Earn
Job training, employment services, and prep to help you pass your High School Equivalency (HSE) tests. Available for youth who are not working nor in school.
Supportive housing for homeless veterans
Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH)
Help for homeless veterans and their families to find and stay in permanent housing.
Closed Vouchers that pay part of your rent
Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV)
Section 8 pays part of the rent for low- and moderate-income families who want to rent in the private market.
Tax credit for working individuals and families
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Tax credit worth up to $11,000 for qualifying families, noncustodial parents, and individuals who work full time or part time or are self-employed.
Tax refund if you paid for child and dependent care
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCC)
Get money back if you paid for childcare or adult dependent care while working or looking for work.
Free tax prep services
NYC Free Tax Prep
You might qualify for free tax filing help with NYC Free Tax Prep.
Rent freeze for seniors
Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)
A rent freeze program to help seniors 62 and older stay in their home.
Rent freeze for people with disabilities
Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE)
A rent freeze program to help eligible New Yorkers stay in their home.
Long-term care at home
Home Care Services Program (HCSP)
Seniors and people with disabilities can receive health care in their home.
Cash help to buy food for infants
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Free healthy food, counseling about healthy eating, breastfeeding support, and referrals for women, infants, and children under five.
Learn more : Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
Property tax break for senior homeowners
Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE)
Lowered property taxes for senior homeowners who earn up to a certain income.
Property tax break for homeowners with disabilities
Disabled Homeowners' Exemption (DHE)
Lowered property tax for homeowners with disabilities who earn up to a certain income.
Property tax break for veterans
Veterans' Property Tax Exemption
Lower property taxes for qualifying veterans who served in certain conflicts.
Reduce property taxes for homeowners
School Tax Relief Program (STAR)
Homeowners can get a partial exemption from school property taxes.
Services for people with HIV or AIDS
HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA)
HASA helps people living with HIV or AIDS get health care and other public benefits.
Support for first-time parents
NYC Nurse-Family Partnership (NYC NFP)
First-time parents can get their own personal nurse at no cost.
Care and education for 3-4 year-olds from low-income families
Head Start
Head Start programs are free and run year-round for at least eight hours a day.
Financial growth training for NYCHA residents
NYCHA Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES)
Job, finance, and business training programs for public housing residents.
Learn more : NYCHA Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability
Help for survivors of dating, domestic, and gender-based violence
NYC Family Justice Centers (FJCs)
Counseling and services are available in all boroughs for survivors of dating, domestic, and gender-based violence.
College and job prep for juniors and seniors in high school
Learn & Earn
Year-round program with college and job prep for high schoolers at risk of dropping out.
Confidential family planning services
Family Planning Benefit Program (FPBP)
Free and confidential family planning services for teens, women, and men.
Healthy food packages for older adults
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
Food packages for low-income adults age 60 and older.
Public transportation for people with disabilities
Access-A-Ride Paratransit Service (AAR)
Paratransit service for travel within NYC and nearby parts of Nassau and Westchester counties.
Help for adults in danger of abuse, neglect or exploitation
Adult Protective Services (APS)
Refer someone to APS if you suspect they are in danger of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Afterschool programs for students
Comprehensive After School System of NYC (COMPASS NYC)
COMPASS NYC has hundreds of programs for young people in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Free summer meals for everyone 18 and under
Summer Meals
Get free breakfast or lunch at schools, community pool centers, parks, and food trucks near you during the summer.
Support for young people with disabilities
School-Age and Early Childhood Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Centers
Information and resources for young people with disabilities (age 0-21), their families, and their caregivers.
Learn more : School-Age and Early Childhood Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Centers
A free City ID card
IDNYC
IDNYC can often be used as an official ID for all New Yorkers age 10 and over.
Talk, text, or chat for mental health help
NYC 988
Free and private talk, text, or chat mental health services available at any time for you or someone you care about.