Help in Hard Times
Having trouble paying your bills? There are programs in place to help you get through these difficult times. These programs, in many cases, are paid for by your taxpayer dollars and are available without charge to any Allegheny County resident who is income eligible.
Winter Assistance
City of Pittsburgh 'Snow Angels' matches volunteers who agree to shovel sidewalks with older adults or people with disabilities who are unable to do the task for themselves.
Home Weatherization
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh offers home weatherization assistance for those who qualify.
- Allegheny County Library Association
- Career Training for Dislocated Workers
- Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
- Financial Assistance
- Financial Counseling
- Tax Preparation Information
Places to Go for Help
- Allegheny County Assistance Office
Helps people apply for benefits made available through the Pa. Department of Public Welfare. Assistance includes food, cash, medical insurance and utility bills.
- Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS)
Serves the comprehensive needs of income-eligible families and individuals across their life span through tangible aid and a full continuum of services including information exchange, prevention, early intervention, case management, crisis intervention and after care through a variety of services including: child welfare services, drug and alcohol services, early childhood education, employment services, family support services, food, housing, information and referral, mental health services, services for seniors and people with physical and cognitive disabilities, transportation, and utility assistance.
- Allegheny County Department of Veteran's Services
Supports both active and retired U.S. military and National Guard personnel.
- Allegheny County Health Department
Provides information about free health, dental and tuberculosis clinics; an uninsured/underinsured resource guide; news releases about local health risks; safety alerts about area restaurants and other information to support wellness.
- The Salvation Army
Provides a comprehensive array of services including housing (short term and transitional), home furnishings, emergency food, assistance for those with substance abuse disorders and employment.
- United Way of Allegheny County
Provides guides, directories and the searchable HelpConnections database to assist users find needed services.
- Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Provides housing assistance, food, and employment to anyone in need.
How you can help
- Neighbor-Aid
Helps families and individuals in Allegheny County who are facing hardship as a reslt of the economic crisis.
Basic Needs
Appliances
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and North Hills Community Outreach Appliance Access Program Overview
Makes reduced-price home appliances available for those who qualify.
Home Appliances
Child Care
Clothing
Free children's clothing
Project Prom
Free formal attire for high school students.
Resale and thrift stores
Computers and Cell Phones
Allegheny County Library Association
Offers free computer use, including internet access and word processing software at area libraires. Many libraries also offer classes.
Goodwill Computer Store
Sells refurbished computers, monitors, keyboards and accessories at a low cost, including PCs and iMacs.
SafeLink Wireless
Provides free cell phone and service for those who meet eligibility requirements.
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Services
Supports for victims of domestic violence and their children through advocacy, crisis intervention, 24-hour crisis hotline, temporary shelter, on-going individual counseling and support groups.
Food
Food Assistance
Contains links and lists to find emergency food, food pantries, food stamps, out-of-school meals, meals for older adults and WIC.
Furnishings
Home Furnishings
Housing
Allegheny County DHS Housing Information
Department of Public Welfare Homeless Assistance Program Overview
1-800-692-7462
Offers services to homeless and near homeless individuals and families.
Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP)
Provides information and assistance for eligible Pennsylvanians in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure.
National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
Provides the NLICH Renters in Foreclosure tool kit to assist tenants who live in properties that are foreclosed upon. Supports are based on the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 which gives new rights to tenants who live in such properties.
Urban League Housing Program
Contains information about housing counseling, rental assistance (HUD) and homebuyer education programs.
Parenting Support
$1 Admission to Carnegie Museums
Provides information about the program that encourages any Pennsylvania resident with either a green or yellow ACCESS/ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to visit any of the four Carnegie Museums (Andy Warhol, Art, Natural Hisory, and Science Center) for $1.
$1 Admission to the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
Provides details about the program that encourages any Pennsylvania resident with a green ACCESS/Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to visit the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh for $1. (See last row in table)
Family Resources’ confidential WARMLINE
412-641-4546 or 1-800-WARMLYN
Provides information about the WARMLINE, a free, confidential resources where a trained person--another parent or child caregiver--will listen and help with simple questions or complex situations. There's no question too small. No problem too big.
Family Support Centers
Provides locations and information about community-based centers devoted to providing parents and neighborhoods with the resources and supports they need to raise healthy and happy children.
Transportation
Allegheny County Transportation Information
Driver's License and Professional Licences
Transportation Information
Utilities
Allegheny County Utility Assistance Information
Home Weatherization
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh offers home weatherization assistance for those who qualify.
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Education
Allegheny County Library Association
Provides location and other information about ACLA-member libraries in Allegheny County that offer free use of books, CDs, DVDs and other educational materials for county residents. Many libraries also offer a variety of classes and other activities.
Career Transition Center for Dislocated Workers, Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)
412-788-7351
Provides information about programs that offer free tuition for laid-off workers and transitional programs for employers forced to downsize.
Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
Provides information about opportunites to take advantage of or volunteer for adult literacy services such as GED preparation classes, basic skills tutoring and English as a Second Language conversation skills.
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Employment
Driver's License and Professional Licences
Job Training, Preparation and Search
Allegheny County Employment Services
Includes information about local job opportunities, job training, job search assistance, CareerLink and EARN program.
Department of Labor, Job and Training Information
Provides information for job-seekers and those who are unemployed.
Imagine my new job
Scans job postings in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties and matches them to the desired keyword. These are the high-tech, high-paying careers in engineering, research and development, architecture, information technology, health care, advanced manufacturing, accounting, life sciences, and more.
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
412-227-5021
Reviews programs to help unemployed individuals with employment counseling and placement.
VETS Resource Connection
Provides information about employment, reemployment, training, education and benefits for veterans.
Find Job Assistance programs
Unemployment
File for Unemployment Benefits
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Financial Support
Financial Assistance
Social Security Benefits
1-800-772-1213 TTY 1-800-325-0778
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
County Assistance Office 412-565-2146
Unemployment compensation
Toll Free 888-313-7284 or 412-267-1315, TTY 888-334-4046
Financial Counseling
Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Western Pennsylvania
Income Tax Return Preparation
Income Tax Return Preparation
Consumer Alert from the IRS
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Health
Dental Care
Squirrel Hill Health Center Dental Clinic Drug and Alcohol Services
DHS Drug and Alcohol Services
Pennsylvania Substance Abuse Services
Eyeglasses
American Optometric Association Vision USA Program
1-800-766-4466
Provides eligibility guidelines and an application to receive a free eye exam by a doctor of optometry through the Vision USA program.
New Eyes for the Needy
Provides details about the program that gives free new eyeglasses and vision care to uninsured persons who qualify.
One Sight
1-888-935-4589
Provides details about the program that gives free new eyeglasses and vision care to uninsured persons who qualify.
Gambling Addiction
Gamblers Anonymous
Information about the fellowship support group and its programs for compulsive gamblers.
The National Council on Problem Gambling
Gambling Addiction
Health Care
Allegheny County Health Department Primary Care Centers
Provides contact information for three ACHD Primary Care Centers which offer routine health supervision, prevention services and care during illness for all family members. In-home visiting nurses are available for high-risk pregnant women and families with young children.
American Optometric Association Vision USA Program
1-800-766-4466
Provides eligibility guidelines and an application to receive a free eye exam by a doctor of optometry through the Vision USA program.
Squirrel Hill Health Center
Provides information about the center's full range of free or reduced rate high quality medical care, behavioral health care, case management and translations services offered regardless of an individual's income level or health insurance status. The SHHC added a mobile health center to its service offerings in November 2010 and a dental clinic in February 2011.
Under/Uninsured Resource Guide by the Allegheny County Health Department
Contains contact information for health care resouces for Allegheny County residents who are un/underinsured. View the most current edition on the ACHD homepage.
Veterans' Administration Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Health Insurance
adultBasic
The adultBasic program was terminated on March 1, 2011. People who were covered by adultBasic are advised to consider taking advantage of a Federally Qualified Health Clinic (FQHC) or other community clinics that provide free or sliding scale care. Information about these providers is available in the Under/Uninsured Resource Guide by the Allegheny County Health Department.
Allegheny County Health Insurance Information
Provides information about health care and health insurance programs.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
1-800-986-KIDS (5437)
Provides information about health insurance for children living in Pennsylvania.
Apply for CHIP online
Health Insurance Counseling for Older Adults
Provides information about APPRISE, a free, health insurance counseling service available to individuals aged 60 and older.
Medicaid.gov - Keeping America Healthy
Provides state-specific information on enrollment, waivers, etc. It also contains information on the Affordable Care Act.
Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
412-565-2146
Provides information about how eligible individuals with limited income and high medical expenses can get help to pay for health care services. Apply for Medical Assistance online
Pa. Fair Care
Provides information about Pennsylvania's health plan for uninsured adults with pre-existing conditions. It provides transition coverage while the federal health insurance laws come into affect. Availability is extremely limited.
Low-cost Prescriptions
Allegheny County Rx Program
Provides information about the free county prescription discount program that is available to any Allegheny County resident regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage. The plan is honored at more than 300 participating pharmacies in Allegheny County. A national network of more than 60,000 participating retail pharmacies also will honor the NACo prescription discount card. The program is sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo).
Mental Health Rx Pharmacy Benefit Program
Provides information about the prescription plan for eligible individuals that pays for psychiatric prescription medications. Eligibility is based on income.
Pa. Prescription Assistance
1-800-225-7223
Provides information about PACE, PACENET and PACE Plus Medicare -- Pennsylvania’s prescription assistance programs for older adults, offering low-cost prescription medication to qualified residents age 65 years and older. Apply for PACE online
Pa. Prescription Price Finder
Gives users a list of local pharmacies with price comparisons of the prescribed medicine when a ZIP code and the name of the prescribed medicine is entered into the online tool.
Mental Health Support
Allegheny County Mental Health Services
Provides an overview of services available to county residents who are concerned about their mental health.
Anonymous Mental Health Screening for In/Active Members of the Military
Designed specifically for member of the armed forces, these free, self-administered, online screenings can help determine if behaviors related to mood or anxiety levels might be related to a mental health concern and/or indicate that a professional consultation could be helpful. Other helpful resources are also available on this site.
Birmingham Free Clinic
Patients with insurance, including Medical Assistance, will be referred to community health centers. No appointments are needed, but staff may limit the number of patients accepted depending upon patient volume. Basic primary care, blood pressure and blood glucose screening, smoking cessation, physicals for jobs, housing, driver’s licenses are provided. Mental health assessment and counseling by appointment only for existing patients. Provides free health care to uninsured Latino patients on Saturdays.
Clínica de Salud Mental para Personas que hablan Español (Mental Health Clinic for Person who are Spanish-speakers)
Duquesne University has opened a new out-patient mental health clinic for persons who are Spanish speakers.The clinic is free and requires no insurance or personal documentation. There is no limit to the number of sessions a person can have. Family members are welcome. It does not have drug and alcohol services. More information in English
NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program
A free 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses that discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively.
NAMI De Familia a Familia, Contact Alby 412-244-3142 or Jorge 412-788-4582.
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
PAAR offers Spanish language counseling for victims of sexual violence. Additional services offered in Spanish include preventative education and mental health counseling for both adults and children. Offices are on the South Side at 81 S. 19th Street. Contact Teresa Otoya-McAdams 412-431-5665 or teresao@paar.net.
Pa. Department of Public Welfare Mental Health Services
re:solve 1-888-7 YOU CAN (1-888-796-8226)
Answered by a mental health professional who assists callers avoid a mental health crisis.
Legal Assistance
Get Help Now, Pennsylvania
888-799-4557
Help from lawyers, banking and mortgage professionals and financial analysts with expertise in finance, credit and bankruptcy.
Pa. Law Help
An on-line guide to legal information and legal services in Pennsylvania.
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Additional Allegheny County Resources
HumanServices.net
Human Services is a web-based resource for finding most human services or service providers in Allegheny County. Information includes contact information, services provided and directions to locations. Instructions for using HumanServices.net are available. Directory includes services for food, health care, clothing, utility assistance, cash, housing, transportation, child care, domestic violence, crisis intervention, parenting support and more.
Pennsylvania Health and Human Services HelpinPA Facebook page
Provides current information and updates about a variety of Pennsylvania’s health and human service programs, events and resources. Citizens and community-based organizations are able to learn more about health insurance programs, services for children and adults with special health care needs, prenatal services, breastfeeding support, and services for older Pennsylvanians.
Pennsylvania Health and Human Services resource guides (2010)
Pennsylvania's Here to Help
From meeting basic needs for food and shelter to upgrading professional skills to find a new job in a high-demand industry, the commonwealth has a wide variety of programs to help people get through the tough times.
Resource Guides
Basic needs are met in Allegheny County by many agencies. Printable booklets that list the names and contact information for some of these agencies are available. The United Way offers additional guides.
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