Money Assistance Georgia – Help paying bills, rent, loans & more

In this difficult economy, many people are struggling financially. In Georgia, 19% of people are living in poverty. Over a quarter of children, 26.5% are living in poverty. Poverty USA ranks Georgia 47 in poverty ratings compared to other states. To help combat these poverty rates, Georgia has set up programs to help families and individuals that are in need.

Below are multiple ways to get financial help in Georgia. Services that include help paying bills, rent, food/groceries, personal loans, debt relief and as mentioned various government benefits and support agencies across Atlanta, Columbus, Augusta and all other cities in Georgia.

Social Security Loans (SSI)
Many residents living in Georgia collecting Social Security may qualify for more financial assistance through SSI. For those whose only income is Social Security and you are in need of a loan, there may be specialist lenders who will assist. Learn more about SSI and other social security loan options here.

Assistance with Utilities: If you’re having trouble affording your utility bill, Georgia’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) is available. It can help people who are low-income pay for heating and cooling bills. The assistance is available in all 159 counties in Georgia. You can apply and learn if you’re eligible by contacting your local Community Action Agency.

Food Assistance: Food assistance is available in Georgia through the Division of Family and Children Services. The Georgia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (also known as the Food Stamp Program) is a federally funded program that helps Georgia residents to be able to buy food to make healthy meals and improve nutrition. Eligibility is determined by income and family size. Anyone can apply for these benefits online or through your local Community Action Center.

Loan Assistance: Certain financial situations require cash. If you are in need of a loan and are having issues qualifying with a mainstream lender, there are other options available. There are many non-profits, credit unions that offer specialty loans. Even some banks provide specialty loans in partnership with the government, they just aren’t heavily advertised. Learn about different low income loans here.

Rent and Mortgage: If you need help paying your rent or mortgage in Georgia, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development makes reduced rental options available. Subsidized apartments have reduced rent for low-income tenants. HUD helps the apartment owners to be able to make subsidized apartments available. Another option is Section 8 housing. Vouchers are used to supplement rent payments to certain Public housing. HUD can also help you if you’re a homeowner by assisting you in avoiding foreclosures.

Medical Assistance: Medicaid is a program available to Georgia residents that provides healthcare. You must meet the citizenship, income and resource requirements in order to become eligible. You can apply for Medicaid at your local DFCS office, by telephone, mail, fax or e-mail. PeachCare for Kids is a resource available to help provide health care for children whose family isn’t eligible for Medicaid. PeachCare for Kids requires the household income to be at or below 235% of the federal poverty level.

Educational Assistance: If you’re in need of financial assistance for higher education, The Georgia Student Finance Commission can help. It is a state agency that provides grants, loans and state and lottery funded scholarships. The HOPE scholarship is available for students who are outstanding. Eligibility is determined by grade point average. The scholarship will help students pay for a portion of tuition costs at eligible colleges and universities in Georgia.

Community Action Center: The state of Georgia helps low income residents with the Georgia Community Action Association. The community action association promotes social and economic justice for everyone and helps to fight poverty. They make resources available to the community through state wide programs.

Charities: Within Georgia, there are a multitude of charities working to help people in need. Catholic Charities is a charity dedicated to helping people in need. They offer help with housing, food, financial aid, clothing and holiday assistance. Love Inc. is an organization that helps families facing a one-time crisis such as overdue bills.

Learn more about free items and other money assistance services in Georgia, including: Free clothes, furniture, car, school accessories, help with fines, seasonal items & more!
The below services are in general and may not be available in Georgia. However, if not available, many may have partnerships with other organizations through out the state that they can connect you with.

Free Hotel or Motel Vouchers for the Homeless or Emergencies
Those experiencing hardship and are without a roof over their head can access different types of short and possibly longer term accommodation throughout Georgia. Learn more about accommodation assistance in here.

Dealing with tickets or fines
If you have unpaid tickers or fines, avoiding them will only create further financial and credit problems. Learn about ways to get assistance with dealing with fines in Georgia, from requesting a waiver or challenging inaccurate fines. Get the information you need to tackle fines here.

How to get a free laptop or computer
Low income families have a range of organizations that provide free technology assistance such as computers and laptops throughout the country including Georgia. Learn about what free computers and laptop organizations are near you and how to apply here.

Getting a free or low cost car
At any given time there are different organizations that assist low income earners with transportation. Across the country and in Georgia there are different services that assist people with getting a vehicle. Learn more about free cars, how to get one and where to apply.

How to get free gas for emergencies
Gas prices in Georgia like most of the country are extremely high. This can put serious pressure on the family budget. For those dealing with cashflow issues and finding it hard to put fuel in the car, there is help. Learn how to get free gas for emergencies through free gas vouchers.