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

Ohio is ranked in the lower half of states for their poverty level with 16 percent of all residents living below or at the poverty level; 11.6 percent of families in the state are considered poor. The lack of employment opportunities is a major factor to this high percentage. To assist those who are having financial issues, the State of Ohio along with many other organizations have created a range of financial benefits and aid programs to help residents with paying bills and providing free assistance for certain living essentials.

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

Social Security Loans (SSI)
Many residents living in Ohio 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: The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low income Ohioans meet the high costs of heating their homes through the Ohio Development Services Agency’s Office of Community Assistance. There are also programs for those that have been disconnected to be reconnected during the cold winter months through the Winter Reconnect Program. Lastly there is the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP), which HEAP is a part of, but also includes the weatherization of your home.

Food Assistance: The Ohio Food Assistance Program also federally referred to as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is meant to aid those in low-income households to raise their nutrition levels. In Ohio this is accomplished through an EBT, Electronic Benefit Transfer card that looks like a debit or credit card that is loaded by the program and the individual can use at specified food stores.

Loan Help: There are certainly numerous situations which require cash to keep the household running. Car repairs, appliance repair or replacement and so on. If you are in need of a personal loan, see how credit unions, non-profits and even some banks can help through specialty loans. Learn about these many options here.

Rent and Mortgage: The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) helps supports Americans in any state by providing a subsidy to renters with low-incomes. This comes in the form of a public housing voucher or through vendors listed as public housing qualified. There are other organizations located throughout the state that can also help with short term mortgage payments found here.

Medical Assistance: In any state, Medicaid, a federal program enables low income individuals, families, the disabled and the elderly to receive free essential health care. This program is administered by the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Children’s Health Care Coverage in Ohio, also known as CHIP also provides low or no-cost coverage for children’s medical needs.

Educational Assistance: There are plenty of state grant and scholarship programs that can aid a student entering any accredited institution in Ohio if they qualify which can be found here. There are also Federal Student Aid Programs that can help students in various situations achieve payment aid.

Community Action Agencies: Beginning in 1964 the State of Ohio founded the Economic Opportunity Act supporting Community Action Agencies that comprise locally controlled private organizations whose sole purpose is to help low-income families and individuals become self-sufficient. With 50 agencies in all 88 counties there is a resource near you to help in a number of ways.

Charities: There is always a need for both volunteers and those that rely on charities for assistance. Many Americans are unaware about the different types of charities that are out there and how they can assist. There are thousands of charities across Ohio with many in your own neighborhood. Learn more about what they do and how they can help here.

Learn more about free items and other money assistance services in Ohio, 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 Ohio. 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 Ohio. 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 Ohio, 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 Ohio. 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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.