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

As of October 2014, Oregon ranks near the top of the list for unemployment rates. With nearly 7.1 percent of residents out of work, only 7 states fare worse than Oregon. If you are one of the many unemployed or your income isn’t covering all of your necessities, there are a few ways to get help.

Below are multiple ways to get financial help in Oregon. Services that include help paying bills, rent, food/groceries, personal loans, debt relief and as mentioned various government benefits and support agencies across Oregon including Portland, Eugene, Salem and all other regional and metro cities.

Social Security Loans (SSI)
Many residents living in Oregon 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.

Need A Loan: If your financial situation requires cash, visit our low income loans page to see the different types of loan options which may be available to you.

Assistance with utilities: You can get help with gas and electricity through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The program, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services is designed to help low income families reduce their heating costs. You can apply for assistance at Oregon. Gov. To qualify, a family of four must make less than $3,446 per month.

Food Assistance: Low income families may qualify for assistance with food through the food stamp (SNAP) program. Families are provided a monthly stipend to help offset the cost of food for their home. The SNAP program is designed to supplement needs. Nearly 445,000 families in Oregon use the SNAP program to put food on their tables. You must meet certain financial guidelines to qualify. You can apply online.

Rent and Mortgage: If you are struggling to pay your rent, you may qualify for housing assistance from the state or other private programs. Residents in the Portland area may qualify for assistance from Housing Connections or Oregon helps. Other resources included the Section 8 housing authority, and Oregon Housing Centers. Farmers may qualify for special assistance through programs like Farmworker Housing Development.

Medical Assistance: All qualifying families can get assistance for medical care through the Medicaid of CHIP program. Qualifying residents can have all of their medical bills paid through Medicaid. CHIP provides low-cost insurance coverage for children under 18 years old. You’ll have to pay a quarterly stipend based on your income. You can also search the Health Insurance Market Place for low cost health insurance.

Educational Assistance: In addition to assistance from individual colleges and universities students with a financial need may qualify for a Federal Pell Grant. Veterans can receive special assistance for school fees through the Education Aid Program. Qualifying students receive a stipend each month to help cover education costs. Applications are usually restricted to certain times of the year so apply in advance. You can find more information about various education programs at the Education and Training Resource Center.

Community Action Centers: Oregon provides a lot of assistance for needy families through community action centers. Families can apply for emergency assistance, rental assistance, energy bills and for assistance with other needs like clothing. Families are required to meet specific financial needs and money is limited, which limits the number of families that can be heled during the year. A few action centers in Oregon include Energy Education, Oregon Mortgage Payment Assistance Unemployment program and the Low-Income Weatherization Program.

Charities: There are several hundred private and public charities in Oregon. Each charity has their own set of rules and guidelines for assisting families. In addition to local charities, most religious organizations offer help with clothing and food. Contact local religious groups for more information on those specific charities. To search for a specific charity in Oregon, visit the Oregon Department of Justice Database to find charities in your neighbourhood.

Learn more about free items and other money assistance services in Oregon, 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 Oregon. 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 Oregon. 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 Oregon, 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 Oregon. 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 Oregon 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 Oregon like most of the country are extremely high. This can put serious strain 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.