Low Income

Section 8 Housing Vouchers Guide: How the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program Helps Pay Your Rent

Housing is not a luxury. It is the difference between stability and constant crisis.

Amount: Varies Deadline: Ongoing Location: United States

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

Federally funded part-time job training and community service employment for low-income adults age 55 and older. Participants earn minimum wage or higher while training at nonprofit and government host agencies, gaining skills and experience to transition into unsubsidized employment. The program serves approximately 40,000 older Americans annually through a nationwide network of grantees.

Type: Benefit Amount: Part-time paid community service positions at minimum wage or higher (typically 20 hours per … Deadline: Rolling Location: United States

Social Services Block Grant (SSBG / Title XX)

Flexible federal funding that supports a broad array of social services in every state, including child care, adult protective services, foster care, home-delivered meals, transportation, substance abuse treatment, and more. States use SSBG to fill gaps not covered by other programs.

Type: Benefit Amount: Free services; value varies by need and locality Deadline: Rolling Location: United States

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Provides healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and referrals for low-income pregnant and postpartum individuals and young children.

Type: Benefit Amount: Varies by state and participant category Deadline: Rolling Location: United States

Stop Water Shutoffs and Get $200 to $2,500 in Water Bill Help: A Practical Guide to the LIHWAP Emergency Assistance Program

If you’ve ever opened a water bill and felt your stomach do that little drop—like you just missed a step on the stairs—you’re not alone. Water and wastewater service is one of those modern miracles you only notice when it’s threatened.

Amount: Varies by state; typically $200-$2,500 in arrearage or reconnection assistance Deadline: Ongoing Location: United States

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Monthly food benefits that help low-income households buy healthy groceries in authorized retail stores.

Amount: Varies by household size and income Deadline: Rolling Location: United States

Tennessee Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Tennessee LIHEAP one-time utility support administered through THDA and local agencies across all 95 counties.

Type: Benefit Amount: For the 2025-2026 period, THDA states LIHEAP assistance ranges from $174 to $750 depending on … Deadline: Nov 1, 2025 Location: Tennessee

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

Free USDA food distributed through food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens to low-income individuals and families. TEFAP provides nutritious, domestically grown food commodities at no cost through a nationwide network of emergency feeding organizations.

Type: Benefit Amount: Free food packages distributed periodically Deadline: Rolling Location: United States

The Gates Scholarship

Last-dollar scholarship covering full cost of attendance for exceptional, Pell-eligible minority high school seniors.

Type: Scholarship Amount: Full cost of attendance not covered by other aid Deadline: Sep 15, 2025 Location: United States

Title X Family Planning Program

Free or low-cost reproductive healthcare—including contraception, STI testing, cancer screenings, and wellness exams—at nearly 4,000 clinics nationwide. Fees are based on a sliding scale tied to income, and patients at or below the federal poverty level pay nothing.

Type: Benefit Amount: Sliding fee scale; patients at or below 100% FPG pay $0; discounts up to 250% FPG Deadline: Rolling Location: United States