Get Financial Help: 27 Hardship Grants & Assistance Programs

Hardship grants exist to help people who are having a hard time. We’ve found several providers offering assistance to people in financial crisis.

In this article, we will review many nationwide and local hardship grant programs that may be able to help you.

Each program sets their own terms and conditions, so it’s important to review the details for any program that you’d like to use. Please remember that Low Income Relief is not involved in any approval decisions, as we are an information service only. We do not give out grants or make donations. This is an informational resource only.

Nationwide Hardship Grants

There are a number of nationwide providers that offer hardship grants. To see if you are eligible, you will need to review the information and contact the grant provider for details.

American Legion TFA Grants

American Legion TFA Grants offer up to $1,500 to current American Legion members and children of eligible active-duty servicemembers. The funds can be used for shelter, food, utilities, health expenses and more. For details, visit Legion.org.

Army Emergency Relief

Soldiers and their families may be able to receive rent relief from Army Emergency Relief (AER). This program provides zero-interest loans and grants to those who need assistance. They can help with specific hardship needs including rent, security deposits, food, vehicle costs, utilities, funeral expenses, home repair and so much more.

Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund

The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund provides assistance to organic farmers who have suffered losses due to extreme hardship. You must have a certified organic operation in good standing and documentation of your hardship, among other things.

CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees

CORE supports restaurant employees who are supporting children. Restaurant employees include people who work in hotel food service, concessions, cafeterias and dining halls, catering, fine dining, casual dining, fast casual dining, quick service and food trucks. This organization provides financial grants for rent, mortgage payments, utilities, medical supplies, therapy, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, travel costs, funeral expenses, groceries, clothing and other essentials that you may need when you have a qualifying special circumstance.

Entertainment Community Fund

The Actor’s Fund helps everyone working in performing arts and entertainment, whether they are on screen, on stage, or behind the scenes. The Actor’s Fund actually manages many different distinct grant programs, so you can review the details here.

Glenn Garcelon Foundation Grant

This organization assists patients who are living with a primary brain tumor that are receiving treatment anywhere in the United States and its territories. This organization has been known to provide grants of up to $1,000 if you are eligible. You have to apply through the American Brain Tumor Association.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

You must be diagnosed with blood cancer in order to receive assistance from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This organization can assist with co-pays, treatment-related travel, non-medical expenses and urgent needs. Through their Urgent Need program, eligible patients can receive a $500 grant toward specific needs.

Live Like Bella

Live Like Bella may be able to provide up to $400 toward rent for families of children who are receiving treatment for pediatric cancer. They’ve launched an application portal so that eligible families can apply online.

Pinetop Assistance League for Elder Musicians

Musicians who are at least 50 years old and meet specific eligibility criteria may be able to receive up to $500 in assistance from Pinetop for specific needs.

St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund

Financial assistance from St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund can be used for rent, utilities, vehicle payments, insurance and prescriptions when you are out of work or recovering from illness. You must have a Class A CDL and meet other requirements. Apply online.

The SAMFund

The SAMFund offers grants for young adult cancer survivors. The average grant is around $1,500. The SAMFund is offered by the Expect Miracles Foundation.

VFW Unmet Needs Grant

Veterans for Foreign Wars (VFW) offers an Unmet Needs program. This program offers a grant up to $2,500 for basic life needs for veterans, service members and their families. Basic life needs include mortgage, rent, repairs, insurance, vehicle expenses, utilities, food, clothing, diapers, formula, school or childcare expenses, medical bills, prescriptions and more. You can apply on the VFW website.

UnionPlus Grants

Union Privilege is a nonprofit organization founded by the AFL-CIO. They offer Union Plus benefits to current and retired AFL-CIO members and their families. You must be a credit union customer in order to receive help from this organization. If you are, they may offer disaster relief grants worth up to $500 if you have been affected by a natural disaster.

Other Nationwide Resources

If you are looking for government hardship grants, then you need to know that there are other resources available that may be able to help you. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to look into these programs as well, even if you don’t normally think of them as grants.

If you’re going through a tough time financially, you can often request hardship relief or forbearance from the companies you owe. I recently reached out to my auto lender and they offered to let me skip three months of payments! It never hurts to ask.

Rent Assistance

Housing is usually a person’s biggest expense. If you need financial relief, getting help with your rent may be able to free your budget up to help you cope with other expenses. We have a list of government programs and charities that can help you pay your rent. Get rent relief now.

Federal Pell Grants

Federal Pell Grants are distributed to students who have not completed a college education and have financial need. In order to receive a Pell Grant, you must be pursuing a college education at an accredited institution.

Funeral Assistance Grants

f you’ve lost a loved one and are struggling to cover funeral costs, there are resources available. Some states offer funeral assistance programs, and there may be grants specifically for low-income families, veterans, or families who lost children. You can also explore resources provided by nonprofit organizations or specific religious communities. To help you get started, I’ve compiled a list of potential funeral expense grants.

Utility Bill Grants

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program can provide a grant toward your utility bills! Depending on where you live and how many people are in your household, the amount of the grant may vary. Our family once received over $1,000 from this program!

There are other charities and organizations that can help you pay your utility bills as well. You can easily find providers near you by visiting our Utility Assistance page and selecting your state or company from the alphabetical list.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a low income health care program that can provide free and discounted health care to low income people. The funds are paid directly to your health care providers. You can apply with your state agency.

Social Security Programs

Depending on your age, disability status, and income level, you may be eligible for monthly payments from the Social Security Administration. They offer Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income and more.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Also known as food stamps, this program can provide a monthly grant that can help you purchase food for your family. Benefits are sent on an EBT card, which can also be used to get free admission, discounted Amazon Prime memberships and more!

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF can provide a monthly cash grant for low income families who meet income limits. The average TANF grant is $447 per month. There is a lifetime limit on how many months of assistance that your family can receive. It can be a little complicated, but these TANF tips can help.

WIC

The WIC program provides healthy food and nutrition counseling for mothers and their young children. The grant is provided in the form of monthly vouchers that can be redeemed for specific nutritious foods.

Local Hardship Grants

There are some local programs that may be able to help you with hardship grants as well.

Colleges & Universities

Many colleges and universities offer hardship grants for their students. If you are currently enrolled at an institution of higher education, you should check with your student financial services center for details. For example, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a hardship financial assistance program.

General Assistance

In some states, each county or township has a General Assistance or General Welfare fund that can be used to help low income people who are experiencing financial distress. These funds are usually earmarked for specific needs, such as rent, food or prescriptions.

Local Providers

If you need assistance with a specific bill, your local service provider may also have a hardship assistance gran.t For example, the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority has a Hardship Grant Program that can assist low income customers with up to $300 toward their utility bills every year. These programs are not always advertised online, so it’s important to contact your local company for details and assistance.

Tribal Assistance

If you are a member of a Tribal Nation, then you may be able to receive emergency hardship assistance. For example, the Navajo Nation Office of the Controller has information about a hardship assistance program.

Veteran’s Assistance

In some states and counties, veterans may be able to receive assistance as well. For example, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) has a veteran’s assistance fund that is managed at the county level. These funds are also set aside for specific needs, such as housing, utilities, and other hardship needs.

FAQs about Hardship Grants

If you’re looking for help, then you may have some of these questions as well! These are the most common questions we’ve been asked about this topic.

Can I get a financial hardship grant from the government?

Unfortunately, no. Grants.gov is the official government website for grants. Be aware that most opportunities are for organizations, businesses, or institutions. There might be a few rare grants for individuals, but these aren’t the primary focus, so you’ll have better luck exploring the options above.

The federal government does not provide hardship grants to individuals. Grants from the federal government are sent to state and local governments, and they are disbursed through local government programs, Community Action Agencies and nonprofits. Instead of passing those funds on as no-strings-attached cash grants, those funds are usually provided for specific needs (like LIHEAP grants, which help with utilities).

Can I get a personal hardship grant?

Most personal hardship grants are scams, especially if they offer no-strings-attached cash for everyone who applies. I’ve spent quite some time researching this, and most of the “personal hardship grants” I’ve seen are from scammers who are posing as government or nonprofit organizations. They promise free money in exchange for your personal information, and you end up with identity theft, loss, and no grant to help you through it. It’s simply not worth it.

How can I stay safe from hardship grant scams?

The Federal Trade Commission has some great advice to help you stay safe from grant scams

1. Don’t reveal your bank information to strangers.

If you give away your account number or password, scammers can steal your money. This will hurt you far more than it could possibly help you.

2. Never pay upfront for a grant.

You should never have to pay money to get money. This is a common scammer trick. You’ll never have to pay a processing fee for a grant that you’ve already been awarded. That wouldn’t make any sense.

3. Verify the organization.

Always make sure that you’re dealing with a real, legitimate organization. Verify the name of the organization and the existence of the grant that you are being offered.

4. Don’t fall for technology tricks.

Scammers have access to technology that can trick your caller ID and other systems into thinking that their calls are coming from a different place than they actually are. That’s why so many scam calls originate in your local area code. Don’t believe something just based on a phone number or an email address. Always do your own homework.

5. Report suspected scammers.

If you suspect that you’ve encountered a scam, you can report it on the FTC website by filing a complaint. You can also call 1-877-382-4357.

Relief Recap

Don’t give up if you’re facing financial hardship. There are resources designed to help. Explore these options, reach out to the provided contacts, and know that you don’t have to navigate this alone. We’re always here to help!

Nicole Thelin

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.