Other Assistance

Please read through each resource and requirement carefully. It is vital that you have the necessary information/documents required in order for organizations to better assist  you. 

BakerRipley Central: Utility Assistance Hotline 713-590-2327 (4450 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston, Texas 77011) Hours: Mon thru Fri 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; closed Sat and Sun.  Must call to make an appointment.  Assists with utility bills only.
     Utility Assistance Requirements:

• Resident of Harris County
• Must meet the US Department of Health and Human Services Income Guidelines
• Proof of identity – Current/Valid Texas Driver’s License, Texas ID, US Passport, US Military ID or US
• Permanent Resident Card
• Provide proof of income for the last 30 days for all household members eighteen (18) years of age and older such as employer gross wages, Social Security, Unemployment, Food Stamp Award Letter, Retirement, VA Disability, etc.
• Provide a current Electric Bill – Reliant customers must provide their meter number
• Provide a current Gas Bill (If applicable)
• Electric and/or Gas Disconnection Notices (If applicable)

Christian Community Service Center (CCSC) Central
713-871-9741 (3434 Branard, Houston, TX 77027) Hours: Mon thru Fri 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM; closed Sat and Sun (call to schedule appointment):  Appointments scheduled on first call basis.  Only four (4) appointments scheduled per day.  Phone lines open at 10:00 AM.  Please start calling at 9:50 am to be one of the first four (4) in line for an appointment.

  Rent Assistance Requirements:

• Must have an appointment or Church Referral (first four callers are given automatic appointments for next day)
• Must have lived in apartment for at least four months  (unless given a referral)
• Must be in CCSC zip codes served (Church Referrals assist all zip code areas)
• Bring photo ID/Birth Certificate/Passport  (required for all clients and must match lease or bill)
• Eviction/vacate notice and a copy of the lease
• Must not have received assistance from CCSC in prior 365 days

CCSC Food Pantry: May have a one-week supply of food 6 times, as often as needed, in a six-month period (hours - Mon-Fri 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM)
 

Christian Community Service Center (CCSC) Southwest
713-871-9741 serving only zip codes: 77031, 77036, 77072, 77074 (6856 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77074 located on the Gethsemane Campus of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church) Hours: Mon and Tues & Thurs and Fri 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM - closed Wed and Sun.  Call to schedule appointment.  Appointments scheduled on first call basis.  Only four (4) appointments scheduled per day.  Phone lines open at 10:00 AM.  Please start calling at 9:50 am to be one of the first four (4) in line for an appointment.

  Rent Assistance Requirements: (same as above for Central location)

CCSC Food Pantry:  May have a one-week supply of food 6 times (often as needed) in a six-month period (hours - Mon-Tues and Thurs-Fri 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM - closed Wed and Sun)
 

City Wide Club- 713-752-2582 (4101 San Jacinto St # 206, Houston, TX 77004) Hours: Tues and Thursday 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

  Rent and Utility Assistance Requirements:

• Call to request assistance - no walk-ins
• Must be able to verify household income
• Copy of Utility bill or phone number of landlord to verify rent amount

First Baptist (Long Point Baptist) - 713-957-5863 (8009 Long Point Road, Houston, TX) Hours: Mon thru Thurs 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  Rent Assistance Requirements:

• Arrival time 5:00 AM - numbers given out at 7:30 am (first 12 in line will be helped)
• Last employment needs to be no longer than 5 months in the past and you must have been employed for at least 1 month
• If seeking assistance due to a recent expense, such as home repair, car repair, medical or funeral expenses, you must provide a copy of those receipts
• Two copies of lease or bill (they do not provide assistance for telephone or electric bills)
• Copy of Eviction or Vacate notice
• Social Security Cards for all residents
• ID's for all adults residents
• Employment Verification (pay stub)

First Baptist Food Pantry located at 8244 Long Point (hours -   Mon thru Thurs & Sat 10:00 am to 1:00 pm)
 

Gulf Coast Community Services - 713-393-4700(9320 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77054) Hours: Mon thru Fri 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (call to schedule appointment)

 Rent or Electric Assistance Requirements:

• Must complete and submit an online or paper application
• You will be contacted for an appointment after application is submitted and reviewed
• During the appointment each neighbor is expected to complete a Service Agreement with a GCCS professional order to receive a rental or utility assistance. Service Agreements consist of participation in at least one ongoing class (ABE/GED, Nutrition, ESL, SSL, Business Applications, Money Management, etc.) during a two-month period.
• You must have an eviction or disconnect notice from landlord or electricity provider.
• You must be a resident of Harris County.
• You must meet Federal Income Guidelines for poverty in accordance with number living in household.

GCCS Food Pantry:Neighbors may have 3-5 days of food no   more than one time per year.  Hours thru Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; walk-ins welcome).

• Transportation: Gulf Coast provides Metro Q Cards to neighbors seeking employment and/or attending GCCS educational programs. Neighbor must be a resident of Harris County and meet Federal Income Guidelines for poverty in accordance with number living in household in order to qualify

Harris County Social Services- 713-696-7900 (9418 Jensen Drive, Houston, Texas 77093) Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Clients are seen on a walk-in basis and waiting time will depend upon the amount of appointments scheduled that day.

  Rent/Utility Assistance Requirements:

• Utility must already be disconnected and dated within the past 30 days.
• Utility bill must be in applicant’s name.
• Applicant must reside in household seeking assistance.
• Current Picture Identification and Social Security card (Your ID must be current). You must have some form of government issued identification to verify you are the person whom you state you are. Copies of identification will NOT be accepted.
• You must be a US Citizen or properly documented immigrant. If you were not born in the United States but your minor children (who live with you) were born in the United States, you must provide their original birth certificate.
• House deed or lease agreement or housing contract.
• Proof of current or most recent income and/or proof of past management of bills/rent. Verification of ALL income must be provided for ALL household members who are receiving income. Income documentation must be verifiable. Income documentation may include, SS Disability award letters, TANF award letters, Food Stamp award letters, VA award letters, Child Support, paycheck stubs, letter from employer.. If there is no income from a household member who is 18 years or older, a certification of income form must be completed.
• Bank Transaction History Report and receipts (for the last 30 days from the date of appointment).
• Verification of other assistance. If you are currently receiving assistance from another agency/or organization, please provide proof of ALL pledges and assistance.

Helping Hands Food Pantry: Walk-in or by appointment (hours - Monday to Wed 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.).

  Rent and Utility Assistance Requirements (assistance based on funding available):

• Call last Friday of the month  (to leave a message on last Friday of month, press Financial Assistance when prompted and someone from Social Services Committee will call you back by follwing Wednesday) 
• Need valid ID and Social Security Card
• Copy of lease (and vacate notice if applicable)
• Copy of current utility bill and/or disconnect notice

  Rent Assistance (press 1)

• You must live within the Harris County Appraisal District and be able to demonstrate loss of income, ability to maintain home after assistance, and financial need.  Please bring the following documents to the appointment:
• Late notice, eviction notice or court eviction documents
• Lease (all pages include addendums)
• Bring two forms of ID
• Documentation of unexpected loss of income

Salvation Army Food Pantry - Monday thru Thursday 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.   Will provide 1 box of groceries every 12 months.  Must bring the following:

• Two Forms of ID
• Lease (all pages including addendums)
• Letter of referral from SNAP if not the first time receiving food

Sheltering Arms & Neighborhood Center Emergency Assistance Program - 713-685-6577 Seniors 60+ and the Disabled 713-590-2327 (3838 Aberdeen Way, Houston, TX 77025) Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Call to schedule an appointment.

  Electric and Gas Assistance Requirements:

• Resident of Harris County
• Must meet the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Income Guidelines
• Provide proof of income for the last 30 days for all household members eighteen (18) years of age and older such as employer gross wages, Social Security, Unemployment, Food Stamp Award Letter, Retirement, VA Disability, etc.
• Provide a current Electric Bill – Reliant customers must provide their meter number
• Provide a current Gas Bill (If applicable)
• Electric and/or Gas Disconnection Notices (If applicable)

Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church - 713-747-7101 (3826 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, Texas 77004) Hours: Monday thru Thursday 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM / Friday 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.  Do not leave a message.

  Rent and Utility Assistance Requirements:

• Must call to schedule an appointment (no walkins)
• Employment verification (pay stub) for past 60 days
• Lease, Eviction/Vacate notice or utility bill
• Money order receipt showing some amount of self-payment toward balance and a ledger or statement from leasing/mortgage or utility company (they do not accept  landlord receipts)
• Valid ID and Social Security Card
• Can receive assistance once every 2 years

Program information on this resource page is subject to change. We recommend calling to confirm the information listed above.

Take care of yourself: At different times we all feel the stress and strain of social isolation.  Below are numerous organizations' phone numbers and websites to support you and your loved ones during this time.

◦ Catholic Charities Crisis and Mental Health Support line at 713.874.6590.
◦ Texas Health and Human Services: toll-free at 833-986-1919
(24/7 statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
◦ Harris Center/Mobile Crisis Outreach Team: 713.970.7000 and press #1 for the Crisis Line (they operate 24 hrs)
◦ Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone: 1-800-273-TALK
◦  NAMI HelpLine, 1-800-950-6264, M-F, 9 am - 5 pm
◦  For immediate crisis, call 911

◦Maintaining Positive Mental Health During COVID-19 Outbreak – MHA of Greater Houston
◦Mental Health And COVID-19 – Information And Resources – MHA of Greater Houston
◦MHA Resource Guideline and Phone Numbers [PDF] – MHA of Greater Houston
◦FAQ on COVID-19 and mental health [PDF] – NAMI
◦Harris County Public Health – Mental Health Matters
◦Healthy Ways to Deal with Mental Stress [PDF]
◦Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks [PDF]