Emergency Assistance

Indiana 2-1-1 

Whether you're facing a financial emergency, housing crisis, food insecurity, natural disaster, or another urgent need, 2-1-1 is your best first call. Trained specialists listen to your situation, assess your needs, and guide you to the most relevant programs and local resources. They can also explain how to qualify and apply. Just dial 2-1-1 or visit in211.org to get started.

Other statewide resources:

• Indiana Family & Social Services Administration Division of Family Resources - Apply for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or cash assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). 

• Indiana Disaster Resources for Survivors - find emergency assistance and resources related to food, health, housing, mental health, finances, and more.
• Indiana State Disaster Relief Fund - apply for financial assistance if your primary residence is not sufficiently insured and damaged or destroyed by a disaster. 

• Indiana Food Assistance Availability Map - find food resources near you such as baby food/formula, food pantries, and soup kitchens.

• Indiana Energy Assistance Program - apply for assistance with your heat and electric bills.

• Township Trustees - In Indiana, each township has an elected trustee responsible for providing emergency assistance and other essential services to residents who are experiencing an unforeseen hardship and have exhausted all other assistance options.

• Helping Bloomington Monroe - your go-to resource to connect with free or reduced-cost community services near you, including food, housing, and medical care. 
• Crimson Cupboard - offers free, healthy food to IU Bloomington students, staff, and faculty who are struggling with food insecurity.
• Mother Hubbards Cupboard - provides groceries, education, and resources for individuals who are unable to meet basic living expenses.
• Hoosier Hills Food Bank Mobile Pantry- provides nutritional foods to under-served regions and areas of concentrated need in South Central Indiana.
• Find Food in Monroe, Brown, Lawrence, Martin, Owen, or Orange County- download a printable brochure of local organizations that assist residents facing food insecurity.
• MCCSC Free & Reduced Lunch Program-  Sign your child up to receive free or reduced-price lunch and breakfast at school.
• South Central Community Action Program - provides assistance with winter fuel bills for households in Brown, Monroe, Morgan, and Owen counties.
• St. Vincent De Paul Society - offers vouchers for furniture and, in some cases, limited financial help with utility bills, rent, rent deposits, or other essentials.

IU Indianapolis campus resources: 

• IU Indianapolis Registry of Options and Resources (ROAR) - one-stop-shop for campus and local community organizations within a 5-mile radius of the IUI campus. 
• Hire Attire - free, work-appropriate attire for IUI students who need clothing for work experiences, interviewing, and career events
• Paws' Pantry- free, healthy food for IUI students, faculty, and staff struggling with food insecurity. 

Indianapolis area resources:

• CHIP Indy- find resources if you need emergency shelter, need help finding long-term housing, or need assistance to maintain your current housing. 
• Community Compass - free app to show people where they can find food assistance in Indiana.
• Gleaners Food Bank- meal distribution to Hoosiers facing food insecurity. 
• Indianapolis Community Centers and Trustees- directory of neighborhood community centers and township trustees. 
• Indy Parks Meals- free after-school meal service for all youth under 18 years old.
• Mid-North Food Pantry- provides supplemental food and basic necessities. 
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul- three food pantries across Indianapolis and one-to-one support for things like household items, diapers, car repairs, utilities, rent, and more. 
• Utility Bill Payment Assistance Programs- payment assistance for low-income families through AES Indiana. 
• Westminster Neighborhood Services, Inc.- provides education support and access to basic needs for families on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis including a food pantry, soup kitchen, and senior shopping day.

• Pride Pantry - free and open to all current students, staff, and faculty members at IU Columbus.
• Salvation Army - provides access to free fresh produce and canned goods, meal programs, and community gardens.
• Human Services Inc. - offers a variety of assistance to individuals and families in need.

• Wolfmart - provides food and toiletries to students in need. Students can visit once per month (bring your Crimson Card). Emergency assistance is available as needed.
• Circle U Help Center - food pantry and home delivery service. 
• Gateway Hunger Relief Program
• Interlocal Community Action Program
• Richmond Dream Center - provides a food pantry, clothing closet, emergency shelter, and more. Call (765) 939-2975 for more information.

• The Cougar Cupboard - a food pantry that provides food assistance to all IU Kokomo students, faculty, and staff.
• Kokomo Rescue Mission - KRM runs two women's shelters and one men's shelter. They also provide community meals as well as emergency assistance with groceries, clothing, houseware items, and more. 
• Kokomo LIHEAP Offices - energy assistance program.

• Community Harvest Food Bank
• Brightpoint - helps pay a portion of winter heating bills for households in Allen, Dekalb, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, and Whitley Counties. 
• Food Pantry Programs - find food pantry programs in Fort Wayne, IN. 

• RedHawks Nest - IUN students, faculty, and staff can pick up free, pre-packaged bags of food. 
• Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
• Northwest Indiana Community Action - energy assistance program.
• The Gary Indiana Salvation Army provides emergency rental assistance, meals, groceries, and clothing assistance. Call (219) 882-9377 for more information.
• Brothers Keeper, Inc. - food pantry and temporary housing for men and veterans including meals, showers, clothing, and personal hygiene items.

• Titans Feeding Titans - on-campus food pantry, offering free, healthy food to students, faculty, and staff struggling with food insecurity.
• Food Bank of Northern Indiana
• Real Services, Inc. - pprovides a one-time annual benefit that can assist low-income Hoosiers with home energy costs and can help those who are about to get disconnected.
• St. Vincent De Paul - provides clothing and household goods assistance to individuals and families in St. Joseph County, Indiana.

• South Eats Pantry - provides food and personal care items to individuals in need on the IUSE campus. 
• Floyd County Assistance Programs
• Hope Southern Indiana - direct assistance to individuals and families in Floyd County, Indiana.