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New York City has over 800 food pantries and soup kitchens where anyone can get free food no ID, no proof of income, no questions asked. If you or your family need food today, this is the fastest way

Every student in a New York City public school gets free breakfast and lunch no application, no income check, no forms to fill out. This applies to all 1.1 million NYC public school students regardle

From late June through August, free breakfast and lunch are served at over 1,000 locations across NYC schools, parks, pools, libraries, and community centers. Anyone under 18 can eat for free. No sig

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps low-income individuals and families buy food. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card that works like a debit card at grocery stores, supermarkets, and

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare for pregnant and postpart

Child Health Plus provides health insurance for uninsured children under 19 who do not qualify for Medicaid. Premiums range from $0 to $60 per month depending on income. Covers doctor visits, hospital

The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program helps New York State residents 65 and older pay for prescription drugs. EPIC works with Medicare Part D to lower your out-of-pocket drug costs.

The Essential Plan is a New York State health insurance plan that costs $0$20 per month with no deductibles. It covers the same services as Medicaid for people whose income is slightly above the Medic

Medicaid provides free or low-cost health insurance covering doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, mental health services, and more. In New York, many working adults qualify.

If you are 65 or older and on Medicare, the Medicare Savings Program can pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium ($174.70/month in 2024), saving you over $2,000 per year. Some levels also cover deduc

NYC Care is a health care access program for New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance including undocumented immigrants. It provides a primary care doctor, specialist visi

If you are pregnant and do not have health insurance, the Prenatal Care Assistance Program provides full Medicaid coverage for all pregnancy-related care. Income limits are higher than regular Medicai

New York City regularly holds lotteries for affordable apartments brand new or renovated units at below-market rents. You apply for free through Housing Connect and are selected by lottery if eligibl

CityFHEPS (City Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement) provides rental assistance vouchers to help families and individuals facing eviction or currently in shelter find and keep stabl

If you are facing eviction and live in a qualifying zip code, you have the right to a free lawyer in housing court. This dramatically increases your chances of staying in your home. The lawyer is comp

HomeBase provides free services to help you avoid homelessness including help with rent arrears, landlord mediation, benefits applications, financial counseling, and emergency assistance. There are H

NYCHA operates over 177,000 public housing apartments across NYC. Rent is based on 30% of your income. The waitlist is long but it is free to apply and worth getting on the list as early as possible.

Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers) helps low-income families pay rent in the private market. The voucher pays the difference between 30% of your income and the fair market rent. The waitlist is often

The Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households pay for heating costs. HEAP provides a one-time annual benefit to help cover heating bills. Emergency HEAP is available when you receive

Lifeline provides a $9.25 monthly discount on phone or internet service. If you already receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or other federal assistance, you may automatically qualify.

If you are behind on your electric or gas bill and facing a shutoff, HRA can help pay your past-due utility balance. This is especially important in winter when shutoffs can be dangerous.

Cash Assistance provides monthly cash payments to help very low-income individuals and families cover basic needs like rent, utilities, and personal expenses. Includes Family Assistance (families with

SSI provides monthly cash payments to people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability and have limited income and resources. The federal payment in 2025 is up to $967/month for an individual.

New York State Unemployment Insurance provides temporary weekly cash benefits to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Benefits are based on your prior earnings and can last

New York City offers free, full-day pre-K for all 4-year-olds and 3-K for all 3-year-olds regardless of income. There is no income requirement. Programs are available in public schools, community org

ACS child care vouchers help low-income working families pay for child care for children under 13. Vouchers can be used at licensed daycare centers, family child care providers, and after-school progr

Head Start provides free preschool and comprehensive child development services for children from birth to age 5 in low-income families. Services include education, health screenings, nutrition, and f

Access-A-Ride provides shared-ride transportation for people with disabilities who cannot use the subway or bus due to their disability. Trips cost the same as a subway ride ($2.90). Service runs 24/7

Fair Fares NYC provides a 50% discount on subway and bus fares for low-income New Yorkers. You receive a special MetroCard that charges half price per ride.

ActionNYC provides free, safe immigration legal help at community organizations, libraries, and schools across all five boroughs. All consultations are confidential and provided by trained lawyers or

NYC provides free legal help for low-income residents in housing court, family law, consumer debt, public benefits denials, and more. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for free representa

IDNYC is a free identification card available to all New York City residents age 10 and older regardless of immigration status. It is accepted as ID by city agencies, and comes with free memberships

The Earned Income Tax Credit can put hundreds or even thousands of dollars back in your pocket when you file your taxes. NYC has its own city credit on top of the federal and state credits. A family e